Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena met with Buddhist organisation Bodu Bala Sena in a wide ranging meeting to discuss threats to Sinhalese villagers “from Tamil separatists”.

“About 4,500 families in five remote villages in the Bogas Weva region in Vavuniya, who had been resettled by the previous government, have now started to get back to their previous places,” said BBS General Secretary Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara.

“The attention given to them by the Government and the influence from several Muslim Ministers and threats from Tamil separatists resulted in the villagers returning to their former places,” he added.

He went on to state,

“Those villages have been set up by the help of tri forces. I am pleased to inform that the President had informed the Army Commander to take immediate action regarding the issue. We hope the President will take fruitful decisions in the future.”

Villagers in Mullativu held a protest on Monday, demanding the return of their lands which have been occupied by the Sri Lankan authorities under the controversial Mahaweli Development project.

Villagers from Kokkulai, Kokkuthoduvai and Karunattukerni gathered in front of the Mullaitivu district secretariat demanding an end to the project, which has seen Sinhala settlers move to the Tamil North-East, in large scale colonisation projects.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe declared any fishing activities by Palali airport were strictly banned, due to the planned expansion of a military base in Jaffna.

Mr Wickremesinghe was in Jaffna last week, where he participated at a high level meeting at the Security Forces Head Quarters – Jaffna, reports Ceylon Today.

At the meeting, Sri Lankan army officers told the prime minister that fishing activities in the region could endanger the military air base in Palali.

The Sri Lankan government expressed its thanks on Tuesday to China for its support during the armed conflict.

"The Government appreciates the support given by China during the war against the LTTE," the country's ministry of defence, was quoted by Colombo Gazette as saying at a reception to welcome the Chinese navy vessel currently at Colombo habour.

Sri Lanka’s investment promotion agency is aiming to attract $5 billion of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI’s) over the next three years said the International Trade and Development Minister.

Speaking at a precursory event to the Invest in Eastern Sri Lanka Forum later this month, Malik Samarawickrema said the government was also planning to conduct investment road shows to target several countries.

An European Union trade delegation will visit Sri Lanka for three days this week till Friday.

The delegation which includes officials from the European Commission and the European External Action Service, will discuss a number of issues with the Sri Lankan government, including how to regain the Generalized System of Preferences plus (GSP+).

Tamil diaspora organisations, in a statement marking the 40^th anniversary of the passing of the ‘Vaddukkoddai Resolution,’ pledged to host events around the world to reaffirm and 'take it forward in all dimensions.'

The statement read,

“The essence of the Resolution declared on 14 May 1976 under the leadership of the late S.J.V Chelvanayagam was the enunciation by Tamils that, in view of their long maligned experiences, they could no longer live under the hegemonic rule of a Sinhala Buddhist State. In the subsequent General Elections of 1977, the Tamil people gave a clear mandate for the Resolution by electing all candidates who stood behind it. That mandate by the people lives in their spirit forty years on.”

Three fishermen from Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu were detained on Saturday by the Sri Lankan coast guard, reports Times of India.

The arrest is the latest in the ongoing arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan security forces, which have sparked fierce criticism from Tamil Nadu political figures.

The three men, 28 year old Santosh, 32 year old Parthiban and 39 year old Bala have been produced before court in Jaffna, and will be held in remand till January 29.