Award winning musician ‘Maya' Mathangi Arulpragasam, better known as M.I.A., has spoken out against Australia’s policy on asylum seekers calling on the country to do more to help Tamil refugees.

The body of a 68 year old man was found in a well in Marakkaarampalai on Saturday, reports Uthayan.

It is believed to be that of Palaswamy Arunaasalam, who was reported missing after he set off towards Vavuniya on 2nd January.

Applicants for dual citizenship will now have to face an interview panel led by none other than the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, after having their application approved by the Immigration Department.

The panel will also include the Foreign Ministry Secretary Karunatillake Amunugama and Public Administration Secretary PB Abeykoon.

The Japanese government has pledged approximately 23 million Japanese Yen in donations for those affected by the floods. The assistance includes tents, plastic sheets and sleeping pads and will be distributed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

In a statement, the Japanese embassy said:

In an effort to deal with the increasing number of foreign investors who are defaulting on loans from state banks, the Sri Lankan government has pledged an investigation - an international one.

The Sri Lankan media ministry has sent letters to websites, asking them to register and pay the fee by January 15, reported ColomboPage.

New regulations, brought in by the government last year, stipulate that websites on the island need to register and pay registration fees of Rs 25,000 and an annual fee of Rs 10,000.

In an interview with The Hindu, Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, highlighted the need to re-establish the confidence of Tamils so that they may return, whilst making a point of stressing that this return must be voluntary. 

See full interview here.  Extracts reproduced below: 

"The number of people going back to Sri Lanka has decreased substantially in the recent past. We need to look into what are the obstacles and how the two governments of India and Sri Lanka, working together can improve the conditions and create opportunities for the voluntary repatriation of the people. Voluntary is the key word here."

The Sri Lankan government is to seek out a further loan from the International Monetary Fund after the failure of foreign investment to materialise. See LBO's report.

More than 50 Australians gathered outside the Sydney Cricket Ground to protest against Australia hosting the Sri Lankan cricket team in their tour of the country, as more supporters signed on to the boycott Sri Lanka cricket campaign.

Sri Lanka’s state owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) posted losses of Rs. 95 billion, according to Managing Director Susantha De Silva, while a government minister insisted that a high quality service was being provided, ruling out privatisation of the company.

Two villages in the Vadamaraadchi region of the Jaffna peninsula saw Christmas events organised by the Sri Lankan Army.