Speaking at an event to mark 'International Coconut Day', Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has slammed non-governmental organisations as destroying the dignity and cultural values of the country, liking them to coconut 'mitas'.

The event was organised by the Coconut Development Ministry and Temple Trees in Colombo.

Rajapaksa said,

"The coconut industry is being developed according to a local made strategic plan instead of foreign plans. We Sri Lankas need not have foreign plans."

Commenting that 'mitas' have been destroying coconut plantations, Rajapaksa added,

"There are Mitas lurking in other fields trying to destroy the country. Certain Mitas of Nun Government Organisations are among them. Those Mitas are destroying cultural values of the country."

"The country has been placed on a fast development track after being liberated from terrorism which stifled the country's progress for nearly three decades. These Mitas come in various forms and are carrying out hidden agendas to destroy this peaceful atmosphere.'

"They are engaging in destroying the dignity of the country. But the people are vigilant about the behaviour of these forces,"

Recalling folklore of Prince Vinaya, Rajapaksa also added,

''As a result of certain narrow minded political decisions by past governments and private sector activities, coconut cultivation in Sri Lanka had seen a gradual decline."

The Sri Lankan Minister of Media and Information declared on Monday that Sri Lanka will no longer allow room for the TNA to deceive the international community, reported Uthayan.

Responding to TNA’s reluctance to participate in the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Tamil issues, Rambukwella emphasised that Parliament was the land’s highest institution and that the select committee would be the best place to find a solution for the ‘national issue’.

Indian opposition leader Sushma Swaraj has told the TNA that all Indian parties are united in their desire to find a just and dignified political solution for Eelam Tamils.

During the meeting with the visiting TNA delegation, Ms Swaraj stated:

"The Indian government has many inland problems, over which different parties hold different stances. However we are all of a united stance regarding the issue of Ilankai Tamils."

Civil societies sources in Amparai state that disadvantaged Tamil Saiva families are being converted to Islam by mosque leaders through financial enticement, reported TamilNet. Approximately seventy five Saiva families living in Nainaakdu have been converted to Islam and a mosque has been erected recently for the convertees’ use.

The Sri Lankan foreign minister, GL Peiris arrived in Kuwait this weekend to take part in the ACD foreign ministry meeting - Asia Cooperation Dialogue.

The meeting will include ministers from 32 ACD countries.

Speaking to The Island this weekend, the GTF spokesperson Suren Surendiran commented on the recent statement by the TNA on their visit to New Delhi, and stressed the diaspora's determination to continue.

"India’s interest in Tamil affairs in Sri Lanka is vital in achieving a just political solution for the Tamil National Question, equality, dignity and justice for Tamils. India is not just a regional power, it is growing to be an international power. Having a regional alliance with the Tamil Nation is not just important for Indian security but also significant to establish a stable region."

"For the current Indian Government, the politics in Tamil Nadu is key to sustain the existing coalition and in the elections that are due in less than two years. In those circumstances, it is vitally important the elected representatives of the Tamil people, the TNA, to engage India at the most senior levels of the establishment. We are encouraged by the Indian Prime Minister’s remarks that `India would never backtrack from its position that Tamils in Sri Lanka should lead a life of dignity and self respect in a peaceful environment’ as reported in the local Indian media."

"The diaspora is united in its fundamentals. Therefore be it at the UNHRC or any other international forums we, collectively will continue to demand for an international independent investigation to establish the truth on what happened at the last leg of the war that ended in May 2009. The fact that human rights conditions for Tamils, particularly for young women and generally for the youth has deteriorated since the end of the war will be exposed with credible evidence at every international opportunity presented to us."

The Colombo Telegraph has published a statement by the TNA on the party's recent visit to India. Reproduced in full below:

A Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentary delegation led by its leader R. Sampanthan and comprising, S Senathirajah, K Premachandran, A Adaikalanathan, A Vinayagamoorthi, Pon Selvarajah and M A Sumanthiran visited New Delhi on the invitation of the Ministry of External Affairs between the 10th and 13th of October 2012. During the visit the delegation met with the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the Minister for External Affairs Shri S M Krishna, the Leader of the Opposition Shrimati Sushma Swaraj, the National Security Advisor Shri Shiv Shanker Menon, the Secretary of External Affairs Shri Ranjan Mathai, the Joint Secretary Shri Shringla and other officials.

In an interview with the pro-government newspaper, The Sunday Island, the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa called for the 'abolition of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution without further delay'.

Stating that the 13th Amendment was 'nothing but an impediment to the post-war development process', Gotabhaya Rajapaksa asserted 'that the SLFP-led UPFA should either do away with the 13th Amendment or amend it taking into considering ground realities'.

The Sri Lankan embassy in the US has managed to ward off a campaign launched by a US congressman pushing for progress on the UNHRC resolution adopted earlier this year, according to sources at Sri Lanka's External Affairs Ministry.

Speaking to the Sunday Leader, sources at the ministry said they had managed to have House Resolution 177, first presented by Republican congressman, Michael Grimm in 2011, removed from the calendar this year, but feared that it may be re-submitted and passed before January.

Indian and Sri Lankan officials have held talks about civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries.

A statement, released by Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Ministry, said that the discussions were “warm and friendly”.