The Defence Attaché of the United States Embassy in Sri Lanka Lt Col Douglas Hess met with the Sri Lankan Minister of Defence earlier on Thursday.

Sri Lanka is set to sell a majority stake in its ‘remote’ Hambantota port to a Chinese company after agreeing on a revised deal to pacify India’s concerns, reports the Financial Times.

With nearly all government revenue currently going to debt servicing, the port is being sold as part of Sri Lanka’s strategy to pay down some of its debt, estimated to be around $65bn (USD), including $8bn to China.

The port is financially unviable due to its remote location with little demand for large-scale freight traffic, although India has expressed concern that China’s long-term interest in the project is strategic rather than commercial.

Sri Lankan Navy personnel were pelted with stones last week while trying to apprehend a group reportedly engaging in illegal sand excavations in Vadamaradchi.

One Coast Guard member was injured in the incident which occurred last Friday at Vallipuram, Vadamaradchi.

While the alleged attackers escaped, naval reinforcements were called to the scene with the heavy military presence causing tension in the area over the weekend.

Sri Lankan State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene said he had discussed the incident with the Navy Commander and stressed the need to arrest the suspects, reports the Island.

Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa said that he was open for discussions with anyone for the sake of the country including current President Maithripala Sirisena, reports dailymirror.lk

During his public question and answer session on Twitter,  Mahinda Rajapaksa said the current government was working to implement agendas external parties.

The European Union  (EU) in a press release ,shortly after a European Union  Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that Liberation Tamil Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) funds were unlawfully frozen,  said it “continues to consider the LTTE as a terrorist organisation and the EU’s restrictive measures against the LTTE remain in force.”

“This means that the LTTE remains listed as a terrorist organisation by the EU,” the statement added.

Acknowledging the ECJ ruling, the statement went on to say that “remedial action will be taken to adjust the listings to these procedural requirements and to ensure legally robust designations.”

The Sri Lankan government on Wednesday deployed its military to distribute fuel to state firms after the country experience severe shortages following strikes by workers. 

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation had called a strike against the government's attempts to encourage foreign companies into the oil sector. 

Soldiers stormed into two oil storage facilities and moved peaceful protesters, the CPC trade union official, D J Rajakaruna was quoted by Reuters as saying. 
 

The top court of the European Union (EU) has removed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from a banned terrorist organisation list, reports Reuters.

Judges at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) confirmed the ruling on Wednesday morning, stating the EU had not demonstrated enough evidence to show the LTTE was able to carry out any military attacks

"The Court of Justice therefore confirms the annulment of the continued freezing of the LTTE's funds," it was quoted by Reuters as stating.

Sri Lankan police have launched an investigation after the Sri Lankan flag was allegedly pulled down from a flag pole at the Vavuniya District Secretariat yesterday.

Daily Mirror reports that an unidentified individual arrived at the premises and pulled down the flag, before escaping as police officials attempted to arrest him.

Following a complaint by District Secretary M.B.R. Pushpakumara a police investigation has now been launched into the incidident.

The Sri Lankan flag has reported been raised again.

The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday decided to postpone Provincial Council polls until there was a new electoral system that would allow for all councils to have their election on the same day, the Daily Mirror reported. 

The announcement came just days after the government said council elections for the Eastern province, as well as North-Central and Sabaragamuwa would be held in October 2017. 

Elections in the provinces are already two years overdue, prompting calls from the Joint Opposition that the government is stalling on calling elections as it fears defeat. 

A former LTTE cadre received a life sentence on Tuesday under Sri Lanka's notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act, for allegedly recruiting 'child soldiers'. 

Mr Kannadasan lawyer questioned how he could be prosecuted as he had undergone the government's 'rehabilitation programme' following the end of the armed conflict.

Many LTTE cadres were enticed to surrender themselves and undergo the government programme on the promise they would not be later prosecuted under Sri Lanka's laws for their involvement with the LTTE. 

The Vavuniya High Court judge who passed the sentence expressed his regret at having to do so.