USAID has implemented a project to provide clean water to communities that are impacted by disasters and chronic kidney disease in southern Sri Lanka and in the North-East.

The $1 million program builds on the previous USAID projects that have provided access to drinking water in communities that are especially prone to droughts and floods, as well as communities and hospitals that are impacted by chronic kidney disease.

Sri Lanka’s president attended a ceremony that marked the Uva - Wellassa rebellion today, an uprising by Kandyan chiefs against British rule.

The ceremony was held after Maithripala Sirisena annulled an 1818 British gazette notification that branded the Sinhala chiefs who led the uprising as traitors.

During the ceremony, plaques engraved with the names of the chiefs were presented to the heads of museums and to the chief lay custodian of the Buddhist Temple of the Tooth in Kandy,

The Sri Lankan army handed out packets of milk to female former fighters, at a military arranged ceremony in Jaffna last week.

The programme was organised by the Sri Lanka Army 7th Battalion (7 SLAWC) and headed by Major Geetha Rankothge Commanding Officer.

A project is underway to create a cultural center for the Tamil community in the city of Toronto, reports Tamilculture.com.

The aim is, “To create a cultural landmark for the Tamil Canadian community and serve as a state-of-the-art community hub for the residents of the City of Toronto,” said organizers.

Victims of the massacre by Sri Lankan police at the 1974 World Tamil Conference, held in Jaffna, were remembered today.

Nine civilians including a teacher, three students and a doctor were killed when police violently attempted to break up a cultural event at the conference.

A memorial service was held at the massacre’s remembrance monument in Jaffna.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party called for the retention of the island’s executive presidency, alongside the continued demerger of the Northern and Eastern provinces and the foremost place on the island to be granted to Buddhism, in a series of decisions regarding constitutional reform, at a meeting of minister last week.

The Sunday Times reported that during the meeting, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva briefed his colleagues on the latest developments regarding the constitution, after which it was decided,

"The unitary status of Sri Lanka should be protected and no changes should be made to that provision."

The Jaffna Library recorded an increased number of new members in 2016.

The public library's head librarian, Mrs S Sathasivamurthy, reported that membership had increased in all areas except in the children's section.

The library has for decades been at the centre of Tamil cultural life, leading to it being set ablaze by state security forces and state-sponsored mobs in 1981. It has often hosted foreign dignitaries visiting the North-East.

Special action will be taken to guard Buddha statues in Trincomalee, the Uthayan reports.

The Eastern Province's governor, Austin Fernando, led a special discussion with Buddhist monks from Trinco's viharas, stressing the need to place special protections on the Buddha statues around the district.

The decision comes after unidenitified persons carried out co-ordinated vandal attacks on Buddha statues in four different spots in Trincomalee.

The chief minister of Tamil Nadu, O Panneerselvam wrote another letter to the prime minister, Narendra Modi, seeking the release of ten fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lanka navy on Monday. 

The renewed call for action comes just days after Sri Lanka agreed to release 51 fishermen who are currently detained. 

Sri Lanka's foreign affairs minister, Mangala Samaraweera left on Monday for the UK to commence a five day official visit. 

This is the first such visit since the current British prime minister, Theresa May was appointed.