The Sri Lankan government spent more than Rs 1 million to bring the controversial British politician Lord Naseby for a one-day visit to the island, reports Ceylon Today.

According to a Right to Information (RTI) request obtained by Ceylon Today, the 2012 visit cost Rs 1,273,534.79. The total includes the Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force chartering a              B412 helicopter ride for the British Lord, who has in the past been labelled an “apologist” for the Rajapaksa regime.

The Sri Lankan Army has admitted to holding a military intelligence report on a Tamil journalist, a Right to Information Commission report has revealed.

The information was revealed during the proceedings of a Right to Information request submitted by Uthayan journalist Dileep Amuthan, when the Sri Lankan Army submitted that it was hesitant to release the requested information – about military hospitality ventures and the Haiti child sex abuse case – because of a Military Intelligence Report held about Mr Amuthan.

The Sri Lankan military held a two day workshop for Tamil schoolchildren in the Vanni earlier this month, with an aim to “build up the image of the Sri Lanka Army”.

The event is the latest in a long history of the Sri Lankan military involving itself in civilian activities across the North-East, despite almost constant criticism from Tamil politicians and civil society activists. Of particular concern has been the military’s involvement in schools in the region, where uniformed soldiers have frequently held various events.

^{File photograph:Mr Paisley with MP Liam Fox who himself resigned in 2011 after reports emerged of his dealings with the Sri Lankan government.} 

British parliamentarian Ian Paisley Jr has been suspended from parliament after being found guilty of accepting all expenses paid trips funded by the Sri Lankan government, before he lobbied against an United Nations Human Rights Council resolution.

The Sri Lankan military has been accused of attempting to mislead the Right to Information (RTI) Commission over the extent and nature of sexual abuse committed by Sri Lankan troops whilst deployed as United Nations peacekeepers in Haiti.

A confidential United Nations investigation identified 134 Sri Lankan soldiers who are alleged to have sexually exploited nine Haitian boys and girls from late 2004 to mid-2007, during a peacekeeping mission in the country. “The acts of sexual exploitation and abuse were frequent, occurred usually at night, and at virtually every location where Sri Lankan military were deployed,” said the report.

The chief minister of the Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran condemned the TID's attempt to collect information about new born babies in Kilinochchi, saying that they cannot collect such information as they please. 

"The army seems to think the state of emergency continues. At present, when this [state of emergency] is not in place, if any information is sought from any state body, approval must be sought from the senior official," he said. 

"Information cannot be collected without proper processes citing security. The law does not give way for this," he added. 

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP for Batticaloa, S Yogeswaran condemned what he described as Sinhala colonisation taking place in the Eastern province with the assistance of Buddhist clergy and the Sri Lankan army. 

In a letter to District Government Agent for Batticaloa, M Uthayakumar, Mr Yogeswaran condemned plans to build a Buddhist centre in Punaanai, Batticaloa for newly settled Sinhala families. 

"Under the guise of resettlement, Sinhala colonisation has happened," he wrote in his letter. 

A Tamil refugee deported from Australia this week was detained on arrival in Colombo, his brother told the Australian news agency, SBS. 

Thileepan Gnaneswaran, a 30 year old father of one was deported after his application for a temporary protection visa was denied. 

A house in Achchuveli, Jaffna was vandalised by unidentified men last night.

The men broke into the home around 10 pm, smashing the door, windows and glass cabinets.

Families of the disappeared in Mullaitivu marked 500 days of protest today following months of prolonged demonstrations calling on the government to release the whereabouts of their missing loved ones. 

Condemning the government's inaction and broken promises, families also criticised Tamil elected representatives for their silence.