Defying calls for the military to withdraw from Tamil civilian life, the Sri Lankan army continued to hold a series of events throughout the Christmas period across the North-East.

Sri Lankan navy officers arrested 13 Indian fishermen on Wednesday, seizing two fishing trawlers. 

The men, from Rameswaran, Tamil Nadu, were accused of entering Sri Lanka's waters. 

The men were detained last night at the navy base before being handed over to the Jaffna Fisheries Authorities today. 

UK parliamentarians, currently on a visit to Sri Lanka, met with the spokesperson of the Tamil National Alliance on Thursday, as well as the Sri Lankan president,  Maithripala Sirisena.

Sri Lanka's minister for law and order, Sagala Ratnayaka on Thursday attempted to explain the government's failure to investigate and prosecute the killing of five Tamil students by Special Task Force officers, by claiming they were unable to proceed as the main witness was abroad. 

Responding to a tweet by the US ambassador to Sri Lanka, Atul Keshap calling for justice for the massacre, Mr Ratnayaka tweeted,

The paramilitary leader and former chief minister of the Eastern Province, Pillayan, and several of his associates appeared at the Batticaloa High Court on Wednesday over the 2005 assassination of the TNA MP, Joseph Pararajasingham.

Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, was presented to the court alongside his paramilitary associates Edwin Silva Krishnanantharaja alias Prathip Master and Kananayakam alias Gajan Mama, as well as the military intelligence officer M. Khaleel and former Sri Lankan soldier Mathusinghe alias Vinoth.

Security around the Batticaloa court complex and surrounding area was heavily beefed up for the arrival of the suspects.

The five students summarily executed by Sri Lankan Special Task Force troops 12 years ago were remembered on Tuesday by locals on the Trincomalee beach on which they were killed.

The US ambassador to Sri Lanka, Atul Keshap called for justice for the killing of 5 Tamil students by Sri Lankan task force officers 12 years ago.  

"Justice delayed is justice denied", Mr Keshap tweeted, quoting a tweet by USTPAC calling for justice.

Three senior board members of a disputed Tamil temple in Trincomalee who were arrested and produced in court on charges of “damaging an archaeological site” have been remanded until Thursday.

S. Jegatheeswaran, T. Nijanthan and E. Chandramohan - chair, secretary and treasurer, respectively, of the board of the Kuntrathur Mathalamalai Murugan temple in Soodaikuda were arrested on Monday when they answered a summons by Sampur police.

The Muthur magistrates judge ordered their continued remand despite an appeal lodged by the temple board claiming unlawful arrest.

Sri Lanka's minister of local government and provincial councils, Faizer Musthapha warned that hotels that only cater for "foreigners" would be prosecuted by the tourism police and local government bodies. 

Highlighting hotels that have boards stating 'Tourist Only' was a violation of the constitution and human rights. 

“This cannot be accepted. We have experienced second hand treatment on us at some times at certain countries as Sri Lankans. It is impossible to keep exclusive areas for tourists alone and bar Sri Lankans which is an affront to our national dignity,” Mr Musthapha was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying.  

China's state owned company, China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd, is to invest $1 billion into the development of three office towers within the Port City area, Sri Lanka's minister of regional development was quoted by Reuters as saying on Tuesday. 

“It will be part of the new financial city,” Mr Champika Ranawaka told reporters. 

“The investment will be $1 billion and we expect to sign the agreements this month in Beijing," he added whilst accompanying the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe on a visit to the site.