The new US ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina Teplitz stressed the need to resolve the country's political crisis in a transparent and democratic manner, in an interview with the Daily FT. 

The former NPC member, T Ravikaran met with Canada's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka today and urged action on ongoing Tamil concerns. 

The continued military occupation of land, the Buddhisation of the North-East, the disappeared and political prisoners were discussed during the meeting. 

Yesterday the Canadian High Commissioner, David McKinnon met with former LTTE fighters in Mullaitivu. 

Locals in Jaffna said members of Rajapaksa's SLPP party promised educational equipment for children if parents took part in a supportive rally, however, no equipment was later given. 

At the rally, held today, locals said military personnel and police officers dressed in civilian clothes were on the streets nearby. 

"They told us to call for the military to be deployed on the streets to ensure security of the Tamil people," one father, who took part in the protest but did not want his identity revealed, told the Tamil Guardian. 

A former Sri Lankan navy commander, who was wanted over the abduction and murder of 11 Tamil youths as well as the assassination of Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian Nadarajah Raviraj, has been further remanded until December 19 by Colombo Fort Magistrate. 

Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena told soldiers that the army had been “recognised by the UN” at a seminar delivered to more than 2,000 troops last week.