A Sri Lankan train attendant who harassed a Tamil woman and racially abused Tamil passengers was arrested yesterday by Jaffna police after videos of the incident went viral on social media, provoking pressure from a Minister and senior government employees. He was released on bail early this afternoon.

Sri Lanka’s parliament re convened with 16 SLFP MPs and resigned Ministers crossing sides to sit with Mahinda Rajapaksa’s joint opposition.

The 16 SLFP MPs walked across the Parliament chambers, with the Joint Opposition MPs banging their desks to welcome them, reports the island.lk.

Sri Lanka’s joint opposition condemned the recently signed Free Trade Agreement between Singapore and Sri Lanka today.

Speaking to press alongside the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman GL Peiris, MP Bandula Gunawardena said,

“When a Sri Lankan firm requests Singapore for employees, be it carpenters, painters or masons, Singapore can send employees from other countries to Sri Lanka. When a hotel of Indian origin requests for Indian labourers to be sent, Singapore can provide them now.”

Mr Pieris added,

The National Freedom Front (NFF) condemned the Tamil National Alliance’s (TNA) alleged action to stop the construction of Buddhist temples in the North-East.

MP Jayantha Samaraweera (NFF) stated that according to sources, the TNA had informed the Unity Government of its opposition against the construction of Buddhist temples in the North-East.

The Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) has increased surveillance on members of the Disabled Peoples’ Organizations (DPOs) in Batticaloa.

There is one DPO for each administrative division and approximately 8600 DPO members altogether – the majority of whom are former LTTE cadres.

TID investigators have been continuously harassing members for information on the discussions at monthly meetings, as well as other activities. Sources state that the TID has recruited informants among the DPO members to gain further information.

Deepening its reach into civilian affairs in the North-East, Sri Lanka's army commander deployed to Jaffna, Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi said the army would completely renovate temples damaged partially or completely. 

Temples that do not have a significant income or means can request the army to provide cement and sand, the commander said. 

"Actions will be taken from early next week to provide this to the temples who have requested this under the renovation scheme," he added. 

The Sri Lankan air force has reported today an AK47 gun went missing from the Keppapilavu base on May 6. 

The air force has filed a complaint with Mulliyavalai police station. 

Locals reported a substantially increased military presence around the Keppapilavu site following the announcement, with air force and police officers seen conducting joint searches. 

An attendant on a North-bound train sexually harassed a Tamil woman and racially abused, and attempted to physically attack, male Tamil passengers who tried to intervene.

The attendant on Train 4077 from Mount Lavinia to Chunnakam on Monday moved seats behind the woman and groped her. The woman moved seats to which the attendant followed her.

Other passengers intervened when the woman shouted, following which the attendant became more aggressive and racially abusive towards the male Tamil passengers.

The chief minister of the Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran on Sunday met with families in Valikaamam North who had returned to their homes that had until recently been occupied by the Sri Lankan military. 

The families from Myliddy, Thaiyiddy, Kadduvan and Mayilani spoke of the many problems they were facing following their prolonged displacement as well as having to rebuild their lives despite the military's ongoing presence nearby. 

Sri Lankan police officers attempted to stop families of the disappeared protesting today against the Sri Lankan president's May Day event in Batticaloa.

Continuing their protest undeterred, families condemned the government's failure to provide answers for the tens of thousands who remaing unaccounted for and criticised the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) as a mechanism of provide accountability.