The former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa told journalists this week that he intended to "topple" the current government in 2017. 

“Earlier when I said that I am going to defeat Prabakaran, I knew, I could," Mr Rajapaksa said, stating that he had "similar confidence" now about toppling the current government. 

Mr Rajapaksa dismissed the government's parliamentary majority, stating that it was undermined as “they are fighting each other”. 

He blamed the current government for the lack of progress on development in the country. 

Over 6000 Sri Lankan soldiers have returned to obtained their legal discharge from the military following the declaration of a general amnesty, reports the Ministry of Defence.

The month-long amnesty has attracted thousands, including at least two “high ranking officers” to return.

Several amnesty periods have been declared by the Sri Lankan military over the years, with tens of thousands returning to obtain their legal discharge.

Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry warned of “disciplinary action” to those soldiers who failed to report back once the amnesty period ends on 31 December.

A group of Sri Lankans living in the UK held a protest in London last week, demonstrating against any proposed changes to Sri Lanka’s constitution.

The group waved Sri Lankan flags and brandised placards in Sinhala and English.

Markham City Council passed a motion to enter into a friendship agreement with Mullaitivu in late November. Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council C.V. Wigneswaran and Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti will sign the agreement on January 14th, 2017 at the Markham Civic Centre.

The City of Markham’s Culture and Economic Development Department will host a networking event prior to the signing ceremony with 80 to 100 Canadian Tamil business leaders – with a focus on how to do business in both Markham and Mullaitivu.

Tamil paramilitary leader Pillaiyan and a Sri Lankan army intelligence officer have been further remanded by a Sri Lankan court, over the 2005 murder of Tamil National Alliance MP Joseph Pararajasingham.

Pillaiyan, real name Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, was the former chief minister of the Eastern province and head of the government aligned TMVP paramilitary group. He was arrested over the murder of the parliamentarian in October last year.

Alongside an army intelligence officer, Pillaiyan and two other TMVP members have been further remanded until 11 January 2017.

Sri Lankan troops handed out dry rations and vegetables to the “needy people of Jaffna” in a military-run ceremony on Thursday.

The United National Party condemned remarks made by one of its MPs, the State Minister for Child Affairs , Vijayakala Maheswaran who praised the leadership of the LTTE head, V Prabhakaran, before reiterating the benefits of the 'good governance' government. 

“We condemn this statement,” UNP MP Hector Appuharmy told media on Thursday. 

“Ms Maheswaran may have come out with her own opinion but it is not the opinion of the rest of us in the party," he added. 

Sasikala Natarajan has been appointed as the general secretary of the AIADMK party today, following the death of the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa earlier this month. 

Sasikala was previous known as a friend of the late chief minister, though she had no official role. 

She will officially take over on January 2. 

O Panneerselvam was appointed as chief minister of Tamil Nadu following Jayalalithaa's death on December 5. 

Fishermen of Thalvupada, Mannar, held a road-block protest against obstruction from the Sri Lankan Navy.

Tamils in Belgium marked Maaveerar Naal last month, with a ceremony held to remember fallen Tamil fighters.

Held at a festival hall in Antwerp, hundreds of people came together in commemoration of the lives lost.

See a selection of photographs and video from the event below.