The Sri Lankan military reported that troops handed out milk packets to former LTTE cadres in Jaffna earlier this month, in what was labelled a series of “Socio Economic Welfare Coordinating Workshops”.

Sri Lanka’s credit profile will depend on how effectively the government will be able to implement a series of reforms laid out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Moody’s Investors Service.

In a new report entitled “Government of Sri Lanka: Reform Implementation Key to Lasting Fiscal, External Improvement from IMF Program”, Moody’s noted that Sri Lanka’s fall in foreign currency reserves and balance of payments crisis was what led to the government seeking IMF intervention.

Sri Lanka’s credit profile will depend on how effectively the government will be able to implement a series of reforms laid out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Moody’s Investors Service.

In a new report entitled “Government of Sri Lanka: Reform Implementation Key to Lasting Fiscal, External Improvement from IMF Program”, Moody’s noted that Sri Lanka’s fall in foreign currency reserves and balance of payments crisis was what led to the government seeking IMF intervention.

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet Co-Spokesman Dr Rajitha Senaratne categorically rejected allegations that Sri Lanka’s military forces had used cluster bombs during their campaign against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam that saw mass atrocities committed against Tamil civilians.

Mr Senaratne stressed that Sri Lanka similar photographs of cluster ammunition had been put forward before, and asked for verification if the photographs had been taken in Sri Lanka, reports Adaderena.lk.

A discussion at the Geneva Press Club saw participants provide their perspectives on the future of Tamil accountability under the current government.

Speakers included the TNPF president Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, human rights activist Sinnamany Kokilavany, South African rights activist Govender Kisten and International Council of Eelam Tamil representative Thirukulasingam Thiruchchoti.

See full video of the event below:

 

Human rights organisations have urged next week's oral update on Sri Lanka's progress on last year's resolution to include clear benchmarks which include immediately achievable steps, in a letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al Hussain.

The letter, signed by FORUM-Asia, Franciscans International, Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurist, International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) and the International Service for Human Rights, said while the "government’s assurances on progress have been plentiful its performance on the ground has been mixed and not befitting expectations outlined in your report and in the resolution as well as those of victims and people on the ground," but acknowledged "some positive developments on international cooperation".

A soldier attempting to break in to a home late at night on Monday has angered residents of a Kilinochchi village.

The house in Dharmapuram, Kilinochchi, was home to a Tamil woman and her two young daughters.

According to a complaint lodged with Dharmapuram police, a soldier tried to force entry at around 1am on Monday.

Neighbours chased the soldier who escaped and hid in the nearby army camp. Locals identified the soldier as one of three stationed at the camp.