Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) claimed victory in Sri Lanka’s local government polls, with early results suggesting the recently formed breakaway of the SLFP swept a majority of local government wards in the south.

The party was claiming victory early yesterday evening, before official results were announced, with Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Namal tweeting, “Thank you to the people of Hambantota and those around the country for this resounding victory for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. The people have spoken their minds. They want change.”

The militarisation of education in the Tamil homeland continues, as high school students in Batticaloa are sent on military training by the Sri Lankan Army.

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena told an election rally this week that “the unity and national security of the motherland will be secured” as he made a final push for votes ahead of local elections on Saturday.

Sri Lankan police warned that they “will not hesitate to shoot” those obstructing a “free and fair” election this morning.

Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying, “police will not hesitate to shoot anyone who attempts to loot ballot boxes or act in a manner that will obstruct the holding of a free and fair election”.

As many as 3,000 patrols from the Special Task Force (STF) and the Civil Defence Force (CDF) had been deployed across the island, he added, stating that they would be patrolling until Sunday evening.

The Tamil National Alliance has joined several Tamil diaspora groups in calling for Sri Lanka’s Defence Attache to Britain to be expelled from the country, after he motioned a death threat to Tamil protestors last week.

The letter, sent to the UK’s Foreign Secretary, calls for Brigadier Priyanka Fernando to be declared a “persona non grata” not only for making a throat slitting gesture last week, but also for his role as a military commander in the Sri Lanka army, where he has been implicated in mass atrocities committed during the military offensive in 2009.

A Sri Lankan navy officer, who was arrested after a girl was killed last month in Pungudutivu during an accident with a navy vehicle, was released on bail on Thursday. 

The nine year old girl was on her way to school on her uncle's motorbike when the collision took place on January 24. 

The victim, Kesana Thirulangam was killed at the scene. Her uncle was admitted to hospital with serious injuries. 

The bail hearing took place in Kayts Court on Thursday before the Justice A M M Riyal. 

Mothers of the disappeared in Vavuniya on Friday condemned the Sri Lankan president's denial of the existence of secret detention camps.

"Where are our children then?" one mother cried as they gathered at the temple to say a prayer for the missing children. 

The Sri Lankan police have filed a case against 5 Tamils in Keppapulavu for holding a black flag protest on Independence Day.

Families in the village have been protesting against the military's ongoing occupation of land for almost one year.  

Mulliyavalai police accused the 5 protesters of breaching the peace. They have been ordered before Mullaitivu court on February 12. 

Voting remains steady as residents across the North-East cast their votes in Sri Lanka's local government elections.

Armed police and military personnel were seen on the streets near polling booths as voting took place. 

Under Secretary for Political Affairs Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. said that his government “commends the steps that Sri Lanka has taken to date toward justice, reconciliation, and accountability” in a speech delivered in Washington this week.