Police arrested two men on Saturday on suspicion of attacking the Sri Lankan web journalist Freddy Gamage, the Colombo Page reported.

The arrest came only 48 hours after the attack against Mr Gamage on Thursday, during which time Sinhala media and civil society organisations held a protest calling for action over the attack.

Condemning the attack, the New York based media rights group, Committee to Protect Journalists had also urged the authorities to hold those responsible to account.

Tamil officials from the Forest Conservation department and local civil society in Batticaloa staged a protest after being attacked by two Sinhala military personnel.

Photographs: Tamil Guardian

Singapore is considering the creation of a Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA) announced Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) reports Channel News Asia.

Speaking during a 3 day visit to Sri Lanka last week, Singapore’s Trade and Industry Minister S Iswaran, suggested that a decision would be made soon, adding,

Journalists in Jaffna marked the 12 year anniversary of the assassination of journalist Ayuthurai Nadesan who was killed in Batticaloa in 2004.

Members of the Jaffna Press Club laid flowers before a memorial statue for murdered journalists in honour of their murdered colleague.

Sri Lanka's deputy minister for foreign affairs, Harsha De Silva, on Thursday praised the government for saving the country from pressure exerted by the international community.

Defending the 4 percent increase in VAT, which was criticised by opposition MPs, Mr Silva “the government admits that the VAT increase has affected the people. Before the increase, the government reduced the price of essential items and salaries were increased."