Sri Lanka’s Special Task Force troops have been deployed to patrol areas of Jaffna with police office officials claiming the increased activity is to clamp down on sword attacks and gang violence in the district.

Local and civil society groups have cast suspicion on the annual claims of increased criminal activity in November while Tamils organise around remembrance events.

Over forty arrests were made in the Jaffna district last week, allegedly in connection with sword attacks.

As part of ongoing Maaveerar remembrance events, a blood donation drive was organised by the youth in Elalai, Jaffna.

Sri Lanka's new Foreign Exchange Act came into affect today, following Act being gazetted last week by the prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

The move comes amid repeat warnings from international financial institutions amount the island's debt burden and economic situation.

The Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is to embark on an official visit to India tomorrow, into to participate in the opening ceremony of the th Global Conference on Cyberspace to be held in New Delhi. 

Mr Wickremesinghe is expected to meet his counterpart, Narendra Modi and the Indian president, Ram Nath Kovind. 

He will be accompanied by Prof. Maithree Wickramasinghe, Minister Sagala Ratnayaka, the prime minister’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, additional secretary Saman Athaudahetti and special assistant Sandra Perera. 

The Colombo appointed governor of the Northern Province, Reginald Cooray said he would seeking advice from the Attorney General's department regarding the Northern Provincial Council's education minister's refusal to hoist the Sri Lankan flag last week. 

Mr Sarveswaran refused to hoist the flag during a ceremony at a school in Vavuniya on November 16 where he had been invited as the chief guest.

Mr Cooray made his comments at a press conference today that he had arranged to dicuss the incident. 

Shops owned by Muslims in Vavuniya were set alight during the early hours of Monday monday by unknown persons. 

Local police commenced investigations this morning. 

Parents of deceased Tamil cadres were honored at an event by the Crusadors for Democracy Party at their head office in Kaiveli on Saturday.

Over 200 Tamil cadres were remembered with families of the cadres placing garlands around their photos.

Two further Thuyilam Illams (LTTE resting homes) in Chatty, Jaffna district and Thaavarai, Batticaloa district were cleared by families of the Maaveerar and local residents this week, ahead of remembrance day events on November 27, Maaveerar Naal. 

Forty-one Tamils have been arrested over the last two days in Jaffna district, the police spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekara. 

The arrests come after a spate of reported sword attacks in Jaffna, which the police have blamed on 'Aava group'. 

Police officers carried out searches in Jaffna, Koppay, Manipay and Chunnakam. 

According to the police spokesperson the arrests over the past two days comes based on information gathered following interrogations of six Tamils arrested last week. 

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka on Saturday reiterated the government's position that all army camps in the North-East would not be closed down. 

Speaking in parliament on Saturday, Mr Fonseka stressed that "key army camps in the North will not be closed down", the Sunday Leader reported. 

He accused the Joint Opposition of "spreading false claims". 

"The need to maintain a military presence in the North and East is similar to the need to maintain a military presence in the South of the country," he added.