The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested the former Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as Pillayan, over the killing of TNA MP Joseph Pararajasingham.

Pillayan was arrested whilst making a statement on the killing of the former TNA MP, reports Colombo Page.

The Sri Lankan army is ready to defend the nation at all times said the army's Commander Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva on Saturday, addressing the 66th Army Day.

Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva said in his address that “Sri Lankan soldiers are admired world over for their display of humanity, discipline, professionalism and integrity”. “These attributes will without doubt enable us to be more efficient when we embark on increasing our participation in UN.”

“I urge all members of the Army to remain steadfastly loyal to the nation,” he added.

The British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said there remains “much to be done” in Sri Lanka after a resolution was passed at the UN Human Rights Council, mandating an accountability mechanism for violations of international humanitarian law committed during the armed conflict.

“I’m hopeful that the next stage of this process will be accompanied by further progress on some of the other commitments President Sirisena has made – from demilitarisation, to anti-corruption work, to the release of political prisoners, to reducing tensions between communities and disengaging the military from commercial activities,” said Hugo Swire, in a blog post earlier this week.

“There is much to be done, and we in the UK are keen to offer support wherever we can. We’ll be discussing this with the Sri Lankan government in the coming weeks.”

The opposition United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) will stage “massive countrywide protests” to raise awareness about the dangers of the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution on Sir Lanka’s atrocities, warned an MP on Saturday.

The leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, a coalition member of the (UPFA), said,

The European Union agreed to provide a Euro 43.7 million grant for development projects in Sri Lanka.

30 million of the grant will go to the Central and UVA Provinces reports Colombo page.

The US Ambassador to Colombo Atul Keshap, announced an additional $1.745 million to add to the demining initiatives of international and domestic organisations working under the National Mine Action Committee (NMAC)

Reiterating US support for demining in Sri Lanka, Mr Keshap said,