The United States Secretary of State John Kerry said that 2015 has seen “important democratic gains” in places across the world, including Sri Lanka, in an op-ed for the Boston Globe.

“The past year also marked important democratic gains in such countries as Nigeria, Burma, Sri Lanka, and Venezuela,” said Mr Kerry, stating that “international leaders have an opportunity to build on several major achievements of 2015”.

The Chinese government announced that it will have talks with Sri Lanka on a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) next year.

China’s minister of commerce Gao Hucheng, said that China will step up negotiations next year on a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, as well as the proposed Free Trade Agreement with Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

China’s foreign and direct investment have risen this year, with the nation receiving $620 billion in Foreign Investment.

The government of Sri Lanka has declared the first week of January 2016 a “Good Governance Victory Week” to mark a year of governance under President Maithripala Sirisena.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, government spokesperson Dr Rajitha Senaratne said that this decision was Sri Lanka’s national flag would be hoisted and displayed through the island with a series of programs to commemorate the ‘victory of good governance.’

A former Sri Lankan policeman wanted for the assassination of a Tamil politician is suspected of hiding in Australia, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

Fabian Royston Toussaint is wanted in Sri Lanka for his alleged connection to the shooting of Tamil politician and human rights lawyer Nadarajah Raviraj in 2006.

Mr Raviraj was gunned down after leading a protest condemning Sri Lankan army bombings that killed Tamil civilians in 2006.

Leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF) Wimal Weerawansa told Sri Lankans living in Europe that the island was currently under threat and would face several dangers in the near future.

The parliamentarian is currently touring Europe where is briefing the Sri Lankan community on the political future of the island.

He has given 13 lectures so far London, Paris, Italy, Germany and Norway, said media spokesperson of the NFF Mohammad Musammil, including one entitled, “The Injustice done to a Nation by a White man’s court” in Berlin.

Sri Lankan troops distributed shoes to Tamil school children in Mulankavil on Christmas Eve, reported a military website.

Troops from the 651 Brigade “on the directions of Major General Amal Karunasekerathe” – the Commander of the Security Force Headquarters in Kilinochchi (SFHQ- KLN) – handed out shoes to 50 Tamil school children in the region.

The Sri Lankan military conducted a Buddhist ceremony in Mullaitivu on Christmas Eve, as part of religious ceremonies the military continues to undertake in the North-East.

Sri Lanka’s prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a committee to obtain public vies on constitutional reforms, reports the Colombo Gazette.

 The committee which consist of politicians and members of civil society will receive written and oral proposals from the public and submit proposals to the cabinet sub-committee on electoral reforms.

The 24 committee appointed by Mr Wickrememsinge is led by Sri Lankan attorney Lal Wijeynayake. 

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) may consider taking action against MP Dharmalingam Sidhartan for joining the Tamil People’s Council.

Mr Sidhartan who leads the TNA constituent party People’s Liberation Front (PLOTE), jointed the new organisation which is headed by the Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council CV Wigneswaran.

The General Secretary of the Illangai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) Mavai Senathirajah called for an inquiry into Sidhartan’s decision, to see if it violates any party principles, reports Colombo Gazette.