A former LTTE cadre and political party activist was found dead yesterday in Jaffna.

The body of 34-year-old Tharmasena Rishikaran, known as Iniyavan, was found hanging in the Chavakachcheri office of Crusaders for Democracy, the party for which he was the Thenmaradchi co-ordinator.

The death is being investigated as suspicious.

Sri Lanka's draft new constitution will be finalised this week when steering committee members meet on January 5th and 6th, said a member of the committee, Dr Jayampathy Wickramaratne. 

"If consensus is reached during the two-day meeting, the report is expected to be presented to the Constitutional Assembly, made up of all MPs, which will meet on January 9, 10 and 11, to debate the draft," he was quoted by the SundayTimes.lk as saying. 

The Northern Provincial Council last week moved to prohibit the sale of toddy produced in the South, the Daily Mirror reported. 

The motion, tabled by the Agriculture Minister, P Ainkaranesan who explained that toddy made and imported from other parts of the island was a threat to the North's toddy industry, was passed unanimously. 

On this day 11 years ago, five Tamil students were summarily executed by Sri Lanka's Special Task Force, whilst they spent an afternoon on the beach in Trincomalee.

Tamil churches across the North-East saw in the new year with special services.

Photo above: Yaazh Punitha Mariyaal (Our Lady of the Refuge)

Relatives of the disappeared held a protest  in Vavuniya on Friday, demanding justice for the thousands of missing and disappeared Tamils.

Sri Lanka and India are set to hold the third round of talks on the proposed Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) on January 4th and 5th in Colombo. 

Discussions have become increasingly difficult as both parties failed to agree on a good deal, reported the Colombo Page. 

Sinhala nationalists have also raised objections regarding any economic agreement with the Indian government, which they see as in breach of their sovereignty. 

Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has hit back at criticism from a parliamentarian, calling it an attempt to “erode the Sinhala Buddhist vote base of the United National Party (UNP)”.

Sri Lankan MP Atshu Marasinghe labelled Mr Rajapakshe a “NGO write-off” and spoke out at his meeting with “men in robes”.

Mr Rajapakshe responded by calling the comments disrespectful and an attempt to dig away at the UNP’s Sinhala Buddhist vote base.

Sri Lankan soldiers have constructed water wells in two locations in Jaffna, including at a Saivite temple this month, according to an official military website.

Officials warn that Sri Lanka may endure what could be the worst drought since the early 1970s.

Disaster Management Minister Anura Yapa said that the government is preparing to deal with repercussion through efforts such as food and water relief. However, water conservation efforts could help mitigate the crisis.

Sri Lankan courts decided to further remand the five police officers suspected in the shooting death of Jaffna University students Nadarasa Gajen and Vijayakumar Sulakshan.

Magistrate S. Satheeswaran extended the remand for Sub Inspector Sarath Dissanayake, Sgt P. S. Jayawardena, PC Chandana, PC Laknamanna and PC Navarathne until 13 January. They are to be held in the Anuradhapura Prison.

The former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa told journalists this week that he intended to "topple" the current government in 2017. 

“Earlier when I said that I am going to defeat Prabakaran, I knew, I could," Mr Rajapaksa said, stating that he had "similar confidence" now about toppling the current government. 

Mr Rajapaksa dismissed the government's parliamentary majority, stating that it was undermined as “they are fighting each other”. 

Over 6000 Sri Lankan soldiers have returned to obtained their legal discharge from the military following the declaration of a general amnesty, reports the Ministry of Defence.

The month-long amnesty has attracted thousands, including at least two “high ranking officers” to return.

Several amnesty periods have been declared by the Sri Lankan military over the years, with tens of thousands returning to obtain their legal discharge.

A group of Sri Lankans living in the UK held a protest in London last week, demonstrating against any proposed changes to Sri Lanka’s constitution.

The group waved Sri Lankan flags and brandised placards in Sinhala and English.