A delegation from the Omani government has discussed ways to support Sri Lanka in the event of a crisis due to sanctions placed on financial institutions dealing with Iranian crude oil, according to a Sri Lankan official.

"The two ministers discussed in detail how Oman could assist Sri Lanka in the event of a crisis, if Sri Lanka is unable to import crude oil from Iran," a ministry official with knowledge of the talks between Petroleum Minister Susil Premajayantha and Mohammad bin al-Rumhy told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

R.G Sakthi Saravanan, the head of the oldest consumer cooperative society, the TUCS (Triplicane Urban Coopoerative Society) has instructed the chain of affiliated shops to remove products from Sri Lanka, following increasing pressure from Tamil activists on the ground.

Sri Lanka's press freedom is continuing to deteriorate according to the World Press Freedom Index.

The annual report, compiled by Reporters without Borders (RSF), saw Sri Lanka drop to 163rd place out of 178 countries that are ranked, placing it below countries such as Pakistan and Azerbaijan, and just one place above Somalia.

Not content with the military running hotels and conducting whale watching tours, Sri Lanka's Immigration and Emigration Department announced Tuesday that a permanent monitoring unit would be established to keep track of Sri Lanka's tourists.

The decision came after 161 Muslim tourists who had overstayed their visas and engaged in activities "other than tourism", were asked to leave.

The department's head, Chief Chulananda Perara, said,

Daily Mirror 24/01/12

Sri Lankan daily newspaper, the Daily Mirror, illustrates its conclusions of India's external affairs secretary's visit to Sri Lanka.

More than 180 Tamil political prisoners have been moved from Magazine prison in Welikada after clashes between prisoners and guards led to at least 31 people having sustained injuries.

The Tamil prisoners were moved to the main complex of the prison and were reportedly transferred to another jail for their own safety, after riots took over Magazine prison.

Those imprisoned, for alleged being LTTE cadres, continue to face military repression long after they are released, said Velvettithurai's urban councillor, MK Sivajilingam.

He added,

"These former LTTE cadres are now forced to live under the watchful eye of military intelligence. Some of them are told to report to the military once a week and others are told to come once a month,"

“The sexual abuse of a female Dutch national at a guest house in Matara can be considered a ‘terrible’ incident and the authorities must act upon any incident that concerns the safety of tourists arriving in the country.”