The United National Party (UNP) is to recommence discussions on the proposed 20th Amendment to the constitution on Monday which looks to abolish the executive presidency. 

Sri Lanka's Speaker informed parliament last year that the proposed 20th Amendment would need a two third majority in parliament before being put before the public via a referendum in order to be implemented following a Supreme Court ruling. 

Discussions on the amendment have been stalled for weeks follow fierce opposition from a variety of groups for differing reasons. 

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka admitted that Sri Lankan policemen and Special Task Force troops have carried out torture and demanded ransoms, as he criticised plans to involve the military in drug enforcement activities.  

"They throw chili powder on the face of suspects, cover their heads with plastic bags and assault them”, said the former head of the Sri Lankan army, who is a minister in the current government. “This is unhuman. These are the tactics used by Gotabhaya Rajapaksa when he was in power.”

Speaking to Colombo papers following what he described as a 'fact finding mission' in Jaffna, Sri Lanka's law and order minister, Ranjith Bandara, said he had concluded that it was Tamil films that was fuelling the gang violence in Jaffna. 

"These Tamil youths were emulating the violent scenes to instill fear before carrying out their criminal activities such as robberies," he was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying. 

"They brandish swords to terrorise the people," he added. 

Colombo Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake has ordered Sri Lanka’s state translation department to translate into Sinhala and English a speech by former UNP minister Vijayakala Maheswaran, where she stated that the LTTE was needed in the North-East to prevent the rising violence and anti-social behaviour that is taking place in the region. 

The Chief Magistrate’s Court also issued an order demanding full video footage from the event earlier this month, reports The Island.

The order comes follow a request made by Sri Lanka’s Organised Crimes Prevention Division.

Sri Lanka's former cricket captain T.M. Dilshan on Friday praised the president, Maithripala Sirisena for deciding to implement the death penalty for drug traffickers. 

"There is no purpose in safeguarding human rights if we cannot save the country. Cases of drugs use and child abuse has increased at an alarming rate today. So is is essential to carry out the death sentence,” Mr Dilshan was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying. 

Families from Keppapulavu today marked 500 days of protest against the occupation of their lands by the military. 

"International community are you also closing your eyes? Are you too devoid of justice," banners read, as families campaigned for their lands to be released.

Tamil families of the disappeared protested at the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) hearing in Jaffna this morning.

Boycotting the hearing, families said they have no faith in the commission, which they believe will be like the several commissions before it in which they have also testified.

A significant presence of intelligence officers were noted at the protest and meeting, who were seen taking photographs and noting down information about the protesters. 

Civil society groups and human rights activists demonstrated in Colombo on Friday to show their support for the ongoing struggle for justice by families of the disappeared. 

Holding placards and banners, demonstrators urged the government to provide answers to the whereabouts of missing loved ones and drew attention the plight of families who have been protesting on the issue for over 500 days. 

The Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte praised his Sri Lankan counterpart, Maithripala Sirisena for what he described as following the country's 'successful war on drugs'. 

The Sri Lankan cabinet this week announced they would implement the death penalty for drug trafficking offences. 

Despite widespread criticism of the move, Mr Sirisena defended it saying he was attempting to replicate the 'success' of the Philippines. 

The Indian foreign secretary, Vijay Gokhale discussed the ongoing arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy during a visit to Colombo on Friday where he met with the Sri Lankan prime minister. 

Mr Gokhale discussions with Mr Wickremesinghe came as 16 Tamil Nadu fishermen who had been detained were ordered to be released by a Jaffna court. 

Indian projects on the island were also discussed with Mr Wickremesinghe saying that they would commence this year.