Tamil families of the disappeared met with Switzerland's Federal Councillor for the Department of Justice and Police and criticised the Sri Lankan government’s Office on Missing Persons (OMP) as an “exercise in futility”, demanding “action, not words”.

In a letter handed to the Swiss Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga, the protesting families said they had “travelled across the country to every military camp, every government prison, every police station” to search for the whereabouts of their disappeared loved ones.

At least eight of the campaigners have died since roadside protests began over 500 days ago.

The Northern Provincial Council held a moment of silence this morning, to pay tribute to DMK leader M Karunanidhi who passed away earlier this week.

Sri Lankan security forces have claimed that four detainees of Vavuniya prison escaped police custody while being transferred to Mullaitivu Magistrates Court for trial on Tuesday.

Mullaitivu Security Forces said the detainees had been arrested regarding two murder cases in the area, Adaderana reports.

Prison officers and police reportedly launched a special operation in the area on Tuesday evening and investigations continue.

The Sri Lankan government will conduct a feasibility study into the possibility of constructing an airport in Kandy in order to increase tourism in the area.

The cabinet approved proposals for the study on Wednesday.

The airport would be for domestic services to increase the number of foreign tourists visiting the district.

India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka called for India – Sri Lanka relations to “look towards the future”, as he addressed an Independence Day ceremony in Colombo this week.  

High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka H.E. Taranjit Singh Sandhu was the chief guest at the event, where he highlighted that India was the 6th largest and fastest growing major economy in the world.

“Sri Lanka’s location in the proximity of fastest growing economy could bring in substantial advantages,” he said, according to an Indian government press release.

“Sri Lankan youth could fulfill their aspirations and make them a part of India’s growth story,” he added.

The Sri Lankan government has issued a statement denying that it broke international sanctions on North Korea, as claimed in a United Nations report last week.

The report, written by a group of independent experts examining the implementation of UN sanctions and submitted to the Security Council, accused Sri Lanka of continuing to accept imports of North Korean textiles.

Two Sri Lankan soldiers, including a commander, have been given death sentences for the 1998 murder of a Tamil man who had been taken in for investigation and later found dead with 21 wounds on his body.

On September 10, 1998, Gnanasingam Anton Gunasekaram of Thirunelvely, Jaffna was accused of being a terrorist and taken for investigation by Sri Lankan soldiers. He was later found dead with 21 assault wounds on his body.

The three suspects in the case were: Tony Bartemius, commander of the 51 camp in Achchuveli; Dixon Rajamandri, commander of the 512 camp in Jaffna Town; and Piyathasage Priyantha, a soldier serving in the 512 camp.

The General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, the Buddhist monk, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara was sentenced today for 19 years rigorous imprisonment to be served in six years for contempt of court. 

Mr Gnansara, who is currently admitted at Jayewardenepura hospital, was ordered to be arrested by the court. 

He was found guilty of four charges of contempt of courts including offence behaviour at the hearing of the disappeared journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. 

The chief minister of the Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran has been summoned to appear before the Court of Appeal on September 7 over a contempt of court in relation to the removal of a former NPC minister, B Deniswaran. 

Mr Deniswaran was removed from his ministerial position in August 2017 following an investigation into corruption and the misuse of funds in 2016.  

Following Chief Minister Wigneswaran's call for resignations of those found to be involved in corruption, the ITAK launched a no-confidence motion against him, which was later withdrawn. 

The Divisional Council (Prathesa Sabai) in Kayts condemned the Sri Lankan navy's excessive use of water from civilian wells in Mankuli. 

Meeting yesterday, the Council passed a motion calling for an end to this practice and sent a letter to the Navy commander in Kayts, the Northern province's governor and the government agent of Jaffna. 

Locals reported that wells were becoming dry because excessive amount of water are being taken everyday.   

The navy is said to be using over 10,000 litres of water per a day for their own use.