Sri Lanka would like to see much more Chinese investment said Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake to Xinhua.

Speaking to the Chinese news agency, Mr Karunanayake said Sri Lanka had strong ancient ties with china with the relationship being at its strongest level present.

“We appreciate the investments that are coming in from China, but we would like to see much more,” he added.

Sri Lanka will sign a $1.1 billion deal on Saturday to lease the southern Hambantota port to China on Saturday, reports the New York Times.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe confirmed that the deal would be signed this weekend, speaking at a press conference on Friday.

The Sri Lankan army is to receive Rs 148 million towards the construction of a new army complex in Mullaitivu as an incentive to release 100 acres of private land in Kepappilavu. 

The new complex is reportedly earmarked for 'state land'. 

The wife of the former Sri Lankan president, Shiranthi Rajapaksa on Thursday evaded a summons by the Criminal Investigation Department over the murder of the rugby player Wasim Thajudeen. 

Her son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa has been summoned to appear before the CID tomorrow, Colombo Page reported. 

Sri Lanka's local election monitors, PAFFREL and CaFFE on Thursday expressed concern over the Cabinet's decision to postpone Provincial Council polls from the agreed date of October 2017. 

A Canadian court on Thursday ruled that four Tamil men accused of people smuggling from Sri Lanka were not guilty, stating that the men were asylum seekers. 

Francis Anthonimuthu Appulonappa, Hamalraj Handasamy, Jeyachandran Kanagarajah and Vignarajah Thevarajah were accused of trying to organise the trafficking of asylum seekers via the MV Ocean Lady in October 2009. 

A Sri Lankan police officer has reportedly been assaulted by unknown persons in Jaffna, according to the Daily Mirror.

The police officer, identified as Sub Inspector Thinduraja, was reportedly assaulted by four unidentified people on his way home from the local police station.

No serious injuries have been reported as he was wearing a helmet.

The United States has announced $7.4 million will be provided to Sri Lanka through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) as part of a program to “reduce poverty and promote economic opportunity” on the island.

A visiting delegation from the MCC  led by Fatema Z. Sumar, Regional Deputy Vice President for Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America, visited Colombo this week to make the announcement.

The chief minister of Tamil Nadu, E Palaniswami on Thursday wrote to the Indian premier, Narendra Modi, urging him to ensure the release of fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan navy. 

"I request PM Modi to take immediate action for release of 75 Indian fishermen release and 149 boats from Sri Lanka," Mr Palaniswami was quoted by ANI as saying. 

Seventy-five Tamil Nadu fishermen are believed to be detained by the Sri Lankan navy along with 149 boats. 

An arrest warrant has been issued by Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal for a navy officer wanted in connection with the assassination of the Tamil politician, N Raviraj. 

The officer, identified as Prasad Hettiarachchi was issued an arrest warrant as he had failed to appear in court after being summoned along side four others names as respondents in a petition filed by Mr Raviraj's wife. 

The Sri Lankan government may delay the signing of the Hambantota port city deal with China Merchant Port Holdings depending on a parliamentary debate tomorrow, Ceylon Today reported on Thursday. 

The deal was due to be signed on Saturday. 

Sri Lanka's Joint Opposition on Wednesday threatened legal action if the government did not hold Provincial Council elections as planned in October, the Daily Mirror reported. 

Preparations are underway for the historic Nallur Kandasamy Kovil’s annual Thiruvizha which will commence tomorrow with the inaugural flag raising ceremony.

Today the temple held 'kodicheelai kaiyalippu', the traditional handing over of the flag silk, with a procession and poosai to bless the flag.

The Defence Attaché of the United States Embassy in Sri Lanka Lt Col Douglas Hess met with the Sri Lankan Minister of Defence earlier on Thursday.