_{Image Credit: Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs}

Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikalai Barysevich met with Sri Lankan Ambassador J. A. Liyanage on Tuesday during a meeting in which she expressed a desire to enhance the bilateral relations despite ongoing concerns over Sri Lanka’s human rights record.

Police have launched investigations after six unidentified bodies had washed ashore in Jaffna within six days, last week.

Two bodies had washed ashore on the Point Pedro and Chundikkulam coast while the others were discovered on beaches in, Vadamarachchi, Valvettithurai, Neduntheevu and Maruthankerny.

The incident has raised doubts if there was a fishing accident or a boat carrying migrants attempting to enter Jaffna may have capsized at sea.
 

_{Image Credit: @TomObokata on Twitter}

A 25-year-old Tamil youth has been killed and a 13-year-old injured after a disused mortar shell reportedly exploded in Kilinochchi on Sunday.

The explosion, in the town of Umayalpuram, reportedly was due to an old, unexploded mortar shell that had been accidentally triggered.

John Sifton, the Asia Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch, addressed the United States House of Representatives Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights today, which is currently holding a hearing on 'Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka'.

See the full text of his address and video footage of the event below.

The United States House of Representatives Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights is currently holding a hearing on 'Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka'

Ten Tamils who were arrested under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), for commemorating the Mullivaikkal genocide, were released on bail this morning by Valaichenai court. 

Jaffna Mayor Viswalingam Manivannan opened the restored Ariyakulam tank, renovated with the financial assistance the Thiyahie Charitable Trust (TCT), as part of the mayors "Pure City" initiative. 

The Indian government has looked to expand several projects in the Tamil homeland, according to the latest press reports, as Sri Lanka’s finance minister Basil Rajapaksa faced criticism over his visit to New Delhi last week with claims that he “went to beg from India”.

Rajapaksa’s visit came as Sri Lanka sought crucial financial support from India amidst a deepening economic crisis and growing tensions between the neighbours.

He agreed a four-point economic plan with New Delhi, which alongside the offer of a much-needed currency swap to assist Sri Lanka during its financial crisis, also included “facilitating Indian investments in different sectors in Sri Lanka” and an agreement to develop the Trincomalee Tank Farm – a reversal from a previous Sri Lankan position.

Farmers in Kilinochchi have warned that the upcoming harvest may be worse than during the decades of armed conflict, according to a report in The Hindu, after the Sri Lankan government banned chemical fertilisers.

Excavations resumed in Suthanthirapuram, Mullaitivu where government ministers are in search of LTTE gold.

Excavation work was started by Sri Lankan police on 2 December. Mullaitivu court judge R. Saravanaraja was also present as the works began.

India's Adani group have submitted a proposal to the Board of Investments of Sri Lanka (BOI) and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to develop a USD $1 billion renewable wind power project in Mannar. 

Organised by the National Fisheries Cooperation Movement and the Northern Province Fishermen's Association, Mullaitivu District Fishermen's Associations and the general public participated in a signature drive in front of the Mullaitivu Market on Friday.