Photos: defence.lk

The former army commander Sarath Fonseka was promoted to Field Marshal, the highest rank of the Sri Lankan military at a ceremony earlier today, the first Sri Lankan to be given the rank.

Mr Fonseka, who is thought to be responsible for tens of thousands of Tamil deaths during his time at the helm of the army, was promoted under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena, who presented him with the field marshal baton at the ceremony.

Both India and the US are assisting Sri Lanka with a probe, tracing $2bn allegedly hidden in overseas accounts by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, according to the Economic Times.

Sri Lanka’s government appointed disappearances commission said in a report the Tamil deaths, caused by incessant government shelling of the so-called No Fire Zones (NFZ), were collateral damage and blame should rest with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Foreign experts, appointed to the commission by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, said civilians would have lost their protected status if they voluntarily assisted the LTTE.

“As unfortunate as it is, the civilian casualties should be considered collateral damage and the ultimate responsibility for their loss would rest on the LTTE due to their grave breaches of [international humanitarian law],”

Former minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said convincing the UN Human Rights Council and the US to postpone the release of the OHCHR report on the investigation into Sri Lanka was the new government’s greatest achievement so far.

Mr Samarasinghe, who represented Sri Lanka as former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s human rights envoy at previous HRC sessions, said the release of the report in March would have been “extremely dangerous” for the country.

"Various people may say various things but as a person who frequented Geneva and faced the US sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka, I was aware of what was in store for us. If it was taken up in March 2015 as scheduled, the result would have been extremely dangerous for the country," he said in parliament on Thursday.

Redbridge Council, a borough in the North-East of London, passed a motion calling on the British government and the UN to ensure justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against the Tamil people.

The motion, which was unopposed, also calls for a "permanent political solution addressing the root cause of the conflict which will meet the aspirations of the Tamil people in their home nation" and a mechanism which ensures that "socio-economic and cultural wellbeing is enhanced while safeguarding historical identity within their Tamil nation.”

Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter in Akkarai, Jaffna (Photos: EDA)

Switzerland’s foreign minister, Didier Burkhalter visited a Swiss-funded reconstruction project in the village of Akkarai on the Jaffna peninsula on Wednesday.

Touring the village after holding talks with NPC Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran and Governor Mr Palihakkara, the foreign minister, who was Swiss president until last year, said he was delighted at the role Switzerland played in helping the people.

"The houses of Akkarai show that a shared commitment can give people renewed hope and prospects. I am delighted that Switzerland can play its part in helping the people of Akkarai build their own future after all they have been through", said Mr Burkhalter.

Scotland’s police service is due to renew a controversial deal under which Sri Lanka’s security forces receive training, The National reported on Thursday.

The Scottish Police College (SPC) has provided the training since 2007 but the current contract is due to expire at the end of this month.

However, in a move that has been condemned by politicians and human rights campaigners, the SPC have confirmed that they are close to sealing a new contract for 2015-2016 to further work to develop Sri Lanka’s National Police Academy.

Independent MSP John Finnie, who has previously raised concerns about SPC training in the Maldives due to human rights concerns, said that an extension of the contract would cause “reputational damage” to the Scottish Police Service.

Mr Finnie, a former police officer, said: “Once again the Scottish Police Service finds itself linked with an oppressive regime whose police officers it trained.