The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) called on the newly appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to ensure there is accountability for human rights violations committed in Sri Lanka, warning that not doing so would be “an undesirable failure the UN system cannot afford”.

In a statement released to welcome the appointment of former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet as the new UN human rights chief, the GTF called for Sri Lanka to continue “to be under the purview” of the UN Human Rights Council.

The Sri Lankan navy claims to have recovered parcels containing 83.5kg of Kerala cannabis, at Kankesanthurai in Jaffna earlier today.

The Manthai East Divisional Council has passed a resolution to remove a Sri Lankan military camp that has been set up in front of a Tamil school.

The Divisional Council passed the resolution at a meeting this week following a proposal from Northern Provincial Council member T Ravikaran.

Teachers at the Manthai Paalinagar Vithiyalayam in Mullaitivu had told the NPC member that the presence of the camp was having an impact on the children’s education, with schoolchildren in fear of attending.

The resolution comes as the Sri Lankan military consolidates its presence in the North-East, with ongoing military involvement in activities in Tamil schools.

Sri Lanka's Office on Missing Persons (OMP) said on Thursday that it would be publishing an interim report with recommendations on August 30, to coincide with the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. 

The interim report will be launched at a commemorative event organised by the OMP in Colombo's J. R. Jayawardene Centre, named after the former Sri Lankan president who oversaw the pogrom of Black July 1983. 

Sri Lanka's OMP has been repeatedly criticised by Tamil families of the disappeared as an "exercise in futility", stating it lacks independence and failed to take their views into account. 

A Sri Lankan soldier has described how the military used to conduct operations disguised in LTTE uniforms to infiltrate LTTE defences. 

"We go for an operation dressed in a uniform similar to those worn by the LTTE and fitting sandal soles to the boots. Then the eight of us spread out. We have protected others and achieved our targets," the soldier, known as Sagara told the Daily Mirror in an interview about his time in the military. 

Japan's defence minister, Itsunori Onodera will visit Sri Lanka next week from August 20 to 22. 

Mr Odonera is expected to hold talks with Sri Lanka's state minister of defence, Ruwan Wijewardene. 

This will be the first visit by a Japanese defence minister. 

Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa has said he told the CID he doesn’t remember having a telephone conversation with current parliamentary speaker Karu Jayasuriya about the abduction of journalist Keith Noyahr.

Karu Jayasuriya told police he telephoned the then president in 2008 to ask for help after Noyahr was abducted.

"I don't remember such a telephone conversation," the former president told reporters after he was questioned at home.

The former president said the CID investigation was an attempt to smear his government and was part of a political witch hunt.

Tamils in the North-East have joined calls across Tamil Nadu for the release of May 17 movement leader Thirumurugan Gandhi, who was arrested by Indian police last week.

Last Thursday, the Central Crime Branch of the Chennai police arrested Mr Gandhi at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on counts of violating Section 124A and 153A of the Indian Penal Code, respectively, sedition and promoting race-based enmity.

A number of high profile Australian figures and entrepreneurs have joined human rights campaigners in calling for airlines Qantas and Virgin Australia to end deals with the Australian government to deport refugees.

Australian musicians, writers and artists as well as entrepreneurs have signed a statement by Australian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) which says,

Sri Lankan soldiers surrounded, forcibly entered and searched the Tamil National People's Front office in Mullaitivu yesterday, in what the party has described as a “blatant attempt to intimidate us”.

Nearly a dozen Sri Lankan army personnel reportedly surrounded the Mullaitivu district office around 11am yesterday morning, before they forcibly entered and searched the premises for “several hours”, according to a tweet sent out by the TNPF on Friday.