The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein met with Sri Lanka’s prime minister in Switzerland, to discuss the island’s human rights situation.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met with the UN human rights chief on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday .

China's Alibaba company is keen to invest in Sri Lanka said the finance minister on Thursday. 

The finance minister, Ravi Karunanayake met with the online company's chairman, Jack Ma at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week, the Colombo Page reported. 

The European Union in a statement reiterated that the only criteria by which Sri Lanka will be assessed to rejoin the GSP+ trade concessions are its ratification and implementation of 27 international conventions it has signed in the past.

The Sri Lankan government has dropped its own proposal to decriminalise homosexuality, which was included in its national human rights plan put forward to help regain the European Union’s GSP+ concession, reported the Deutsche Presse Agentur. Homosexuality is currently a criminal offence under Sri Lankan law.

A human rights lawyer and activist was questioned by the Sri Lankan army after speaking to refugees at a Jaffna camp.

Mr Ainkaran was questioned by military personnel from the Kankesanthurai division, after speaking to internally displaced people living in Konappulam camp in Mallakam, Jaffna.

The soldiers also questioned the refugees Mr Ainkaran had spoken to, enquiring about his identity and what he had talked about.

The Sri Lankan government in Colombo does not listen to the views of the Northern Provincial Council, the Chief Minister has said.

“The central government does as it pleases in the Northern Province, but does not consider our opinions when engaging in activities,” NPC Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran told journalists.

Chinese infrastructure projects have heavily burdened Sri Lanka, according to former military chief, Sarath Fonseka.

A group of Buddhists headed by a monk destroyed a Christian church in the North West Province of Sri Lanka earlier this month, leaving worshippers to now conduct their prayers under a tree.

The Kithu Sevana prayer centre in  Paharaiya was attacked by the mob on January 5, said a leader of the Christian community in the region, Kamal Wasantha.

The Voice of America is to close its broadcasting station in Puttulam and transfer the land back to the Sri Lankan government. 

The appeal made in the case of the assassination of the Tamil politician Raviraj was dismissed on Thursday by the Court of Appeal. 

The appeal filed by Mr Raviraj's widow, Shashikala Raviraj, after the five men accused of killing the former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP were acquitted.

The Sri Lankan army has vacated several acres of Omanthai, while the checkpoint will move to a different location in the town.

Lands in the Nanthikadal area of Mullaitivu will not be released, reports Uthayan.

Military officials told Mullaitivu villagers that land around the Nanthikadal lagoon is needed by the Sri Lankan military and any appropriated land will not be returned.

The lagoon and its banks, close to Mullivaikkaal, are known for being the location of mass atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan army during the final stages of the war.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe stated that Sri Lanka would soon have access to four major markets at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. He requested that local and international investors start ventures in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan products will have market opportunity in Europe once GSP plus concessions are reestablished added Minister Malik Samarawickrema.

Sri Lanka is expected to launch a number of economic reforms in the coming months. 

Sri Lanka has signed a US$125 million credit with the World Bank in order to modernise its agricultural sector.

“Sri Lanka aims to make the sector more efficient and attractive as a modern business, more responsive to consumer demand, and more environmentally sustainable and resilient to climate change,” says the World Bank.