The Sri Lankan army arranged Christmas Carol services in Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi this week in order to "promote the relationship between military personnel and civilians", the army's website stated.

The Tamil National Alliance will appeal the aquittal of all suspects in the case of the assassinated former Tamil politician, N Raviraj this week. 

Tamils in Strasbourg marked Maaveerar Naal last month, with a ceremony to remember those who gave their lives during the Tamil struggle.

A Tamil restaurant owner was assaulted and abducted by a Sinhalese bus driver and conductor in Vavuniya on Wednesday.

An argument had broken out the previous day when the assailants were told by T. Subaraj, the owner of the restaurant in Vavuniya’s main bus station that they could not smoke in the premises.

Photograph: Daily Ceylon

Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena met with senior government ministers and Buddhists monks in Colombo this week, includin

Sri Lanka’s top court acquitted and released the five accused of assassinating Nadarajah Raviraj – former Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian.

Through a unanimous decision by the all Sinhala jury, three navy intelligence officials and two members of the Karuna group were acquitted after a month long trial. The decision by the jury was based on reasoning that the five accused cannot be convicted solely on the fact that witnesses in the case identified them.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe agrees to amend the draft Development (Special Provisions) Bill – considering proposals made by Southern, Western, Eastern and Uva Provincial chief ministers’ at a meeting on Friday.

The proposed bill attempts to establish development offices and appoint officials in order to centralize development policies.

Farmers in Hambantota protested this week against the leasing of land in the district to a Chinese company, the Daily Mirror reported. 

Over 1000 farmers took part in the protest which began as a march towards the Administration Complex, vowing they would never vacate their ancestoral lands. 

Aprons and oven gloves with a depiction of Buddha were seized by Sri Lankan customs officials on Thursday who said the items were "offensive". 

The goods were a consignment on a shipment from India heading towards Slovenia. 

Sri Lankan troops stationed in Poonakari distributed spectacles to Tamils living in the area last week.
 

The Sri Lankan government is to introduce a development programme in Trincomalee with Indian assistance, to mirror that of Hambantota port, the minister of development policies and international trade Malik Samarawickrama said on Wednesday. 

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) on Thursday called on the Sri Lankan government to reveal its deal with a Chinese company which was due to be responsible for Hambantota port, the Daily Mirror reported. 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will offer worship at the Lord Venkateswara temple near Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh, after landing in Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

The Prime Minister, along with his wife and officials will arrive in India on December 21st. His last visit to the temple was in his capacity as Prime Minister in 2002.

Photograph: BBC Sinhala

Sri Lanka’s justice minister met with Buddhist monks from the extremist Bodu Bala Sena organisations in Batticaloa on Wednesday.