The Sri Lankan military has been accused of attempting to mislead the Right to Information (RTI) Commission over the extent and nature of sexual abuse committed by Sri Lankan troops whilst deployed as United Nations peacekeepers in Haiti.

A confidential United Nations investigation identified 134 Sri Lankan soldiers who are alleged to have sexually exploited nine Haitian boys and girls from late 2004 to mid-2007, during a peacekeeping mission in the country. “The acts of sexual exploitation and abuse were frequent, occurred usually at night, and at virtually every location where Sri Lankan military were deployed,” said the report.

The chief minister of the Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran condemned the TID's attempt to collect information about new born babies in Kilinochchi, saying that they cannot collect such information as they please. 

"The army seems to think the state of emergency continues. At present, when this [state of emergency] is not in place, if any information is sought from any state body, approval must be sought from the senior official," he said. 

"Information cannot be collected without proper processes citing security. The law does not give way for this," he added. 

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP for Batticaloa, S Yogeswaran condemned what he described as Sinhala colonisation taking place in the Eastern province with the assistance of Buddhist clergy and the Sri Lankan army. 

In a letter to District Government Agent for Batticaloa, M Uthayakumar, Mr Yogeswaran condemned plans to build a Buddhist centre in Punaanai, Batticaloa for newly settled Sinhala families. 

"Under the guise of resettlement, Sinhala colonisation has happened," he wrote in his letter. 

A Tamil refugee deported from Australia this week was detained on arrival in Colombo, his brother told the Australian news agency, SBS. 

Thileepan Gnaneswaran, a 30 year old father of one was deported after his application for a temporary protection visa was denied. 

A house in Achchuveli, Jaffna was vandalised by unidentified men last night.

The men broke into the home around 10 pm, smashing the door, windows and glass cabinets.

Families of the disappeared in Mullaitivu marked 500 days of protest today following months of prolonged demonstrations calling on the government to release the whereabouts of their missing loved ones. 

Condemning the government's inaction and broken promises, families also criticised Tamil elected representatives for their silence. 

Sri Lanka’s Deputy Transport Minister has had to reassure Sri Lankan media that the loss-making Mattala Airport, currently dubbed ‘the world’s emptiest international airport’ would never be sold.

A deal with India will see the the Airports Authority of India (AAI) taking over 70% stake of the airport in a joint venture with Sri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

“The joint venture with the Indian party would be a win-win situation for both parties because the profits as well as the losses will be borne by the parties at a ratio of 70 to 30,” Deputy Transport Minister, Ashok Abeysinghe said.

The UN Refugee Agency has said it is alarmed by Australia’s deportation of a Tamil asylum seeker which has left his partner, a recognised refugee, alone with their 11-month-old daughter.

UNHCR spokesperson Andre Mahecic said the agency is alarmed by a separation of a Sri Lankan refugee family in Sydney by the Government of Australia. 

This latest incident goes beyond a refusal to reunite families, to instead actively and indefinitely separate them, the spokesperson said.

A case against two Northern Provincial Council members, T Ravikaran and M K Shivajilingam for allegedly interrupting the government officials from doing their work, is set to take place at Mullaitivu court on January 7, 2019. 

The case was adjourned after Mullaitivu police, who had filed the case against the two members, requesting an extension yesterday when it came before the judge. 

The head of Batticaloa District Tamil Journalists' Association and independent journalist, V Krishnakumar was called for investigation by the Terrorism Investigation Division on Monday. 

Mr Krishnakumar was called to the notorious 4th floor and accused of having links with former senior LTTE members and diaspora organisations.