Sri Lanka’s top court acquitted and released the five accused of assassinating Nadarajah Raviraj – former Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian.

Through a unanimous decision by the all Sinhala jury, three navy intelligence officials and two members of the Karuna group were acquitted after a month long trial. The decision by the jury was based on reasoning that the five accused cannot be convicted solely on the fact that witnesses in the case identified them.

State witnesses gave considerable details on the murder plot – including details of who pulled the trigger and the subsequent escape plan.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe agrees to amend the draft Development (Special Provisions) Bill – considering proposals made by Southern, Western, Eastern and Uva Provincial chief ministers’ at a meeting on Friday.

The proposed bill attempts to establish development offices and appoint officials in order to centralize development policies.

Farmers in Hambantota protested this week against the leasing of land in the district to a Chinese company, the Daily Mirror reported. 

Over 1000 farmers took part in the protest which began as a march towards the Administration Complex, vowing they would never vacate their ancestoral lands. 

Aprons and oven gloves with a depiction of Buddha were seized by Sri Lankan customs officials on Thursday who said the items were "offensive". 

The goods were a consignment on a shipment from India heading towards Slovenia. 

Speaking to The Hindu newspaper, customs spokesperson, Dharmasena Kahandawa said the items were "offensive to religious sentiments" of Buddhists. 

Sri Lankan troops stationed in Poonakari distributed spectacles to Tamils living in the area last week.
 

The Sri Lankan government is to introduce a development programme in Trincomalee with Indian assistance, to mirror that of Hambantota port, the minister of development policies and international trade Malik Samarawickrama said on Wednesday. 

“We are currently talking with India to get into a similar arrangement to run the Trincomalee Port and to develop an industrial zone. However, this government will actually work with all the countries including India, Singapore and Japan,” Mr Samarawickrama was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying. 

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) on Thursday called on the Sri Lankan government to reveal its deal with a Chinese company which was due to be responsible for Hambantota port, the Daily Mirror reported. 

“The government should be transparent when entering any trade or other agreements. But we do not see such move taken by the government. This will arouse suspicions among the people that mega deals were happening under these agreements,” JHU national organizer Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe was quoted as saying. 

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Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will offer worship at the Lord Venkateswara temple near Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh, after landing in Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

The Prime Minister, along with his wife and officials will arrive in India on December 21st. His last visit to the temple was in his capacity as Prime Minister in 2002.

Security has reportedly been tightened around the area, with the prime minister set to visit the temple. Mr Wickremesinghe is scheduled to fly back to Chennai later on Thursday, before travelling back to Colombo.

Photograph: BBC Sinhala

Sri Lanka’s justice minister met with Buddhist monks from the extremist Bodu Bala Sena organisations in Batticaloa on Wednesday.
 

A renewed amnesty by the Sri Lankan army has led to more than 3,000 deserting soldiers returning and obtaining legal discharge, reports the Ministry of Defence.

The amnesty, which was declared on the 1st of December, has seen the reporting of 3 officers and 2983 soldiers of the army, 1 officer and 256 sailors of the navy and 7 officers and 113 airmen, in less than three weeks. The amnesty period will last until the end of this month.