The Sri Lankan parliament today began its debate on the interim report by the constitutional steering committee.

It takes place amid criticism from Sinhala political groups, Buddhist clergy, military personnel and the Sri Lankan Bar Association regarding the process of formulating a new constitution, arguing that it will pave the way for federalism. 

The three day debate is expected to conclude on Wednesday, the Daily Mirror reported. 

A Tamil motorist was killed in a crash with a military vehicle in Jaffna on Saturday night.

36-year-old father of two, Balakrishnan Vijitharan was taken to hospital with severe injuries after a speeding military vehicle crashed into his motorcycle in the Inuvil area.

He died shortly afterwards at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

The driver of the military vehicle was arrested by Chunnakam police.

Plans to outlaw the extraction of toddy from palmyra and coconut palm trees has angered unions in the North-East who say the law specifically attacks the palm wine trade in Tamil regions.

While Sri Lankan law usually states that the extraction of palm wine is prohibited except from kithul palms, palmyra trees and coconut palms, a recent gazette notification about amendments to excise duties omitted palmyra and coconut palms in the exemptions.

The next US - Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue is to be held in November, with the US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Ambassador Thomas Shannon visiting Sri Lanka, Economy Next reported. 

“The Partnership Dialogue demonstrates the consolidation of cooperation between the United States and Sri Lanka and serves to further strengthen and enhance bilateral relations in the widest sense, through regular and structured engagement,” the US State Department said in a statement. 

Eleven companies have put in bids to explore the Mannar oil basin, Sri Lanka's Director Benefits and Mechanical Engineer at the Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat Preeni Withanage told The Sunday Leader.

The block was formerly due to be developed by Cairn India Ltd, however the company chose to exit the area in 2015. 

The government had called for tenders for the block known as M2 earlier this year. 
 

A Tamil man has been reported missing from Mannar, reports Tamilwin.

Anthonipillai Saint Nicholas Gunabal of Andankulam who runs a barbershop in the area has not been seen since Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Gunabal’s wife filed a missing report with Adamban police on Friday.

The Sri Lankan government said it would study the statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, Pablo de Greiff "carefully" and would continue to engage with him. 

The Sri Lankan government on Saturday expressed its support for a united Spain in response to the Catalan government declaration of independence. 

"Sri Lanka and Spain enjoy an enduring friendship, and Sri Lanka considers Spain as an important member in Sri Lanka's partnership with the European Union," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The chief minister of Tamil Nadu, K Palaniswami on Saturday urged the Indian premier to secure the release of the 54 fishermen currently detained in Sri Lanka. 

“I strongly urge you to … take up the alarming and frequent abduction of our fishermen in their traditional waters with the highest authorities in the Sri Lankan government,” Mr Palaniswamy said in a letter to Mr Modi, reported The Wire. 

A young mother in Jaffna committed suicide along with her three children on Friday unable to cope with heavy debts, which caused her husband to commit suicide one month ago. 

The tragedy comes as community groups have expressed increasing concern over financial hardship within families in the North-East, causing them to turn to precarious sources of loans, including banks, microfinance companies and personal acquaintances. Debts are often followed by harassment as families struggle to repay the loans.