Some 400 public service jobs appointed to workers in the North a few months ago, have been terminated following the holding of the Northern Provincial Council elections, reported the Colombo Gazette.

Over 600 jobs were given to workers in Jaffna and Killinochchi ahead of last month's elections "with the intention of imparting a more efficient and streamlined public service to the Northern polity”, with Northern Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri overseeing the appointments.

However, around 400 of those jobs have now been suspended.

The leader of the Bodu Bala Sena, a Buddhist organisation, has said that a crusade would be launched in Sri Lanka, blaming the government for letting the TNA engage in politics.

Galagodaaththe Gnanasare, a Buddhist monk, said that the TNA was the political front of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the government must be held responsible for the TNA winning the Northern Provincial Council elections.

India and Sri Lanka confirmed today that the two governments will sign up to a joint venture that will see a 500 MW thermal power project established in Trincomalee.

Sri Lankan army commander Lt Gen Daya Ratnayake has said that the army had exceeded their legal remit during the shooting of protesters in Weliweriye and said that a "summary of evidence" is being prepared in order for charges to be brought at a court martial.

Ratnayake was appointed by the court of inquiry to investigate the shooting, which left 3 civilians dead.

The Vice-Chairman of the British-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Group, Baron Dennis Rogan, has declared that the militarisation of the north was not as bad as often portrayed and that he had no issues talking to ordinary citizens in all regions, after a seven-day visit to the island.

"During my visit to all parts of the country, North, East, South, and West I was able to speak freely and openly with ministers, government officials, religious leaders, and most importantly ordinary citizens from all sections and walks of life. What struck me particularly was that the military presence in the North was substantially less than what has been often portrayed," the Ulster Unionist Party peer told the president, Mahinda Rajapakse, during a meeting with him and Chris Nonis, the Sri Lankan ambassador to the UK.

Days before the military decided to destroy the bunker of the LTTE Leader, Vellupillai Prabhakaran, security forces personnel repeatedly chased away Tamil residents that came to visit the site as a reprimand for voting in the TNA, reports Colombo Telegraph.

Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE -->

Swiss authorities have defended the deportation of two men to Sri Lanka, despite numerous human rights concerns regarding their treatment in the country.

The Swiss Federal Office for Migration stated that the two men, were accused of "taking part in activities in the service of the LTTE" and were taken into custody by Sri Lankan officials at Colombo airport upon their arrival.

However, shortly following the deportation, Swiss authorities admitted that,