US Naval Special Warfare Forces took part in a Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) exercise with the Sri Lankan military at a navy base in Trincomalee last month, as military relations between the two government continues to grow.

The Mannar district is to be developed into a tourism hub, according to Sri Lanka’s Tourism Minister, Xinhua reports.

The Minister said that officials from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority would be sent to the district to evaluate how attractions should be conserved and the district developed for tourism.

Attractions such as Adam's Bridge, the Wilpattu National Park, the Madhu Church, Hindu Temples, colonial architecture, marine resources, Mannar culture and the baobab tree would be promoted, the Minister said and the government would work on improving basic infrastructure and increasing investor interest.

The international animal rights organisation PETA has urged tourists to avoid Sri Lanka’s elephant attractions, including the famous state-run Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and celebrations of the Buddhist festival of Esala.

The Northern Ireland MP Ian Paisley Jr has been suspended by his party, the DUP, for failing to declare two family holidays that were paid for by the Sri Lankan government and later lobbying on the country's behalf against an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity, the Belfast Live reported today.

“Officers of the Democratic Unionist Party have considered the report of the House of Commons Committee on Standards on Ian Paisley MP," the DUP was quoted by the paper as saying in a statement 

Riot police confronted fishermen in Mullaitivu protesting against illegal fishing by Sinhala fishermen. 

Fishermen tried to enter the department of fisheries and aquatic resources, accusing the department of accepting bribes from Sinhala fishermen to enable them to fish in the region unlawfully.

Sri Lanka's former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa criticised the government today, stating that they had imposed taxes on all commodities. 

Speaking at a religious ceremony at a Buddhist vihara in Kadawatha, Mr Rajapaksa was quoted by Adaderana as saying, "the government might be able to control the public but not the Maha Sangha". 

"Increasing the import tax on small cars is not a strange thing when the government imposed a tax on temple donation boxes," he added, drawing attention to the government's decision to increase import tax on small hybrid cars. 

The massacre of 63 Tamils in cold-blood by Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF) in Valvai on August 2, 1989 was remembered today 29 years on. 

IPKF officers, led by Brigadier Sankar Prasath, entered homes in the region after imposing a curfew and shot and stabbed residents to death.

Some young men were dragged to the local junction where they were shot and killed. 

A Tamil man has been arrested in Germany accused of war crimes and being a member of a ‘foreign terrorist organisation’, reports AP.

The 36-year-old identified as Sivatheeban B is accused of tying up 16 captured Sri Lankan soldiers in 2008, guarding them and driving them to a site where they were allegedly shot.

Prosecutors allege he was a member of the LTTE between 2006 and 2009.

Mr Sivatheeban is being detained pending a potential indictment.

The Sri Lankan military continued its involvement in civilian activities, holding a dental clinic in Kilinochchi earlier this year.

Sri Lankan police personnel station in several areas across Jaffna have had their leave cancelled, as the security presence in the peninsula is increased.

The Daily Mirror reports that in Koppay, Chunnakam and Mannipay, the Sri Lankan Police’s Senior DIG in Jaffna cancelled leave for officers, with “special police operations” underway.

The announcement comes as the police announced a ‘special’ motorcycle police team has been deployed in Jaffna to deal with rising violent crimes.