Sri Lanka's president, Maithripala Sirisena said on Friday he had not decided about whether he would contest the next presidential election. 

"I have not decided whether to contest the next presidential elections or not," Mr Sirisena told journalists this morning

"Yet, I will continue to do politics as long as I am alive. I am a political animal. It is in my genes. I will do politics with or without positions," he was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying. 

A TNA local government candidate was arrested for possessing fake ballot papers by Kilinochchi police on Thursday.

The candidate standing to represent Paranthan at the Karaichchi divisional council (prathesiya sabai) was arrested on charges of possessing fake ballot papers as well as running a party office from a business premise.

The candidate was released after questioning by the police but the ballot papers in her possession were seized.

The President of Indonesia met with the leader of the Tamil National Alliance on Wednesday.

A Tamil National Alliance (TNA) candidate for the upcoming local government elections filed a complaint with the Election Commission today alleging he was threatened by EPDP supporters. 

Mr M Uthayasiri told the Commision he was stopped by 10 supporters of the paramilitary group whilst he was riding his motorbike in Jaffna, before he was forced into a building and threatened. 

He was rescued by police officers who were called to the scene. 

Mr Uthayasiri was critical of the police however, highlighting their failure to arrest those who abducted him. 
 

Eight Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested by Sri Lankan navy personnel on Wednesday for allegedly poaching in the island's waters. 

The men were brought to the navy base in Kankesanthurai before being handed over to the assistant fisheries director of Jaffna. 

Their fishing trawlers were taken to the navy base in Karainagar. 

Residents in Kayts protesting on Thursday against the ongoing occupation of private land by the Sri Lankan navy were threatened by the navy's intelligence officers warning them to stop the protest. 

An ITAK local government candidate was arrested on Wednesday for slandering the Northern Province’s women’s affairs minister on Facebook.

Arutkumar John Jabrigo who is running for the Manippay divisional council (prathesiya sabai) with ITAK was arrested by Manippay police for publishing libellous posts about the women’s minister, Ananthy Sasitharan.

The Prime Minister of Singapore met with the leader of the Tamil National Alliance and discussed proposals for a new constitution as well as the possibility of Singaporean investments in the North-East.

The European Commission this month called on the Sri Lankan government to deliver on important reforms, expressing concerns over the failure to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, ongoing reports of routine torture, impunity, hate speech, military occupation of land and the difficulties faced by minorities. 

A nine year old girl was killed in Pungudutivu this week by a Sri Lankan navy vehicle following a collision near the local school. 

The victim, Kesana Thirulangam was killed at the scene. Her uncle, whose motorcycle she was travelling on to school, has been admitted to hospital with serious injuries. 

The military vehicle involved in the accident was carrying food to the nearby navy base. 

Police officers have been deployed to the area after residents expressed anger at the navy's presence in the region.