The Leader of the Opposition in Britain Jeremy Corbyn has called for a focus on accountability in Sri Lanka and an audit of British funding for the training of Sri Lankan police, as he expressed deep concern over reports of the ongoing torture of Tamils.

Responding to a report by the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) which documented continued human rights violations by Sri Lankan security forces, Mr Corbyn said he was “deeply concerned… about the ongoing torture of Tamils”.

The Sri Lankan navy have arrested eight more Tamil Nadu fishermen on Friday, for allegedly crossing into Sri Lankan waters. 

The fishermen, who were detained off the coast of Point Pedro, have been transferred to Kankesanthurai navy camp for further investigation.

This the latest in a series of arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy. 

See here and here. 

Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) ordered the Northern Provincial Council member, M. K. Shivajilingam to the CID headquarters in Colombo for questioning, it emerged this week, over comments he had made about Mullivaikkal commemorations at a press conference at Jaffna Press Club in May

Mr Shivajilingam however has refused to travel, informing the CID that he is unable to travel to Colombo, a minimum 8 hour journey from Valvettithurai, where he is based.

If the CID wish to take a statement from him, they should come to Valvettithurai police station, Mr Shivajilingam said.

Vavuniya citizens have expressed fear and anxiety about the ongoing Sinhalisation and colonisation of the traditionally Tamil district through Sinhalese settlements.

The chairperson of the Vavuniya Citizen Committee, K. Thevarajah, said Tamil political leaders and parliamentarians must act to stop the Sinhalisation of Vavuniya and protect the district’s Tamil heritage and population.

Mr Thevarajah said that multiple Sinhalese settlements have meant that Sinhalese now make up 32% of registered voters in Vavuniya North, with the concentration growing.

Sri Lanka's police officers dressed in plain clothes on Thursday attempted to abduct a student known for his anti-government views, however, were stopped by fellow students, local news sources reported. 

Condemning what he described as the "white van abduction", the finance minister, Mangala Samaraweera said, "I spoke with the Inspector General of Police and he said he will take disciplinary action against those responsible."

"We condemn this action of the police," he was quoted by AFP as saying. 

The Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena said the country should be developed through supporting the agriculture sector, recalling what he described as the island's historic prosperity. 

"When we consider about the historic foundation and the prosperous eras of this country, Sri Lanka can be built through an economy based on agriculture. To do it, we should help farmers to build up a better economic condition," he was quoted by Colombo Page as saying. 

"We should produce many import items within our country. The current government is giving priority for that," he added. 

Sri Lanka's new Inland Revenue Act will be tabled next month, the country's finance minister, Mangala Samaraweera was quoted by Colombo Page as saying. 

"The main objective of the new Inland Revenue Act is to reduce the indirect taxes levied from the people from 80% to 60% and increase the direct taxes from 20% to 40% within three years," Mr Samaraweera was quoted as saying at a press conference on Friday. 

The government of Japan has provided  US $611,000 for demining activates in the North of Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page.

The grant aims to accelerate the Sri Lankan government’s program to provide livelihood assistance to the resettled people in the North.

Japan has provided US $30 million over the past 3 years for demining projects in the North and East.

The United Nations Secretary-General has welcomed the establishment of the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) in Sri Lanka and called for it to become operational “as soon as possible”.

“The Secretary-General commends the Government of Sri Lanka for establishing the Office of Missing Persons (OMP), a significant milestone for all Sri Lankans still searching for the truth about their missing loved ones,” said a statement by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

The British government may submit its diplomatic cables to a proposed hybrid court that will examine human rights violations committed during the final phase of Sri Lanka’s armed conflict – a move that has been backed by Sri Lanka’s former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, according to a report in The Island.

When asked whether the UK would be submitting documents to a hybrid court a British High Commission spokesperson responded by saying "the UK cannot comment on its approach to court proceedings that have yet to be established,” reported The Island.