Residents in Iralkuli and Navaladdy villages in Muthur, Trincomalee have condemned the failure of local authorities to protect locals from destruction by elephants and other wild animals. 

Residents protested outside the Muthur Divisional Secretariat Office on Monday, accusing authorities of ignoring their request for a fence to be erected to stop elephants from entering the villages. 

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader, R Sampanthan questioned the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as Sri Lanka's opposition leader yesterday, arguing that he had never been removed from the post by the Speaker, Karu Jayasuriya and that move raised the questioned whether Sri Lanka was becoming a failed state. 

Sampanthan, who had held the post of opposition leader until the president's attempt to dissolve parliament on November 9, told parliament today the country had two opposition leaders. 

Yesterday the Jayasuriya appointed Rajapaksa as the Leader of the Opposition. 

Addressing parliament, Sampanthan said: 

Skeletal remains uncovered at the mass grave site in Mannar were sent for carbon dating in Florida, USA on Tuesday. 

The excavation and carbon dating process is being over seen by the Judicial Medical Officer, Shaminda Rajapaksa. 

<p>As Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena continue to whip up nationalist Sinhala Buddhist sentiment, there “may be more theatrics to come” in Sri Lanka, warned The Economist on Tuesday.</p> <p>Stating it was “reassuring to see democracy prevail”, it praised the curbing of Sirisena’s attempt to “expand executive power”, adding that it was for many, “satisfying to watch the lushly mustachioed former strongman, Mahinda Rajapaksa, exit the stage with a scowl”.</p>

The newly appointed commander for the Sri Lankan army in the East started his posting by visiting three different senior Buddhist monks in the region in order to pay his “high regard”, reports an official military website.

A commemoration event was held in London this week, to mark 12 years since the passing of Anton Balasingham, the chief political strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The Sri Lankan army announced that China has completed its construction of an auditorium for the military this week, in yet another Chinese-funded project on the island.

The auditorium, a reportedly state-of-the art building that can seat 785 officers, was constructed in the garrison town of Diyatalawa, for the Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA).

A further two petrol bomb attacks have taken place in Jaffna, despite the ongoing military and police presence on the streets in the area. 

A gang entered a house in the Kaladdy area of Jaffna on December 15, before throwing a petrol bomb at the home. 

The following day a petrol bomb was thrown at another house in Jaffna after the gate was cut with a sword. 

Sri Lankan police have arrested nine Tamil youths in Jaffna for allegedly being involved in recent sword attacks in the area. 

Chunnakam police reported recovering six swords and one motorbike from the youths. 

The nine Tamils are to be produced before Mallakam Magistrate Court. 

<p>Welcoming the resolution of the political crisis in Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom highlighted its support towards safeguarding human rights in the country, as well as other reforms.&nbsp;</p> <p>"I welcome progress made towards the peaceful resolution of the political situation in Sri Lanka. The outcome is a welcome indication of the resilience of Sri Lanka's judicial and democratic institutions, and of effective checks and balances between state powers," the UK &nbsp;Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mark Field said.&nbsp;</p>