Thenmarachchi residents have lobbied Jaffna’s parliamentarians to secure the release of a cemetery currently occupied by the Sri Lankan Army.

Soldiers occupied the Sempadu cemetery in Eluthumadduval in 2000 when the local population was displaced by the war.

Although the area was resettled in 2011, the army continued to occupy the cemetery, forcing locals to bury their deceased on private or church lands.

Sri Lanka's prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he was hopeful of a strong economy after what he described as 'three difficult years'. 

"There was a mountain of debt when the government came into power, but, the government has been able to stabilise the economy and the people, who had to undergo many hardships during these three years will benefit from a strong economy," he was quoted by Colombo Page as saying at an event in Colombo today. 

His comments come despite concerns expressed internationally over Sri Lanka's heavy debt burden and falling share prices. 

Sri Lanka's minister of agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera this week said 'Tamil extremists' were making "various statement to fulfil their political necessities."

His comments were made at a public rally in Hambantota, the home town of the former Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa. 

"Necessary steps have already been implemented to prevent the resurgence of terrorism in the country," he was further quoted by Adaderana as saying. 

Sri Lanka’s Attorney General’s department has advised the Speaker of Sri Lanka’s Parliament on the possible action against Tamil UNP MP, Vijayakala Maheswaran, who was forced to resign from her ministerial post after Sinhalese politicians objected to her call last month for a resurgence of the LTTE to control the violent crime in the North-East.

Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who oversaw the final phase of the Sri Lankan military offensive in 2009 that killed tens of thousands of Tamil civilians, said that he was looking into whether he could run again for a third term this week.

Mr Rajapaksa served two consecutive terms as president from 2005 to 2015, and is reportedly looking at whether he can contest legislation that bars him from running.

The former head of Sri Lanka’s army has slammed attempts to release military held lands in the North-East to Tamil civilians as “stupid” and vowed to block any attempts at demilitarisation of the region, as Tamil calls for the army to leave continue.

In an interview with the Daily Mirror, Mr Fonseka, who is the first Sri Lankan Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal and a minister in the current government, criticised any attempt to release military held land.

A 54-year-old man was murdered in Kayts on Saturday, Ada Derana reports.

The victim, identified as a Karainagar resident, sustained severe injuries after being assaulted by three persons who arrived in a small lorry.

Although he was admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital he succumbed to his injuries and died later that day.

Kayts police said suspects had been identified and investigations were underway.

India’s late former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee helped Sri Lanka weaken wings of the LTTE with extended military training and economic development, Sri Lanka’s prime minister has said.

"When I was the prime minister of Sri Lanka previously, the LTTE was in a very strong position. Our economy was weak. Mr Vajpayee helped us develop the economy and extended military training. We were able to stop the Sea Tigers (LTTE's sea wing) because of him," Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said, according to PTI.

The Prime Minister made the comments when visiting the Indian High Commission to offer condolences for Vajpayee who died on Thursday.

"He was one of the great prime ministers. He was a true friend of Sri Lanka, he stood for Sri Lanka at all times," Wickremesinghe said.

Mullaitivu politicians called a meeting with the Chief Minister of the Northern Province this week to discuss increasing concerns about the future of the Tamil people in the district, saying the region is being targeted on all sides with militarisation and Sinhalisation.

In a meeting led by the MP Charles Nirmalanathan, local representatives said that the district’s Tamil population was being pushed out by the Mahaweli scheme on one side and the settling of Sinhalese fishermen on the coastal side.

Whatever remained of the district was being targeted by the Archaeology Department and others, representatives said.

Sri Lankan Task Force troops assaulted a driver in Kilinochchi, creating tension between locals and troops, Uthayan reported last week.

The driver of a dipper vehicle who had obtained permission to excavate sand was followed by STF troops and arrested at Paranthan junction.

The troops took the driver to the Paranthan bus station and assaulted him.

Eyewitnesses described how the driver was beaten with guns and punched by the troops.

The incident sparked confrontations between Paranthan residents and STF troops and a tense situation in the area.