Two Indian state-owned companies signed agreements to develop railways facilities in Sri Lanka, including restoring four lines in the Northern Province, an Indian government press release said on Thursday.

One state company, or ‘Public Sector Undertaking’, IRCON International Limited signed agreements with the Sri Lankan government for:

(i) Rehabilitation of Colombo-Matara Coastal Railway line on 06.03.2009;

(ii) Restoration of Medawachchiya–Madhu Road Railway line in Northern province of Sri Lanka on 17.08.2010;

Jaffna's Municipal Council has restored the barrier which used to surround the memorial built for the Lt Col. Thileepan in Nallur, Jaffna. 

The Sri Lankan army previously destroyed the barrier, which was built to protect the monument from damage. 

Following this locals reported that the site was poorly maintained and frequently used with little care by traders at Nallur temple festivals.

TNPF member within the Council, V Parthipan was instrumental in advocating for the barrier to be replaced before this year's Nallur festival on August 16. 

A motorbike was set alight by unknown persons in Vatharavaththai, Valikaamam East. 

The motorbike's owner said her family had experienced ongoing harassment by unknown individuals following their support for the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in the last local election. 

A complaint has been filed with the police. 

A protests by fishermen in Mullaitivu against illegal fishing by Sinhala fishermen continued today into their 8th day. 

The fishermen have been supported by the families as well as Karaithuraipattu local council members who attended the protest to express their solidarity. 

Three students who were among 11 Tamil youths arrested by Sri Lankan police for allegedly being involved in sword attacks and gang violence, where allowed to sit their A Levels by Mallaakam Magistrate Court yesterday. 

The youths, who were arrested on August 4, will be allowed to sit the exam under the supervision of the prison officers.  

The issue of their A Levels was brought to the attention of the court by lawyers for the students, who maintained their clients were innocent and should be allowed to sit their exams. 

The Sri Lankan military continued its militarisation of the North-East, announcing that it had built a Tamil pre-school in Mullivaikkal earlier this year.

A petition has been launched to unseat DUP MP Ian Paisley after he was suspended from the British parliament for failing to declare two holidays that were paid for by the Sri Lankan government and later lobbying on the country's behalf against an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The parliamentary recall petition, the first one launched since such legislation was introduced, sees Mr Paisley at risk of a possible by-election in his constituency seat of North Antrim in Northern Ireland.

Tamil families of the disappeared met with Switzerland's Federal Councillor for the Department of Justice and Police and criticised the Sri Lankan government’s Office on Missing Persons (OMP) as an “exercise in futility”, demanding “action, not words”.

In a letter handed to the Swiss Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga, the protesting families said they had “travelled across the country to every military camp, every government prison, every police station” to search for the whereabouts of their disappeared loved ones.

At least eight of the campaigners have died since roadside protests began over 500 days ago.

The Northern Provincial Council held a moment of silence this morning, to pay tribute to DMK leader M Karunanidhi who passed away earlier this week.

Sri Lankan security forces have claimed that four detainees of Vavuniya prison escaped police custody while being transferred to Mullaitivu Magistrates Court for trial on Tuesday.

Mullaitivu Security Forces said the detainees had been arrested regarding two murder cases in the area, Adaderana reports.

Prison officers and police reportedly launched a special operation in the area on Tuesday evening and investigations continue.