The Sri Lankan President was met by protestors in Jaffna on Monday where he had travelled for the inauguration of a new school building.

A Sri Lankan army officer was remanded today for allegedly spreading hate speech via the social media platform, Facebook. 

The soldier was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on March 17. 

His bail application was rejected by Colombo chief magistrate, Lal Ranasinghe Bandara, Colombo Page reported.

Two Special Task Force intelligence officers accused of murdering a Tamil man in Jaffna last year have had their remand extended by the Jaffna magistrate.

The case of the Ariyalai murder of 24-year-old Don Bosco Rikman was taken up at Jaffna magistrates court on Tuesday.

The two officers’ remand was extended until April 3rd citing ongoing investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department.

Requests by the STF to release a three-wheeler and motorcycle held in connection with the murder were also rejected by the judge.

SLFP minister are to inform the president of their support for a no-confidence motion against the current prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

“We are signing a separate letter to be handed over to the President. We will inform him that we will support the motion unless the Prime Minister is removed before that,” the SLFP minister Dayasiri Jayasekara told Daily Mirror. 

The Joint Opposition this month began collecting signatures in support of the motion. 

Human Rights Watch called on the UN Human Rights Council to ensure Sri Lanka ‘stops playing games’ and delivers on its commitments including accountability involving international judges, prosecutors and investigators.

In a statement ahead of Sri Lanka’s interim review at the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Geneva director of Human rights watch, Jon Fisher, said,

Sri Lanka's ambassador to Geneva, Ravinatha Aryasinha today asserted that the government would ensure progress on key areas outlined in the UPR as it was adopted by the Council on Monday. 

Highlighting the attacks against Muslims in Kandy earlier this month, Mr Aryasinha said those responsible would be held to account. 

"We are determined to take action against all perpetrators of these incidents in accordance with the due process of the law. Victim compensation processes have already commenced; and arrests have been made as well," he told the Council. 

Read full statement here. Extract reproduced below: 

The United States today expressed concern at ongoing human rights violations and abuses by Sri Lankan security forces, as well as the targetting of Muslims earlier this month.

"Although we are pleased with the Government’s support for these recommendations, we are concerned by ongoing reports of human rights violations and abuses by members of the security services, and recent attacks targeting members of religious minority communities," the US mission to Geneva said in a statement at the UN Human Rights Council as the Sri Lanka's 3rd review cycle was adopted.

"We urge the government to hold accountable all those responsible for human rights abuses and violations and to protect religious minorities and their places of worship.  We further urge the government to take additional steps to fully implement the commitments it made in HRC resolution 30/1 and reaffirmed in HRC resolution 34/1."

The UK today reiterated its call on the Sri Lankan government to ensure the cosponsored resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council 30/1 and 34/1 were fully implemented. 

"We continue to urge Sri Lanka to fully implement the commitments made in resolutions 30/1 and 34/1, as the best way to ensure human rights and reconciliation and the long term peace and prosperity that is in the interests of all Sri Lankans," the UK said in a statement on Monday as the Sri Lanka's UPR was adopted at the Council. 

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping on his re-election, reports Colombo Gazette.

Mt Wickremeisinghe said Sri Lanka-China relations have made tremendous progress adding that multiple sectors had benefited from such progress.

“I look forward to work with you closely in deepening our bilateral relations, “ he said

Xi Jinping was re-elected on Saturday following a constitutional amendment made a week earlier which lifted presidential term limits.

A Tamil man was killed and another seriously injured when a military vehicle crashed into their motorcycle in Palai, Kilinochchi on Sunday morning.

The victim was identified as Gunaseelan Jesinthan, a 29-year-old father of one.

His 27-year-old passenger was admitted to Jaffna Teaching Hospital with severe injuries.

Palai police said they were investigating the crash.