Plans to outlaw the extraction of toddy from palmyra and coconut palm trees has angered unions in the North-East who say the law specifically attacks the palm wine trade in Tamil regions.

While Sri Lankan law usually states that the extraction of palm wine is prohibited except from kithul palms, palmyra trees and coconut palms, a recent gazette notification about amendments to excise duties omitted palmyra and coconut palms in the exemptions.

The next US - Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue is to be held in November, with the US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Ambassador Thomas Shannon visiting Sri Lanka, Economy Next reported. 

“The Partnership Dialogue demonstrates the consolidation of cooperation between the United States and Sri Lanka and serves to further strengthen and enhance bilateral relations in the widest sense, through regular and structured engagement,” the US State Department said in a statement. 

Eleven companies have put in bids to explore the Mannar oil basin, Sri Lanka's Director Benefits and Mechanical Engineer at the Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat Preeni Withanage told The Sunday Leader.

The block was formerly due to be developed by Cairn India Ltd, however the company chose to exit the area in 2015. 

The government had called for tenders for the block known as M2 earlier this year. 
 

A Tamil man has been reported missing from Mannar, reports Tamilwin.

Anthonipillai Saint Nicholas Gunabal of Andankulam who runs a barbershop in the area has not been seen since Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Gunabal’s wife filed a missing report with Adamban police on Friday.

The Sri Lankan government said it would study the statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, Pablo de Greiff "carefully" and would continue to engage with him. 

The Sri Lankan government on Saturday expressed its support for a united Spain in response to the Catalan government declaration of independence. 

"Sri Lanka and Spain enjoy an enduring friendship, and Sri Lanka considers Spain as an important member in Sri Lanka's partnership with the European Union," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The chief minister of Tamil Nadu, K Palaniswami on Saturday urged the Indian premier to secure the release of the 54 fishermen currently detained in Sri Lanka. 

“I strongly urge you to … take up the alarming and frequent abduction of our fishermen in their traditional waters with the highest authorities in the Sri Lankan government,” Mr Palaniswamy said in a letter to Mr Modi, reported The Wire. 

A young mother in Jaffna committed suicide along with her three children on Friday unable to cope with heavy debts, which caused her husband to commit suicide one month ago. 

The tragedy comes as community groups have expressed increasing concern over financial hardship within families in the North-East, causing them to turn to precarious sources of loans, including banks, microfinance companies and personal acquaintances. Debts are often followed by harassment as families struggle to repay the loans. 

Sri Lanka's paramilitary leader and former chief minister of the Eastern Province, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan has been indicted over the assassination of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Joseph Pararajasingham, the attorney general told the Supreme Court on Thursday. 

Mr Pararajasingham was shot dead by two gunmen in Batticaloa as he attended a Christmas mass on December 24, 2005. 

A trial has been scheduled for November 6th, 7th and 17th. 

Pillayan, who has been held on remand requested the Supreme Court to allow him to be released. 

Sri Lanka's finance minister Mangala Samaraweera rejected a statement by the former commander of the security forces in the Vanni, that those supporting the new constitution were traitors and should be killed, stating that 63 lakhs of people had voted in favour of a new constitution.