Photograph: NewsFirst.lk

Two school children have been reported missing from Trincomalee, according to latest reports.

Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena awarded soldiers and policemen in Jaffna last week, as he called for a crackdown on illegal drug smuggling.

Sri Lanka’s commander of the security forces in Jaffna told The Island that the army “would not return even an inch” of the land it occupies in the Northern Province, as he confirmed that the number of soldiers in the region had not been reduced.

The bodies of two women have been discovered at a house in Eravur, Batticaloa this morning according to latest reports.

Ada Derana reports that the two women were identified as a 55 year old lady and her 34 year old daughter.

Police suspect the women have been murdered, reports Colombo Gazette.

The bodies have been transferred to Eravur hospital where an autopsy will be carried out.
 

Sri Lanka’s defence minister said his armed forces were “well prepared” to participate in United Nations peacekeeping missions, at a summit in London this week. 

State Minister Ruwan Wijewardene told the summit that Sri Lankan troops were keen to take part in peacekeeping missions, calling them a “golden opportunity”.

Meeting with 80 other ministers and military officials from across the world, the minister “explained our ability, enthusiasm and readiness to take part,” said Sri Lanka’s official Ministry of Defence website.

After millions of dollars of losses, the Sri Lankan government has finally decided to close down failing airline Mihin Lanka this week.

"By the end of the year, there will be no Mihin Lanka and we (SriLankan airlines) will be servicing the routes they operated," said SriLankan airlines chairman Ajith Dias, after stating losses of $117 million had been piled up.

Mihin Lanka, which was launched in 2008 and flies to several international locations, is now expected to stop its flights by the end of this year, with SriLankan airlines taking over.

SriLankan airlines though faces its own financial turmoil, with an estimated debt of $3.2 billion.
 

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister said the newly announced Office of Missing Persons will have a “humanitarian mandate”, following controversy over the lack of prosecutorial power the office will hold.

Speaking at the International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) in Slovenia earlier this week, Mangala Samaraweera said the “main objective” of the bill was “ascertaining the fate of the missing, irrespective of when and where they went missing and in what location, and seek to provide answers to their family members and loved ones”.

Sri Lanka deserves “special attention” as the island continues to work towards democracy and reconciliation, said the United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, at an international media conference currently underway in India.

Speaking on US interests in South and East Asia, Angela Aggeler said “economically, the region offers some bright indicators, even in the midst of daunting challenges”. 

The United National Party (UNP) on Saturday passed a resolution pledging "not to allow any foreign force to threaten the country’s independence or undermine, ridicule or exert pressure on the people’s sovereignty", the Sunday Times reported. 

The resolution, entitled 'Our ideology' was submitted by the prime minister and UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe at the party's 70th annual convention, which was attended by the former president, Chandrika Kumaratunge, and the Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena. 

The Sri Lankan army has pledged to release 700 acres of land in Valikaamam North in Jaffna, the Sunday Times reported.  

Jaffna's district secretary, N Vedhanayagan, reportedly said the pledge came following his request to the military to release 1500 acres. 

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