Sri Lanka’s newly-appointed Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, stressed the need to change the military’s “mentality” to suit a “post-conflict era,” before “somebody else” directed change, in a high level address today.

Speaking during his maiden address to senior commanders of Sri Lanka’s military Lieutenant Senanayake said,

The funeral of the Tamil man shot dead by Sri Lankan police took place in his Vadamaradchi hometown this morning.

Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Ravi Karunanayake reiterated this week that the government would never "betray" the country's forces and police. 

"We are not ready at any time to betray tri forces and police," Mr Karunanayake was quoted by the Colombo Page as saying. 

Mr Karunanayake stressed that the government "are responsible to protect the war heroes those who saved the country."

Sri Lanka's justice minister, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has accused NGOs of attempting to influence the country's judiciary. 

"The government will not allow Non Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) to influence the judiciary to achieve their personal oraganisation goals," he was quoted by Adaderana as saying. 

"No domestic or foreign body can question the independence of the judiciary," he added, when speaking at a ceremony in to build new court premises in Gampola. 

On Sunday afternoon, Sri Lankan police shot dead a Tamil man in Jaffna. Though the facts around the killing are still not clear, with reports he may have been involved in illegal sand mining, what is known for certain is that Yogarasa Thines was completely unarmed. The police decision to gun him down, not only seems wholly disproportionate, but follows a sadly well-established pattern of Sri Lankan state violence against Tamil civilians, amidst a culture of impunity.

Tamil parties are not pushing for a re-merger of the Northern and Easter Province said Sri Lanka’s Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella .

Speaking during a press conference, Mr Kiriella said, Tamil political parties have asserted they will not push for the merger of the North and East.

The minister added,

“for the first time all the parties in parliament are trying to draft a new Constitution. We need a new Constitution which gives justice and equality to everybody.”

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The President of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Tamil Nadu said that Sri Lanka has assured the release of 42 boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen that were seized by the navy.

Dr Soundarajan, speaking after a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, said that Colombo has assured to positively consider a plea from her to release Tamil Nadu fishing vessels.

Speaking to press on Sunday, she said,

“When I pointed out to the 100 fishing boats of the Indian fishermen were yet to be released, Colombo assured (me) that the boats would be released at the earliest.”

The senior BJP politician added,

A new constitution will not take away the primary status given to Buddhism said Sri Lanka’s cabinet spokesperson, adding that the government would seek approval of the island's senior Buddhist clergy, the Mahanayake Thera. 

Mr Gayantha Karunathilaka said that both the president and prime minister would meet the Mahayanake Theras to explain the situation with the draft constitution.

Mr Karunathilaka said, “certain opposition forces are trying to get political mileage by trying to show a non-existing monster. However the new Constitution would be one that would be approved by the Mahanayake Theras and the common masses at the end of the day.”