<p>Officials from Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) recorded a statement from former Health Minister Rajitha Seneratne who was hospitalised earlier today, the Colombo Page <a href="http://www.colombopage.com/archive_19B/Dec27_1577387238CH.php">reported</a>.</p> <p>Seneratne was reported to have disappeared from his residence when CID&nbsp;officials went to arrest him in the early hours of Wednesday morning.</p>

Commemorative events were held today across the Tamil homeland to remember the 35,000 victims of the catastrophic tsunami on December 26, 2004. 

<p>Former Northern Provincial Council member, M K Sivajilingam, has been summoned to the Colombo Terrorism Investigation Division (TID)&nbsp;tomorrow over Mullivaikkal commemorations.</p> <p>He&nbsp;said that he has been ordered to appear at the TID to make a statement in regards to the Mullivaikkal memorial week held in May this year.&nbsp;</p>

Defending the controversial citizenship bill, BJP senior leader, La. Ganesan, has stated that Eelam Tamils residing in Tamil Nadu should return to Sri Lanka despite human raised human rights concerns.

The BJP leader stated on the matter;

“I am not against citizenship being given to Sri Lankan Tamils. But, they do not want it. They want to go back. That would be the best solution as their votes are more important in Sri Lanka”.

Former Sri Lankan Health Minister, Rajitha Senaratne, was not present at his residence when CID (Criminal Investigation Department) officials came to arrest him in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The CID had been a granted a warrant for his arrest following a controversial press conference in which the former Minister spoke alongside men who claimed to be involved in the ‘white van’ abductions. 

<p>A Pakistani refugee was found hacked to death in Dalupotha, Negombo.&nbsp;</p> <p>The victim was 50-year old Mohammedi Yabi who arrived in Sri Lanka six months ago. An inquiry into his death has been launched by the magistrate but there have been no arrests so far.</p> <p>According to the New York Times, Pakistani Muslim refugees are "easy targets" because they speak in a different language and look slightly different.</p>

The assassinated Tamil MP Joseph Pararajasingham was remembered across the Tamil homeland today, on the 14th anniversary of his killing.

A senior Tamil National Alliance (TNA) figure and MP for Batticaloa district, Pararajasingham was shot and killed by two armed paramilitary men whilst he was attending Christmas midnight mass in 2005, at the St Mary's church in Batticaloa town.

Christmas was celebrated across the Tamil homeland today.

Thousands of Christians attended midnight mass and special services in churches across the North-East, while celebrations were held in homes and workplaces too.

 (Pictured: Midnight mass at St Mary's Cathedral, Jaffna and at St Sebastian's Cathedral, Mannar)

The Sri Lankan government confirmed that its national anthem will be sung in Sinhala only for next year's independence day celebrations in Colombo. 

As in previous years, an elaborate military parade is set to be held through Colombo's Independence Square, with thousands of troops and military hardware on display.

Malaysia’s High Court will now take over the case of six Tamil men, who have been charged with posting supportive material of the LTTE on Facebook.

The charges come with serious implications under Section 130J(1)(a) of Malaysia's Penal Code, which can lead to punishments such as a 30 years jail sentence or even a life sentence.

In addition, as the defendants were arrested under the 2012 Security Offences Act, they were denied the ability to record their plea. 

Read more from The Malaymail here.