Sri Lanka’s finance minister has claimed the fall in the rupee to record lows this month is "not as catastrophic as people make it out to be,"  as the rupee fell to an all time low earlier this week.

"We have been trying to drive Sri Lanka toward an export-oriented economy," said the finance minister, who was attending the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings in Bali. "And this crisis, in a way, makes people realize the need to do so even more vigorously.”

“I don't consider it a crisis at all," he remarked.

Human bones were found in Achchuveli in Jaffna and were taken for analysis to Jaffna Teaching Hospital on Friday.

Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa confirmed that his party had received a “proposal” to form a coalition government, but denied reports that an agreement had been reached.

“We want to intervene to prevent a crisis in the country in order to help the people,” Rajapaksa told reporters. “However, there is no talk of a coalition government. There is only a proposal. We don’t know until it happens and the chances of it happening are extremely slim. However, if a proposal comes from that side, then we can decide on it as a party.”

The Sri Lankan army decided to launch a variety of projects with Tamil schoolchildren across the North-East to mark ‘World Children’s Day’, as despite criticism from local and international human rights organisations the militarisation of the Tamil homeland continues.

The Sri Lankan army held a series of events in Mullaitivu to mark 69 years since its founding, as the Tamil North-East continues to see increased militarisation of the region.

Sri Lanka’s army commander reiterated his support for troops accused of committing mass atrocities during the final stage of the armed conflict, stating that they were “ear heroes” who carried out a “humanitarian operation”.

Speaking on the 69^th anniversary of the Sri Lankan army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake told soldiers that “I distinctly believe that, you will pursue to maintain the national and international reputation earned by the Sri Lankan army over the last six decades”.

“This peaceful environment was brought by brave war heroes who actively participated in the humanitarian operations,” he continued.

As Sri Lanka continues to go back on its promises to investigate and prosecute atrocity crimes, alternative avenues for justice must be found, writes People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL) Advocacy Director, Mario Arulthas.

“Nearly 10 years after the end of the conflict, reconciliation and a sustainable peace are far off – contrary to what President Sirisena claimed in his speech at the UNGA,” wrote Arulthas in The Diplomat this week.

“Sri Lanka has repeatedly gone back on its promises to investigate and prosecute atrocity crimes,” he said, adding “the international community cannot rely on Sri Lanka to bring reconciliation, stability and peace to the island”.

Sri Lanka’s Special Task Force has ramped up security in Jaffna, after a gang vandalised a grocery shop in Kondavil on Tuesday night, the latest in a spree of attacks on homes and shops by armed gangs.

The Sri Lankan police and the notorious Special Task Force launched a series of raids in Jaffna earlier this week, in a reported attempt to crack down on gang-related crime in the district.

A ceremony was held in Vellaveli, Batticaloa on Wednesday, to mark 31 years since the death of 2^nd Lt Maalathy, the first female martyr of the LTTE.