Worshippers of a Jaffna temple currently under Sri Lankan Army occupation have requested the temple’s release.

The trustee board and local worshippers of the Nachimar Kovil in Nagarkovil, Vadamarachchi East, have requested the release of the temple which has been off limits for civilian use for 15 years.

Residents alleged that Sri Lankan troops disrespected the sanctity of the temple and its grounds, ignoring local sensitivities, by killing and consuming meat on its premises.

The Sri Lankan Army’s Jaffna Commander has backed a proposal to reopen a Sinhalese school in the district, which alumni and former staff claim will facilitate reconciliation and unity in the North.

A group of alumni and former staff of the Jaffna Sinhala Mahavidyalaya argued the case for reinstating the school’s operations at a meeting at the District Secretariat on Sunday.

The school operated from 1965 to 1989, when it was vacated due to the arrival of the Indian Army (IPKF). The Sri Lankan Army occupied the property ever since.

The former director of Sri Lanka’s military intelligence has been further remanded over his involvement in the 2008 abduction and assault of a journalist.

Former military intelligence director and Chief of Staff of the Army, Major General Amal Karunasekara, has been ordered by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate's Court to remain on remand until September 10^th.

Keith Noyahr, who was an associate editor of The Nation, was abducted and assaulted in May 2008

A former commander of the Sri Lankan army who stands accused of war crimes and human rights abuses passed away in Colombo on Monday.

General Rohan Daluwatte assumed command of the Sri Lankan army in April 1996 and also led a massive military offensive into Jaffna.

During the offensive, over half a million Tamil men, women and children fled their homes in Jaffna, in what became known as the Jaffna exodus. General Daluwatte claimed "lusty cheers and loud cries of delight by prancing exuberant crowds greeted the troops on the march”, whilst thousands were fleeing the oncoming military.

India’s minister of external affairs, Sushma Swaraj met with Sri Lanka’s prime minister to discuss India’s investment in “housing, ports and aviation in Sri Lanka” on Monday.

Sri Lanka’s prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe tweeted that Ms Swaraj “highlighted India’s continued commitment to investment into housing, ports and aviation in Sri Lanka”. 

A Tamil asylum seeker has died after a suicide attempt in Australia last week, following the rejection of his asylum application by the Australian government.

The 45-year-old, who has not been named, was admitted to a hospital near Brisbane last week following the suicide attempt which left him brain dead. He passed away on Sunday after life support machines were switched off.

The Tamil man, who has a wife and four children still in Sri Lanka, was initially held in Nauru in 2012 before being sent to Australia in 2014.

Sri Lanka’s defence secretary visited a US Coast Guard ship in Hawaii that the Sri Lankan navy is looking to purchase last week.

More than 100 bodies have been excavated from a mass grave site in Mannar, with excavations continuing for the 58^th day on Monday.

Three ministries have sought Cabinet approval to upgrade Palaly airport to a regional airport with flights operating to and from South India, the Sunday Times reports. 

A paper submitted by the ministries of Transport and Civil Avaition, Policy Planning and Economic Development and Tourism seeks Rs 1.2 billion for the development plan. 

“The initial plan will be to convert Palaly into a regional airport and thereafter to an international airport with flights to other countries,” Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was quoted by the paper as saying. 

Sri Lanka's prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe said the government was ready to hold provincial council elections "in due time" and was "dedicated to conduct all the elections on schedule". 

Opposition groups have criticised the government for delaying the election arguing that the government is stalling as it fears a widespread defeat. 

Mr Wickremesinghe said however that an electoral system would have be agreed prior to holding the elections. 

"This should be immediately sorted out," he was quoted by Colombo Page as saying.