Demilitarisation is crucial for economic development in the Northern Province, a senior Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP has said.

Speaking at a Sri Lankan finance ministry forum on economic development in the North, TNA MP and ITAK leader Mavai Senathirajah called for releasing military-occupied land to help revive agriculture and create jobs.

The parliamentarian pointed out that the Vaddakkachchi farm in Kilinochchi formerly employed 600 people but was currently still under military occupation.

Amnesty International have urged the Sri Lankan president to halt plans to execute at least 13 people for drug-related crimes.

In an open letter published on Friday, Amnesty’s Secretary General Kumi Naidoo warned President Maithripala Sirisena against pursuing a path similar to that in the Philippines stating that there has been “a horrific wave of extrajudicial executions of suspected drug offenders over the past three years [in the Philippines]”.

A group of former Sri Lankan commanders denied that the military committed war crimes and slammed the government for reportedly arresting soldiers whenever the island is discussed at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Sri Lankan government ministers paid a trip to a prison in Colombo this week, where they called on the jailed leader of the extremist Sinhala hate group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS).

UNP member and finance minister Ravi Karunanayake, minister of languages Mano Ganesan and current governor of the Western Province Azath Salley all visited Welikada prison on Thursday to meet with the monk.

A report by the London-based charity Freedom From Torture has found Tamils continue to be tortured by Sri Lankan security forces despite assurances from Colombo that the practice would be halted, stating that the government “continues to flout its own promises”.

A Sub Inspector of the Sri Lankan police was arrested today over the abduction and murder of two businessmen in Rathgama. 

A Sri Lankan navy sailor from the Kankesanthurai base was arrested today by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for his involvement in the abduction and disappearance of 11 Tamil youths between 2008 and 2009. 

<p>The Sri Lankan government announced it was looking to purchase a new hangman’s noose, after the president declared he would reinstate capital punishment on the island.</p> <p>Though Sri Lanka has not executed the death penalty since 1976, Maithripala Sirisena has re-affirmed his commitment to bringing back hanging criminals. This was despite outcry from human rights organisations and governments from around the world.</p>

Parliamentarian Selvam Adaikalanathan spoke on the LTTE’s participation in forming the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) during a speech in Mannar last week, stating the alliance “was formed for the purpose of liberation of our people”.

The Sri Lankan navy overnight arrested 13 Tamil Nadu fishermen on board three separate fishing boats.