<p>The head of the Sri Lankan army confirmed that hundreds of troops are currently on UN peacekeeping missions around the world, in a press release that praised the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) for carrying out a “domestic” screening mechanism.</p> <p>“As at present, troops of Sri Lanka Army deployed in 06 UN missions and working as Staff Officers in the UN Headquarters – New York,” said a <u><a href="https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/army-at-odds-with-prez-lauds…">military press release.&nbsp;</a></u></p>

As Tamil Nadu voters look to elections next month, the ruling AIADMK pledged it would ensure a war crimes investigation into mass atrocities committing during the final stages of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. 

Annai Poopathy, who fasted unto death in protest against the atrocities committed by Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF), was remembered yesterday by the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) in Kurunthaiyadi Munmaari village in Batticaloa. 

<p>Responding to on-going nationwide power cuts Sri Lanka’s state energy provider, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), has said it would offer alms to the Sri Maha Bodi, a tree in Anuradhapura revered by the Buddhist population.</p> <p>A CEB official said on Thursday that “there will be several offerings at the bodi today and lunch will be offered to monks tomorrow after overnight religious ceremonies”.</p> <p>Saumya Kumarawadu, head of the CEB Engineers Union, told reporters “the main reason for the power cut is the government’s failure in implementing the planned power plants”.</p>

The Sri Lankan military unveiled the construction of a Buddhist stupa inside its headquarters in Amparai this week, as the armed forces continue to erect Buddhist monuments across the North-East.

The commander of Sri Lanka’s army warned the military will be launching a war on drugs that will be “identical to how we finished off LTTE terrorism”, in an ominous announcement in Colombo this month.

Sri Lanka’s president lashed out against a UN resolution that his government co-sponsored at the Human Rights Council in Geneva last week, calling it a “betrayal” of the military and rejecting its terms.

In a more extensive transcript of his speech that the AP reported on Wednesday, Maithripala Sirisena said "that he will not any way accept the agreement” signed by his government, that saw Sri Lanka granted a two year extension to set up a hybrid court with international judges to prosecute for mass atrocities.

Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry has revived its counter terrorism unit with its most important priority being to coordinate efforts to lobby for the continued proscription of the LTTE abroad, Colombo Gazette reports.

The unit was revived to coordinate more closely between defence, law enforcement authorities and other relevant agencies, and Sri Lankan missions abroad on counter terrorism and crime, according to the newspaper.

Sri Lankan plantations are under investigation by international ethical label groups after an expose found illegal wage deductions were leaving some workers taking home as little as 26 rupees (14 US cents) a day.

In an investigation of nine Rainforest Alliance-certified tea estates by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, daily earnings were found to be widely cut by more than three-quarters for debt repayments, salary advances and several other fees. Six of the estates were also backed by Fairtrade.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has hit back at claims by Sri Lankan government officials that have appeared in the Colombo media, stating it “seriously misrepresents” her meetings with the government delegation.

“I am deeply disappointed by the spin that has been put on my discussion with the Sri Lankan Government delegation,” said Michelle Bachelet in a press release this morning.