TNA members and supporters of MP Mahendralingam, were attacked by members of Pillayan's TMVP group on Wednesday morning, reported Uthayan.

The body of an elderly Tamil woman was found murdered in her home in Koppai this morning, reported Uthayan.

The body, found beaten with open wounds and lacerations, is that of 70-year-old Kumarasami Mangayakarasi. Her jewellery, including earrings and bangles, were missing.

The Sri Lankan Army has stepped up its random search operations in Mullaitivu reported Uthayan on Tuesday.

Residents have complained that the searches have become even more regular than previously, with numerous bicycles, motorcycles and cars being searched.

The family of a mentally ill Tamil asylum seeker being held at Villa Wood Detention centre in Australia, New South Wales, are calling for an urgent review of his case, reported ABC news.

The asylum seeker, Pradeep, fled to Australia by boat, having been aassaulted by the Sri Lankan army.

Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the US and Mexico, Jaliya Wickramasuriya, is mapping out plans to draw in 100,000 American tourist to the island by 2016 in part of an attempt to increase tourist traffic flow to Maldives and India.

A woman allegedly raped by three Sri Lankan Army soldiers on Sunday, "willingly participated" said a spokesperson for Haputale police, SP Ajith Rohana.

The three soldiers were arrested on Monday, after being apprehended by railway security officers whilst on a train to Badulla.

Three Tamil men were found murdered on the same night in Visuvamadu, Mullaitivu district, reported Uthayan on Monday.

37 Chinese fishermen, arrested by the Sri Lankan navy on Monday, have been handed over to Chinese embassy officials in Trincomalee.

The Sri Lankan Navy detained 37 Chinese fishermen on Sunday night, prompting China to call for their immediate release, reported the China's state news agency, Xinhua.

The director of the Coordination and Response Division of the UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), John Ging, made a number of comments following a 3 day official visit to Sri Lanka.

The UN official visited the North-East, where many people still lack basic services and facilities, following the Sri Lankan government onslaught in 2009.

According to OCHA people in the region have asked for basic assistance such as sanitary facilities, clean water, shelter, electricity and livelihoods support.

Commenting on the situation, Ging said:

“In 2012, it is absolutely unacceptable that tens of thousands of people are living in such appalling conditions without access to the most basic services,”