Sri Lanka's new Foreign Exchange Act came into affect today, following Act being gazetted last week by the prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

The move comes amid repeat warnings from international financial institutions amount the island's debt burden and economic situation.

The Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is to embark on an official visit to India tomorrow, into to participate in the opening ceremony of the th Global Conference on Cyberspace to be held in New Delhi. 

Mr Wickremesinghe is expected to meet his counterpart, Narendra Modi and the Indian president, Ram Nath Kovind. 

He will be accompanied by Prof. Maithree Wickramasinghe, Minister Sagala Ratnayaka, the prime minister’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, additional secretary Saman Athaudahetti and special assistant Sandra Perera. 

The Colombo appointed governor of the Northern Province, Reginald Cooray said he would seeking advice from the Attorney General's department regarding the Northern Provincial Council's education minister's refusal to hoist the Sri Lankan flag last week. 

Mr Sarveswaran refused to hoist the flag during a ceremony at a school in Vavuniya on November 16 where he had been invited as the chief guest.

Mr Cooray made his comments at a press conference today that he had arranged to dicuss the incident. 

Shops owned by Muslims in Vavuniya were set alight during the early hours of Monday monday by unknown persons. 

Local police commenced investigations this morning. 

Parents of deceased Tamil cadres were honored at an event by the Crusadors for Democracy Party at their head office in Kaiveli on Saturday.

Over 200 Tamil cadres were remembered with families of the cadres placing garlands around their photos.

Two further Thuyilam Illams (LTTE resting homes) in Chatty, Jaffna district and Thaavarai, Batticaloa district were cleared by families of the Maaveerar and local residents this week, ahead of remembrance day events on November 27, Maaveerar Naal. 

Forty-one Tamils have been arrested over the last two days in Jaffna district, the police spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekara. 

The arrests come after a spate of reported sword attacks in Jaffna, which the police have blamed on 'Aava group'. 

Police officers carried out searches in Jaffna, Koppay, Manipay and Chunnakam. 

According to the police spokesperson the arrests over the past two days comes based on information gathered following interrogations of six Tamils arrested last week. 

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka on Saturday reiterated the government's position that all army camps in the North-East would not be closed down. 

Speaking in parliament on Saturday, Mr Fonseka stressed that "key army camps in the North will not be closed down", the Sunday Leader reported. 

He accused the Joint Opposition of "spreading false claims". 

"The need to maintain a military presence in the North and East is similar to the need to maintain a military presence in the South of the country," he added. 

The Sri Lankan navy on Sunday arrested eight Tamil Nadu fishermen for allegedly fishing off the cost of Katchatheevu, PTI reported. 

The men have been taken to Kaarainagar, the assistant director of fisheries, Gopinath was quoted by the paper as saying. 

The men's boats were also seized and fishing nets snapped. 

The arrest is the latest in the ongoing issue of Tamil Nadu fishermen being arrested by Sri Lankan navy personnel. 

The Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday visited the Gintota in Galle where Muslim homes and business were attacked amid clashes between Muslim and Sinhala residents. 

Pledging legal action against those responsible, Mr Wickremesinghe was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying, “a major disaster erupted because of people spreading rumours. We can’t station Police and military here forever. So everyone should live peacefully."