The Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena said on Sunday that 215 Tamils incarcerated would not be granted amnesty as there were "no political prisoners" in Sri Lanka.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr Sirisena acknowledged that there were widespread calls for the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to be repealed, however said, "when even powerful nations are grappling with problems arising out of terrorism... my government has to consider all factors before taking a decision.”

The government has given assurance that the unitary status of Sri Lanka will not be changed  and a re-merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces would not be allowed said a member of the constitutional amendment process.

Accusing the opposition (Tamil National Alliance) of spreading lies, the Deputy Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ajith Perera said, he could, as a member of the team involved in the constitution making process, confirm that there was no basis for claims that the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government would compromise the Sri Lanka’s unitary status or re-merge the Eastern and Northern Province.

Sri Lanka’s main opposition demanded the military vacate private land that it was occupying, whilst welcoming President Sirisena’s commitment to returning government seized lands.

Speaking to Agence France Presse Tamil National Alliance MP MA Sumanthiran, said,

“We welcome this as a very positive development but our stand is that the military must vacate all private lands they are occupying.”

The president told AFP on Sunday that land would be given to displaced civilians by the middle of the year.

The leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peraruma (MEP) party accused the Sri Lankan government of omitting constitutional clauses affirming a Unitary State and the primary place of Buddhism at the request of the Tamil National Alliance.

Speaking at a media briefing, MP Dinesh Gunawardane, said,

Pakistan’s prime minister Navaz Sharif will visit Sri Lanka next week to sign a series of bilateral agreements reports Colombo Page.

Mr Sharif is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka on a 3  day visit and sign an agreement between the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and the Sri Lankan Export Development Board to promote trade relations between the two governments.

Sri Lanka aims to enhance its export of tea and rubber to Pakistan, whilst Pakistan will look to increase its export of rice Sri Lanka.

Suspected army torture cells have been uncovered by locals in two houses in the former High Security Zone of Valikamam North.

The Tamil People’s Council formed in Jaffna last month will submit a proposal to the ethnic conflict by the end of January, reports Colombo Page.

Member of the Tamil national Alliance (TNA) Suresh Premachandran who forms a part of the Council, said, the proposal will be presented to the residents of the North and East for feedback by the end of January.

Wigneswaran clarifies Tamil People's Council motives (28 Dec 2015)