A Tamil language centre was opened by the Indian High Commission on Indian history, cultural heritage, Tamil art and culture in Jaffna Library on Friday.

A statement released by the Indian High Commission, read,

A senior US official will visit Sri Lanka between December 14 and 16 and will visit the North-East.

Ambassador Thomas Shannon, Counselor of the Department of State, will travel to the island with Deputy Assistant Secretary for South Asia Manpreet Singh Anand.

The Sri Lankan government has given clearance to resume the Chinese funded Colombo Port City project reports Colombo Page.

Speaking to Chinese press on Friday, Sri Lanka’s finance minister Ravi Karunanayake said,

“On our part, the government is happy with the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the project. It is now under public consultation.”

The Colombo Port project was temporarily suspended in March 2015 by the new government. I twas valued at a total of US $1.4 billion at the time.

A Tamil language centre was opened by the Indian High Commission on Indian history, cultural heritage, Tamil art and culture in Jaffna Library on Friday.

A statement released by the Indian High Commission, read,

Thousands have been affected by ongoing heavy rainfall in Kilinochchi in a new round of floods.


Sri Lanka’s met department found that the highest amount of rainfall during the monsoon period had occurred in Kilinochchi.

Sri Lanka must no accept offers by any country to reform its own armed forces said former Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs minister Professor GL Peiris.

A country with “self respect” no accept offers given by any country to reform its own military he told press.

Commenting on a recent announcement by the British prime minister of £6 million aid to Sri Lankan security sector reform, Mr Peiris said,

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said there was continued weakness in the structure of Sri Lanka’s public finances and cited “reasons for concern” as it concluded the Fourth Post-Program Monitoring.

In a press release on Wednesday the IMF said Sri Lanka’s “economic outlook remains uncertain, and will depend to a large extent on the course set for economic policies in the coming months”.

“Deterioration in the overall balance of payments, the loss of central bank foreign exchange reserves, the weak state of public finances, and growing public debt are reasons for concern,” said the statement.

“Despite continued access to international debt markets, these trends suggest that financial risks for Sri Lanka have increased,” it added. “To mitigate these risks, the authorities should take appropriate corrective actions to safeguard macroeconomic stability and lay the foundation for durable and inclusive growth. Improvements in the business climate, reform of state owned enterprises, and a more open trade regime are key to boosting competitiveness and growth.”

Indian soldiers who died during an operation as part of the country's disastrous peacekeeping mission in 1987, were remembered at a ceremony in Jaffna earlier this month.

Consul General of India in Jaffna Shri A. Natarajan and Commander Security Force Jaffna Major General Nandana Udawatta placed wreaths at the monument in the Palali high security zone, occupied by the military.

The soldiers died during Operation Pawan, an attempted landing in Jaffna's main stadium, which was beaten back by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, then in control of the town.

The Indian Peacekeeping Forces (IPKF) are accused of committing several atrocities and war crimes against the Tamil population, during their occupation of the region. They ultimately withdrew after sustained resistance by the LTTE.