The former head of the Sri Lankan military, Minister Sarath Fonseka on Tuesday rejected news reports earlier this month that the navy commander had assaulted a journalist in Hambantota, claiming instead the navy commander had pushed the journalist away from a security circle. 

“It was reported in the media that the navy commander had arrived at the scene with a dress meant for sports. But it was a uniform worn by marine pilots. We have only two marine pilots in the Navy and the Navy Commander is one of them,” Mr Fonseka said at a press conference. 

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said his government would use growing international relations to help strengthen the military, in a speech made this week.

Addressing a military graduation ceremony on Monday, Mr Sirisena praised the “that knowledge, bravery, talent, skill and militancy shown by the military forces immensely helped to defeat the ruthless terrorist organization”.

He went on to add that his government “offer its fullest support to military forces to enhance their knowledge and skills”.

The Chief Minister of the Northern Province CV Wigneswaran said out of the tens of thousands of acres of land occupied by the Sri Lankan military, only 5.2% of it had been returned to Tamil families.

Speaking in Jaffna this weekend to mark International Human Rights Day, the chief minister said out of 67,000 acres of private land owned by Tamils that were seized by the Sri Lankan armed forces, only 3,500 acres have been released.

Justice Wigneswaran went on to question the sincerity of the current Sri Lankan government, especially in light of several Sinhalese politicians making statements that belie Tamil hopes in a new constitution.

Several Malaysian political parties and non governmental organisations have lodged protests over Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's visit to the country.

Johor PKR vice-chairman Rony Murugan called on the Malaysian government to bar Mr Sirisena from the country, citing his role in the killing of Tamil civilians during the island's armed conflict, where he acted as minister of defence. Protests have been lodged at police stations across the state he added. 

Thousands of Tamils gathered in Dortmund last month to remember those that sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Tamil nation.

Members of the Tamil National People’s Front marked 10 years since the death of Anton Balasingham, the chief political strategist of the LTTE, today.

The US State Department this week announced it would be offering up to $1.7 million for transitional justice and reconciliation projects in Sri Lanka. 

"The US Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that support the DRL policy goal to bolster and enhance transitional justice and reconciliation processes in Sri Lanka at the provincial and national levels." 

Sri Lanka was this week selected to receive aid from the Millennium Challenge fund, the US government's Millennium Challenge Corporation tweeted today. 

Protests have taken place in Hambantota over a proposed deal that will see a Chinese state owned company control an 80% stake in the town's port.

Port workers and local residents blocked a main highway leading into the town to demonstrate against the $1.1 billion deal that will see China Merchants Port Holdings Company gain an 80% share of the port and adjoining land.

Today marks 10 years since the passing of Anton Balasingham, the chief negotiator and political strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).