The Bodu Bala Sena has called on Sri Lankan authorities to stop the witch hunt against members of military intelligence for the benefit of “international conspirators”, the Daily Mirror reports.

Sri Lanka’s Monetary Board held key interest rates unchanged on Monday citing low inflation, steady foreign remittances and earnings from tourism, Lanka Business Online reported.

The money authority said dollar inflows, which were expected to bolster foreign reserves, contributed to the decision.

The Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank were held unchanged at 6% and 7.5% respectively.

“Going forward, the inflation outlook and expectations remain favourable for the remainder of the year, supported by improved domestic supply conditions and subdued global commodity prices,” the monetary board said, according to LBO.

Leaders from parties which make up the Tamil National Alliance have rejected proposals for a domestic investigation into the mass killings of Tamils carried out during the final stages of the armed conflict and reiterated their support for an international accountability mechanism.

The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) and the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) met in Colombo and agreed that only an international mechanism would bring about true accountability and justice.

M. K. Shivajilingam, a Northern Provincial Council member, recalled the failure of past domestic Sri Lankan commissions that had a degree of international involvement, such as the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons that was constituted in February 2007.

"As a partner of the TNA, the TELO dismiss an internal investigation and will continue to demand an international investigation," he said.

The Sri Lankan army will start a Joint Field Training Exercise in the Eastern Province this week with the navy and air force, announced the Army Chief of Staff Major General Jagath Dias.

The exercise, entitled ‘Cormorant Strike’, will be the sixth tri-forces Joint Field Training Exercise, announced the recently promoted general.

The Sri Lankan military has called for increased participation in peacekeeping missions with the United Nations, with the commander stating the forces were a “professional army”.

Lt. Gen. Crisanthe De Silva called for further participation, despite the controversy over Sri Lankan troops sexually abusing Haitian minors whilst on a previous peacekeeping mission. 111 soldiers and 3 officers were repatriated back to Sri Lanka after being part of UN mission in Haiti and were accused of a string of sexual assaults, including rape of children as young as 7 years old.

No one has yet been charged with any offences.

Speaking to the Sunday Island, Lt. De Silva claimed,

"Within a short span of time, we were able to make a significant positive impact on UN’s peacekeeping efforts… The Sri Lankan armed forces have been recognized for their commitment, competence and abilities in all UN assignments".

Tamil families affected by enforced disappearances rejected proposals for a domestic inquiry at a vigil for the disappeared in Mannar.

Emphasising the need for an international investigations into disappearances and abductions during the war and its aftermath, hundreds of relatives of missing persons marked the International Day of the Disappeared with an emotional vigil in Mannar on Sunday.

photograph IBCTamil.com

The vigil was organised by the Organisation for the Families of Forcibly Disappeared Persons - North and East Provinces, with the Mannar Citizens Committee.

The event’s chief guest, Reverend Father Elil Rajan, representing the Tamil Civil Society Forum, emphasised the Tamil people’s disappointment in the international push for domestic investigations.

Sri Lanka will look to borrow $4 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help tackle a widening balance of payment deficit, reports Sundaytimes.lk.