Responding to an online petition demanding support from the Obama adminstration into an "international investigation into war crimes and other human rights abuses committed in Sri Lanka", the US state Department, in a statement released Friday, stressed the needed for accountability, as a "critical component of reconciliation" and warned that that "international accountability mechanisms" may be used if the Sri Lankan government is "unable or unwilling to meet its obligations".

Sri Lankan cricket fans will be relieved to know that the sport's governing body is no longer troubled by 'evil spirits'.

A British Tamil business man, Kandiah Rajagopal, who owned a hotel in Trincomalee, was shot and injured off Vihara Road, near a Sri Lankan army base, on Tuesday.

Tamil diaspora organisations across the world pledged "renewed commitment to work together to bring justice and peace" to Tamils in Sri Lanka, in a statement released to coincide with the new year.

Reiterating their united stance against the "pogroms, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide" faced by the Tamil nation at the hands of the Sri Lankan government, they resolved to continue the campaign for an independent, international investigation into crimes committed during the armed conflict.

The full list of signatories included: Australian Tamil Congress, British Tamil Conservatives, British Tamil Forum, Canadian Tamil Congress, Center for War Victims & Human Rights (Canada), Global Tamil Forum, Ilankai Tamil Sangam (USA), Maison du Tamil Eelam (France), National Council of Canadian Tamils, Norwegian Council of Eelam Tamils, Swedish Tamils Forum, Tamils For Labour, Tamils For Obama, Tamil Forum Malaysia, Thamil Creative Writers Association (Canada), Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam, United States Tamil Political Action Council and USA
World Thamil Organization.

"We were carrying out a successful campaign in the beginning until we came under political pressure."

"Most of our member clubs and associations brought to our notice that there was undue pressure put on them to change the delegates [who would vote]." 

"This is not an election held for a government institution. This is an independent institution. So it becomes a farce. Therefore all of us decided this election is not conducted in a free and fair manner."

"We had a lot of hope that we are returning to democracy with the election. But all that hope is shattered."

"Thilanga was hoping to lead SLC, but he did not have the blessings of the government and without that he did not want to be a candidate."

Sri Lanka will today sign an agreement to build the tallest tower in South Asia.

The Lotus Tower Building will be 350 metres tall and situated in the heart of Colombo. The tower will provide ‘facilities for 50 television services, 50 broadcasting services and ten telecommunication providers’.

Three of the most prominent teacher trade unions, the Ceylon Tamil Teachers Association, Ceylon Democratic Teachers Union and Ceylon Islamic Teachers Association, came together against the proposed transfer scheme in the East, reported Tamilnet.

The head of the Sri Lankan delegation currently in talks with the Tamil National Alliance has denied it is under pressure from India to devolve power to the provinces.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told BBC Sinhala the agreement to discuss land and police powers, an ‘apparent u-turn’ from their previous position, has nothing to do with influences by other countries.

The past few days have seen rumours that General Sarath Fonseka, sentenced for implicating the defence secretary in war crimes, would receive a pardon from Sri Lanka's president, Mahinda Rajapaksa. The reports, said to have emerged from the Presidential Secretariat sources, alleged that the pardon would be announced on New Years Day.