The head of the Sri Lankan army announced its new “Directorate of Overseas Operations” was to be dedicated to defending the military from war crimes charges on Thursday.

The new office, which the military inaugurated in Colombo last month, would be dedicated to defending the military said Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake.

“The Army has not told its side of the story, which is what the new think tank will do,” he said. “A few personnel may have committed crimes, but the whole Army cannot be blamed for that.”

The chief minister of the Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran met with leaders of Muslim civil society groups on Monday, to discuss how to tackle the increasing issue of illegal drugs. 

Muslim groups handed over a petition to Mr Wigneswaran urging him to take action on the issue. 

Members of Batticaloa's municipal council yesterday remembered those who had been killed during the final stages of the armed conflict. 

At the end of the council's session, members stood to hold three minutes of silence.

The Northern Provincial Council passed a resolution this week marking May 18 as a Tamil national day of mourning, in memory of the tens of thousands who were killed in the final stages of the armed conflict. 

The resolution was brought by NPC member, Ananthi Sasitharan during the NPC's 122n session on Wednesday, and was seconded by E Jeyasegram. 

It was passed unanimously without any opposition. 

On Monday, NPC members agreed that in line with the previous 3 years, a remembrance event should be held for those who were killed and appointed a committee to oversee arrangements. 

Members of the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) on Wednesday joined families in Iranaitivu to clear land that was until recently under navy occupation and donated food items. 

On April 23 villagers from Iranaitivu staged a daring attempt to return to their homes, sailing to the island which continues to be occupied by the Sri Lankan military and marching to their homes, refusing to leave until they are guaranteed their land will be returned to them.

Whilst permitting the villagers to stay, the Sri Lankan navy remains on the island, fuelling uncertainty about the residents right to live in their own lands. 

Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has withdrawn a summons issued for BBC journalist Azzam Ameen, after he was asked to respond to the Cyber Crimes Unit.

The BBC journalist had been asked to report to the CID over a tweet he sent in response to another tweet, which was apparently mistakenly sent out by the official Sri Lankan President’s Media Division account.

The official account had originally tweeted: “You are a wonderful speaker. But how do you ensure they turn into action. Show by doing!”

At least two incidents of US navy personal being sexually harassed whilst in Trincomalee have been reported this week.

Two female US navy personal attached to the USNS Mercy reported that a hotel employee groped their legs, at their hotel in Uppuveli.

Also this week, another US navy female colleague reported being assaulted by a masseuse at a spa in Uppuveli.

The US Navy teamed up with Sri Lanka’s navy to open a series of health clinics in the war affected north-east of Sri Lanka.

A Sri Lankan train attendant who harassed a Tamil woman and racially abused Tamil passengers was arrested yesterday by Jaffna police after videos of the incident went viral on social media, provoking pressure from a Minister and senior government employees. He was released on bail early this afternoon.

Sri Lanka’s parliament re convened with 16 SLFP MPs and resigned Ministers crossing sides to sit with Mahinda Rajapaksa’s joint opposition.

The 16 SLFP MPs walked across the Parliament chambers, with the Joint Opposition MPs banging their desks to welcome them, reports the island.lk.