An assistant to one of the petitioners in a Habeas Corpus (disappearances) court case was brutally attacked with an iron rod in Vaddukoddai, Jaffna yesterday. 

The 36 year old victim had been riding her push bike with her young son, when an unidentified man in his mid-30s came up from behind and hit her on the shoulders with an iron rod, before pushing her son out of the way and hitting her directly on the head. 

The chief minister of the Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran told officials in the Northern Province not to provide information to the Sri Lankan army without seeking his approval.

His comments come amid reports that the Terrorism Investigation Department had asked health officials within the NPC for information regarding babies born in Kilinochchi during a week in May. 

Sri Lanka's army commander, Mahesh Senanayake reiterated that the army would not close down any camps in the North, in an attempt to reassure the Sinhala population of 'national security'. 

"The Army urges the public not to be misled by those unfounded and false media reports, but continue to repose the full confidence in the Army, considering its past services as well as the roles and tasks, now being performed across the country,” he said in the media statement. 

The Terrorism Investigation Department is collecting information about babies born in Kilinochchi from May 25 - 30 in order to arrest a man over the alleged discovery of a LTTE flag and ammunition in Oddisudan last month, Sri Lankan police sources told local reporters. 

The discovery was reportedly made when police stopped an auto taxi. One person was arrested at the scene whilst another escaped. 

The Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission has written to the President of Sri Lanka, urging him to reconsider the plans to bring in the death penalty for drug trafficking convicts.

The Commission’s chairperson Deepika Udagama said that the death penalty os a serious human rights violation and that implementing it would not address the issue of drug trafficking.

The TNA leader has urged the Prime Minister of Thailand to encourage Thai companies to invest in the North-East.

At a meeting between TNA leader R. Sampanthan and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha in Colombo said that Thai investment could help increase employment opportunities and uplift the economy of the North-East.

Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) has sought information regarding all babies born from May 25th to 30th in Kilinochchi district from the Northern Provincial Council health department.

The reason for the enquiries remains unknown however local residents have expressed concern and fear over the reports.

"Why does the TID want to know about babies," one mother who had recently given birth said, speaking anonymously. 

The habeas corpus case on two disappeared activists was adjourned by Jaffna Magistrates Court on Friday until October, after the state's senior legal representative failed to appear. 

The two activists, Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganathan, who disappeared in 2011, were organising protests on behalf of families who have had relatives gone missing. 

The United National Party (UNP) is to recommence discussions on the proposed 20th Amendment to the constitution on Monday which looks to abolish the executive presidency. 

Sri Lanka's Speaker informed parliament last year that the proposed 20th Amendment would need a two third majority in parliament before being put before the public via a referendum in order to be implemented following a Supreme Court ruling. 

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka admitted that Sri Lankan policemen and Special Task Force troops have carried out torture and demanded ransoms, as he criticised plans to involve the military in drug enforcement activities.  

Speaking to Colombo papers following what he described as a 'fact finding mission' in Jaffna, Sri Lanka's law and order minister, Ranjith Bandara, said he had concluded that it was Tamil films that was fuelling the gang violence in Jaffna. 

Colombo Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake has ordered Sri Lanka’s state translation department to translate into Sinhala and English a speech by former UNP minister Vijayakala Maheswaran, where she stated that the LTTE was needed in the North-East to prevent the rising violence and anti-social behaviour that is taking place in the region. 

The Chief Magistrate’s Court also issued an order demanding full video footage from the event earlier this month, reports The Island.

Sri Lanka's former cricket captain T.M. Dilshan on Friday praised the president, Maithripala Sirisena for deciding to implement the death penalty for drug traffickers. 

Families from Keppapulavu today marked 500 days of protest against the occupation of their lands by the military. 

"International community are you also closing your eyes? Are you too devoid of justice," banners read, as families campaigned for their lands to be released.