The Sri Lankan government may delay the signing of the Hambantota port city deal with China Merchant Port Holdings depending on a parliamentary debate tomorrow, Ceylon Today reported on Thursday. 

The deal was due to be signed on Saturday. 

The reports of a possible delay came only days after the cabinet approved the signing of the deal, which had been subject to protests by locals and the Buddhist clergy who argued the government was selling land to China. 

Sri Lanka's Joint Opposition on Wednesday threatened legal action if the government did not hold Provincial Council elections as planned in October, the Daily Mirror reported. 

In a written letter to the Election Commission chairman, Mahinda Deshapriya, the former minister G L Peiris of the Joint Opposition regarding the postponement and warned that he would take the matter to the courts. 

Preparations are underway for the historic Nallur Kandasamy Kovil’s annual Thiruvizha which will commence tomorrow with the inaugural flag raising ceremony.

Today the temple held 'kodicheelai kaiyalippu', the traditional handing over of the flag silk, with a procession and poosai to bless the flag.

The Defence Attaché of the United States Embassy in Sri Lanka Lt Col Douglas Hess met with the Sri Lankan Minister of Defence earlier on Thursday.

Sri Lanka is set to sell a majority stake in its ‘remote’ Hambantota port to a Chinese company after agreeing on a revised deal to pacify India’s concerns, reports the Financial Times.

With nearly all government revenue currently going to debt servicing, the port is being sold as part of Sri Lanka’s strategy to pay down some of its debt, estimated to be around $65bn (USD), including $8bn to China.

The port is financially unviable due to its remote location with little demand for large-scale freight traffic, although India has expressed concern that China’s long-term interest in the project is strategic rather than commercial.

Sri Lankan Navy personnel were pelted with stones last week while trying to apprehend a group reportedly engaging in illegal sand excavations in Vadamaradchi.

One Coast Guard member was injured in the incident which occurred last Friday at Vallipuram, Vadamaradchi.

While the alleged attackers escaped, naval reinforcements were called to the scene with the heavy military presence causing tension in the area over the weekend.

Sri Lankan State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene said he had discussed the incident with the Navy Commander and stressed the need to arrest the suspects, reports the Island.

Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa said that he was open for discussions with anyone for the sake of the country including current President Maithripala Sirisena, reports dailymirror.lk

During his public question and answer session on Twitter,  Mahinda Rajapaksa said the current government was working to implement agendas external parties.

The European Union  (EU) in a press release ,shortly after a European Union  Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that Liberation Tamil Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) funds were unlawfully frozen,  said it “continues to consider the LTTE as a terrorist organisation and the EU’s restrictive measures against the LTTE remain in force.”

“This means that the LTTE remains listed as a terrorist organisation by the EU,” the statement added.

Acknowledging the ECJ ruling, the statement went on to say that “remedial action will be taken to adjust the listings to these procedural requirements and to ensure legally robust designations.”

The Sri Lankan government on Wednesday deployed its military to distribute fuel to state firms after the country experience severe shortages following strikes by workers. 

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation had called a strike against the government's attempts to encourage foreign companies into the oil sector. 

Soldiers stormed into two oil storage facilities and moved peaceful protesters, the CPC trade union official, D J Rajakaruna was quoted by Reuters as saying. 
 

The top court of the European Union (EU) has removed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from a banned terrorist organisation list, reports Reuters.

Judges at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) confirmed the ruling on Wednesday morning, stating the EU had not demonstrated enough evidence to show the LTTE was able to carry out any military attacks

"The Court of Justice therefore confirms the annulment of the continued freezing of the LTTE's funds," it was quoted by Reuters as stating.