The former NPC member, T Ravikaran met with Canada's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka today and urged action on ongoing Tamil concerns. 

The continued military occupation of land, the Buddhisation of the North-East, the disappeared and political prisoners were discussed during the meeting. 

Yesterday the Canadian High Commissioner, David McKinnon met with former LTTE fighters in Mullaitivu. 

Locals in Jaffna said members of Rajapaksa's SLPP party promised educational equipment for children if parents took part in a supportive rally, however, no equipment was later given. 

At the rally, held today, locals said military personnel and police officers dressed in civilian clothes were on the streets nearby. 

"They told us to call for the military to be deployed on the streets to ensure security of the Tamil people," one father, who took part in the protest but did not want his identity revealed, told the Tamil Guardian. 

<p>Following the downgrading of&nbsp;Sri Lanka's sovereign rating yesterday, Fitch Ratings today downgraded the country's financial institutions and several state owned companies, including Sri Lanka Airlines, Sri Lanka Telecom, and Sri Lankan Insurance Corp.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Long-Term Foreign- and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) were downgraded for Sri Lanka’s National Savings Bank, Bank of Ceylon, DFCC Bank and People's Leasing &amp; Finance PLC's.&nbsp;</p> <p>Yesterday Fitch Ratings and Standard and Poor's both downgraded Sri Lanka's sovereign rating, following in the footsteps of Moody's.&nbsp;</p>

A former Sri Lankan navy commander, who was wanted over the abduction and murder of 11 Tamil youths as well as the assassination of Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian Nadarajah Raviraj, has been further remanded until December 19 by Colombo Fort Magistrate. 

Former Navy Lieutenant Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi aka 'Navy Sampath' had skipped bail and was wanted by Sri Lankan authorities before he was finally arrested earlier this year. He is the main suspect in the abduction and disappearance of 11 Tamil youths from Colombo from 2008-2009.

Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena told soldiers that the army had been “recognised by the UN” at a seminar delivered to more than 2,000 troops last week.

Sirisena’s address to troops was delivered as he appeared alongside Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, Sri Lanka’s most senior military officer, who was arrested over the cover up of the disappearance and murder of 11 Tamil youths, before being released on bail.

Locals in Trincomalee have written to the Divisional Secretariat of Kuchchaveli, calling for an end to an attempt by Sri Lanka’s archaeology department to seize land in the region.

A Sri Lankan military officer accused of involvement in the cover up of the disappearance and murder of 11 Tamil youths has been released on bail.

Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne is accused of helping the main suspect accused of conducting the disappearances evade arrest and was held on remand last week.

Journalists were attacked outside last week’s hearing, which Wijegunaratne attended in full military regalia.  As Chief of Defence Staff he is Sri Lanka's highest ranking military officer.

<p>The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has hit back at global credit agencies for their decision to downgrade Sri Lanka’s ratings amidst a deepening political crisis on the island.</p> <p>In a <a href="https://www.cbsl.gov.lk/en/news/cbsl_disputes_the_rating_agencies_lates…">statement</a> released after both by Fitch Ratings and Standard and Poor’s (S&amp;P Global Ratings) announced they were downgrading Sri Lanka, the CBSL lashed out at the agencies’ assessment of the island.</p>

Sri Lanka’s president declared that the island’s political crisis will “not drag on beyond seven days”, as he pledged to take action on Tuesday.

Speaking during a Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) convention that was being held in Colombo, Maithripala Sirisena reportedly reiterated his opposition to United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

<p>Sri Lanka security forces including police, special task forces (STF) and the army, have ramped up search operations in Batticaloa, creating a&nbsp;climate of fear among local communities.</p> <p>In an operation by the three different forces in Eravur’s police division, the homes of several former LTTE cadres were searched.</p> <p>Random stop and searches were also reported by locals in other parts of Batticaloa.</p> <p>The increased operations come after two Sri Lankan police officers were killed at a checkpoint in Batticaloa.</p> <p>The killings have lead to a number of arrests and investigations of former LTTE cadres.</p>