The Sri Lankan government plans to establish new wind and solar power plants in the North-East, Colombo Page reported. 

A 100MW wind power plant in Mannar Island is to be established in Mannar island, which the government will then develop into an energy park. 

A 100MW solar power energy park is planned to be built in Pooneryn, Kilinochchi by 2020. 

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena praised the Sri Lankan army as “world recognised” and pledged to continue supporting troops in an address at a military passing out ceremony last week.

The Sri Lankan navy announced the completion of a newly constructed welfare building and transport yard at its base in Kayts, Jaffna this month, as the military continues to consolidate its presence in the North-East.

The Sri Lankan army coerced local school children to participate in a Christmas celebration at a military camp in Kilinochchi this month. 

In a statement explaining its vote in favour of the UN resolution on the status of Jerusalem, the Sri Lankan government said it had voted based on its "traditional and principled position". 

It was not a vote against any member state of the UN, Sri Lanka stressed, adding that it believed in the "vision of two states living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition". 

Sri Lanka's minister of law and order, Sagala Ratnayake on Thursday warned of strict legal action against anyone inciting communal or religious violence via social media posts. 

An increased number of police personnel had been deployed ahead of the election in February, the mnister added. 

"The police would act ensuring a free and fair election on instruction by the Elections Commission," Mr Ratnayake said. 

The United Nations’ refugee agency spoke out against the deportation of a Tamil asylum seeker to Sri Lanka, stating it was a worrying breach of the Australian government’s international legal obligations and presented “a serious risk of return to danger”.

UNHCR spokesperson Catherine Stubberfield said that “since July 2012, people who sought asylum by sea were excluded from lodging an application in Australia for up to four years”.

“While they were all invited to apply by October 2016, some asylum seekers have been unable to complete this process within the time frame for a range of valid reasons, including a lack of access to legal representation,” she added.

A former Sri Lankan navy spokesperson accused of involvement in the disappearance of 11 Tamils youths in 2008 has been remanded once more.

The latest remand against Commodore D.K.P. Dassanayake and five others will last until January 2^nd.

The former Sri Lankan soldier did not show up to the hearing in court as he was receiving treatment at a private hospital, reports ColomboPage.

The leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) R Sampanthan has been admitted to hospital with “tiredness”, reports the Daily Mirror.

A family member was quoted by Daily Mirror as stating that Mr Sampanthan fell ill on Thursday evening.

“The main symptom was said to be tiredness,” said the family member. “He has had long discussions with the party machinery in Trincomalee and this may have led to being tired.”

India's government on Thursday informed the Rajya Sabha that 144 fishermen were detained by Sri Lankan authorities. 

The statement by the Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, V K Singh, came in response to a written question on the issue, the Economic Times reported. 

"As a result of sustained diplomatic efforts, the government has so far secured the release of 347 fishermen from Sri Lankan custody," Mr Singh added. 

Sri Lankan authorities also currently hold 144 fishing boats, the paper added. 
 
The minister also noted that 537 fishermen were currently detained in Pakistan, alongside 1000 fishing boats.