A new alliance against the ruling UPFA has been formed in Sri Lanka.

The opposition parties, led by the UNP, have signed an MOU to form a joint movement in Colombo.

The alliance, called “Vipakshaye Virodhaya” includes the UNP, TNA, Democratic People’s Front, Nawa Sama Samaja Party, Mawbima Janatha Pakshaya, Ruhunu Janatha Party, Eksath Janatha Peramuna, Muslim Tamil National Alliance and Nidahase Wedikawa.

The Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma held talks with the government on Sunday on the rule of law and the separation of powers.

In a statement the Commonwealth said:

"Sharma is expected to discuss, among other issues, options for advancing Commonwealth values and principles, including the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers,"

The Jaffna home of an Indian consulate official was ransacked on Friday reports the Hindu.

It is reported that the Sri Lankan Army keeps close watch on the consulate officials and that issues of intimidation have arisen.

While a video player and some money were taken from the premises, the house was raided thoroughly seemingly with the intention of a specific search.

Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha has said that Sri Lankans living abroad should “contribute towards moderating the negative narratives propagated against Sri Lanka – by clarifying genuine concerns and debunking the falsehoods", reported the Daily Mirror.

The Sri Lankan government is hoping for the EU GSP+ trade concessions that were stripped from the island to return, after an estimated US$1.5 billion loss due to the withdrawal, reported the Sunday Leader.

The government is alleged to be preparing an application to handover to the European Union for June 2014, where they will be re-applying for the trade concessions, the loss of which has seen factories leave the island.

The Japanese government has granted US $860,500 in aid to the demining organisation - HALO Trust, to work towards demining in the North.

The agreement was signed between the Japanese Ambassador Nobuhito Hobo and the HALO Trust Programme Manager on the island, Bartholomew Digby on Friday.

A Sri Lankan government minister said on Saturday that it hoped India will vote for it in the UN Human Rights Council in March.

Sri Lankan Minister for Public Administration W.D.J. Seneviratne told reporters here that there had been "a remarkable improvement in the human rights situation" in his country.

In a submission to a conference organised by Berghof and GTF last month, Tamil civil society actors from the North-East advocated for a "referendum wherein the Tamil people could freely express their aspirations for a political solution", after an outline of a proposal for a political solution is drafted from a bottom-up process, echoing work done by the Scottish Constitutional Convention which eventually led to the establishment of the Scottish Parliament.