Sri Lanka is a key part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese ambassador, Cheng Xueyuan was quoted by Xinhua as saying in an article released by the embassy in Colombo on Friday. 

"The Belt and Road Initiative was a major initiative proposed by the Chinese government and it was aimed at upholding the global free trade system and an open world economy," he said. 

Two Tamil refugees who had previously fled Sri Lanka, were arrested in Rameswaram on Saturday, ANI reported. 

Sayinson, 26, and Jayakumar, 27 were arrested by coastal security near Pamdan. 

The men were accused of attempting to travel to Sri Lanka on an illegal boat. 

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached out to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu,as the veteran party leader M Karunanidhi was admitted to hospital with deteriorating health.

The 94-year old five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Kauvery Hospital in Chennai on Saturday morning following a drop in his blood pressure. It was reported that he had initially suffered from a urinary tract infection, which led to him being hospitalised.

Mr Modi tweeted that he had spoken to the DMK chief’s son M K Stalin and daughter Kanimozhi and “offered any assistance required”.

The Sri Lankan government claimed that it was “not concerned” over the possible loss of GSP-Plus trade concessions from the European Union over plans to reinstate the death penalty on the island.

Colombo Gazette quoted Sri Lankan cabinet spokesman Dr Rajitha Senaratne as stating that regardless, his government would push ahead with plans to implement capital punishment.

Human skeletons found at a mass grave in Mannar have “deep and unusual” lacerations on their bones, an archaeologist at the site told Journalists for Democracy Sri Lanka.

“Up to date we have unearthed 58 individual human skeletons here,” said archaeologist Raj Somadeva. “There are so many bones scattered all over the excavation pit.”

“5 skeletons belong to children,” he added

He went on to describe cuts on the bones as “unusual”.

Residents in Mullaitivu are in a state of fear as Sri Lankan army soldiers collected information about households and businesses in the area this week. 

Soldiers, from the 57th Division, were seen visiting houses in Udayarkaddu, Suthanthirapuram, Kaiveli, Redbaana and Maanikkapuram, and collection information about the number of people in each households and their personal details. 

Soldiers also visited shops and businesses in the area seeking details of owners and employees. 

Mullaitivu district remains deeply militarised despite the passing of over 9 years since the end of the armed conflict. 

The Intelligence Unit at Welikada Prison was disbanded by the Sri Lankan Justice Minister on Thursday.

The decision was taken following an investigation into corruption and irregularities reported in the Prisons Department, the ministry said.

Recent investigations alleged that several prison officials have maintained contacts with prison inmates who are accused of drugs trafficking. It was also reported that with the help of some prison officials, the inmates were getting mobile phones, the Daily Mirror reports.

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister has claimed that people on the island, especially children, should learn Sinhala, Tamil and English to bring about reconciliation.

“If people learn Sinhala, then everyone should be conversant with the language of the majority. If one learns Tamil, then that person will be able to benefit from the development that is taking place in Tamil Nadu. One could get more benefits from South India than from Europe if he or she learns Tamil. Likewise, if one learns English, he or she will be benefitted when travelling to UK or USA.”

The Jaffna Fort should not be handed over to the Sri Lankan army, and all currently occupying troops of the area should be removed, the District Coordinating Committee for Jaffna said last week.

The decisions were made at a meeting convened by the chairs for the committee, Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran, ITAK leader Mavai Senathirajah, and UNP MP Vijayakala Maheswaran.

NPC council member M. K. Sivajilingam heavily criticised the Archaeology Department for continuing to allow the Army to occupy and use as an active base such a place of historical and archaeological importance.

A Sri Lankan parliamentarian has called for the arrest of the former state minister and Tamil UNP MP Vijayakala Maheswaran, following a speech she made in Jaffna earlier this year.

Udaya Gammanpila, a parliamentarian representing the Colombo district, said that he was going to “issue a writ against the Attorney General to immediately arrest” Ms Maheswaran.