158 Tamils rounded up and forcibly disappeared by the Sri Lankan Army from the Eastern University were remembered in Batticaloa today, on the 27th anniversary of their disappearance.

On 5th September 1990, Sri Lankan soldiers surrounded the Vantharumoolai campus of Eastern University, rounding-up and arresting 158 Tamils that were sheltering there.

Protestors in Mannar called for the Myanmar government to end genocide against the Rohingya people.

The Sri Lankan Army continues in its mission of Sinhalising the Tamil homeland, specifically through the installation of Buddhist shrines within the premises of or in close proximity to Hindu temples in the North-East.

Unidentified gunmen on Monday fired shots at the house of one of the key eye witnesses to the 2012 shooting at Welikada prison. 

The witness, Sudesh Nandimal, wa not injured in the attack. He was residing at his sister's house in Moratuwa. 

Several shots were fired at the property's gate. The police were informed at 11pm last night, the Daily Mirror reported. 

In July, an inquiry was launched into the Welikada incident, where 27 inmates, who were mainly Sinhalese were killed during a prison riot by security forces. 

Sri Lanka's Joint Opposition on Tuesday called for Field Marshal and minister, Sarash Fonseka to be sacked from his position for his comments stating that he would be happy to stand as a witness against the former military general, Jagath Jayasuriya, who is accused of war crimes. 

“We do not trust him. He contradicts the President’s statements and attempts to betray the country,” MP Prasanna Ranatunga was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying.

“It is doubtful whether the minister was plotting to betray the soldiers by accepting money from the LTTE Diaspora."

Dismissing criticism of his willingness to stand as a witness against the former Sri Lankan military general who has been accused of war crimes, Field Marshal and former army commander, Sarath Fonseka told the government, "don't betray people by protecting so called war heroes". 

Palaly airbase can be developed into a regional airport without further appropriation of land, an Indian government research team has recommended to the Sri Lankan government.

Opportunities for developing Palaly were studied by an Indian government-sponsored team, led by Chennai Airport director Deepak Shastri, in March last year.

A Chief Buddhist prelate commended Sri Lanka President Sirisena’s pledge to protect former army commander Jagath Jayasuriya from any war crimes prosecution, reports dailymirror.lk.

Ven Ella Gunawansa Thera further condemned statements by Field Marshal Minister Sarath Fonseka accusing Jayasuriya of being responsible for war crimes. Dismissing findings of the UN investigation into Sri Lanka's atrocities, he said, 

Sri Lanka's proposed New Inland Revenue Act will stop ministers from being able to grant discretionary tax concessions, the country's finance minister was quoted by LBO as saying. 

The move is aimed at ensuring the system of tax concessions is not subject to abuse. 

Under the new Act, there will be 8 concessionary loan schemes for specific workers, including small and medium scale industrialists, farmers, journalists and entrepreneurs. 

Sri Lanka's State Minister of Defence, Ruwan Wijewardene on Saturday attempted to distance the government from statements made by the minister and Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka, stating that Mr Fonseka had been expressing his "own personal view. 

Mr Fonseka last week said he was prepared to stand as a witness against the former military general Jagath Jayasuriya who had to flee Brazil after human rights organisations filed law suits in Brazil, Peru and Chile over allegations of war crimes.