@PacificCommand

The United States military concluded its first–ever Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise for Sri Lankan soldiers, which included training in “anti-terrorism security”, in Trincomalee this week.

The Sri Lankan Air Force is set to purchase 18 new aircraft, including several fighter jets, reports The Sunday Leader.

Air Force spokesperson Group Captain Gihan Seneviratne was quoted as stating that Sri Lanka needs new aircraft for “maritime security”. International offers for a new tender have already been placed, claimed the spokesperson, who added the purchases were needed to ensure the Sri Lankan Air Force met “modern day requirements”.

The Sri Lankan navy arrested a group of 10 Indian fishermen near Neduntheevu on Saturday, for allegedly illegally entering Sri Lankan territory.

Three Tamil political prisoners hunger striking at the Anuradhapura prison have been rushed to hospital today following severe deteriorations in their health.

The detainees have been fasting for 13 days in protest at the Sri Lankan attorney-general department’s attempts to move their cases from Vavuniya to Anuradhapuram.

The three detainees decided to abstain from drinking water from this morning, leading to a rapid decline in their health.

They were admitted to the Anuradhapura general hospital by the prison administration on Sunday evening.

The current protest is the 11th time the detainees have engaged in hunger strikes during their detention.

The Sri Lankan army declared open a newly constructed canteen at its 59 Division headquarters in Mullaitivu last month.

The Sri Lankan government on Friday adopted santions against the Democratic People's Rupublic of North Korea, as outlined in the UN Security Council resolution. 

The regulations were issued by the country's foreign minister Tilak Marapana. 

"All Security Council member countries are bound to implement the SC's resolutions and so, Sri Lanka made it effective locally to implement the UN sanctions on the DPRK as per the resolution," Mr Marapana was quoted by Ceylon Today as saying. 

Three political prisoners detained at Anuradhapura prison have urged the government to charge or release them. 

The men, who have been accused by the Sri Lankan authorities of links to the LTTE, have been on hunger strike since September 23. 

Reiterating their demands on Sunday, the men have threatened to stop taking fluids as well.

Swiss police on Saturday shot dead an asylum seeker from Sri Lanka during an altercation in the refugee detention centre. 

The 38 year old asylum seeker is reported to have been armed with a knife. Police were called after he charged at two other asylum seekers. 

The incident occurred in Brissago, Switzerland. 

“To guarantee the safety of all those present, a cantonal police officer fired his gun and seriously injured the aggressor,” Ticino police were quoted by Reuters as saying in a statement.

A video has emerged of an Assistant Superintendent of Police assaulting an arrested protester in Hambantota on Friday. 

The National Police Commission on Saturday announced it had launched an investigation into the alleged assault. 

See video here. 

The British minister for Asia and the Pacific met with the Sri Lankan government-appointed governor of the Northern Province during his trip to Jaffna on Friday.

The minister, Mark Field, and governor, Reginald Cooray, are reported to have discussed the current situation in the Northern Province and steps needed to achieve reconciliation.