Residents in Batticaloa held a protest yesterday against the acquisition of Tamil land for ilmenite mining. 

The Easter Sunday bombers were funded by Sri Lankan state intelligence services, Azath Salley, a Muslim governor who resigned earlier this month. 

The Sri Lankan military thanked an Indian army delegation for providing training to Sri Lankan troops, as the military continues its international engagements despite continued allegations of rights abuses.

Sri Lanka’s Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake met with the five-member Indian delegation who are on the island to participate in the 8th consecutive ‘Army-to-Army Staff Talks’ (AAST).

The European Union's delegation to Sri Lanka expressed concern today over the pressure being directed to the Muslim community. 

“Prejudiced and unsubstantiated allegations repeatedly published by media serve only to fuel intolerance,” the EU said in a statement endorsed by France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

“We shared our views during a meeting today with the Prime Minister. On that occasion we welcomed the government's commitment to address hate speech and to set up a religious reconciliation council.”

Sri Lanka's prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe this week criticised a former governor for identifying himself as 'Muslim', stating that "everyone should identify themelves as 'Sri Lankans'." 

The Tamil National Alliance MP and Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi leader, Mavai Senathirajah this month reiterated the call for a political solution based on federalism. 

<p>Tamil refugee and torture survivor from Sri Lanka, Thiraviyarajah Subramaniyam, 37, has appealed to be allowed to join his sister in the UK, having been incarcerated in “hellish” conditions by the Australian authorities since 2013.</p> <p>Thiraviyarajah is suffering from serious mental health problems due to the torture he experienced in Sri Lanka followed by&nbsp;years spent in detention on Manus Island.</p>

Families of the disappeared in Vavuniya held a march calling on the Sri Lankan president to finally fulfil his promises to them.

Starting with a vigil at a church in the town, the families marched to their usual protest location.

Protestors also called on the United States and European Union to demand justice for their disappeared relatives.

Muslim ministers and governors who resigned from the front bences earlier this month today paid a visit to senior Buddhist clergy to explain their actions. 

A police constable from Kokkadicholai, who was reported missing in 2008, is believed to have been murdered and buried, the force's spokesperson said today. 

The discovery was made during a CID investigation into last year's police checkpoint killing at Vavuniyathivu by Islamist extremists. 

Three suspects have been arrested by the CID over the constable's murder, who is understood to have been shot dead on July 27, 2008. 

Excavation work is taking place at the site at which he is believed to have been buried.