A Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) constable was sentenced by the Batticaloa High Court to 15 years in prison for raping a child in 2009.

The officer was convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl in February 2009 when he was serving at a Special Task Force (STF) camp in Vellaveli, Batticaloa.

Five people were arrested on charges of possessing illegal firearms in the Thirukkovil area of Amparai district on Saturday morning.

Thirukkovil police raided houses located in Kanchirankuda, Thambiluvil, Vinayagapuram and Thirukkovil.

Police claimed to have recovered five locally-made firearms, for which five people were arrested. Police said the arrested would be produced in court.

Tamil villagers conducted a special worship at the Athi Ayan Temple, Kurunthur Hill, Kumulamunai, Mullaitivu earlier this month. The temple is of historical significance for the Tamil people, but like many ancient monuments is in the Tamil homeland is coming under attack from Buddist colonisation.

Sri Lanka’s foreign minister confirmed that his government has already sought to lift a travel ban placed on accused war criminal Shavendra Silva, as he responded to questions in parliament urging the government to lobby the USA on the issue.

Sri Lanka’s bonds have tumbled ahead of a visit tot the island by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as the island’s already struggling economy lurched further into crisis.

Sri Lanka’s prime minister and accused war criminal Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are “very active” and poses a “great threat to the national security of any country,” as he called on British authorities to ensure a ban was kept on the organisation after a ruling found that the decision was “flawed” and unlawful.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who has previously campaigned for Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2014, expanded his interests in Sri Lanka this week, by purchasing the Kandy Tuskers cricket franchise in the Lanka Premier League.

In 2014 the Bollywood actor Salman Khan and Sri Lankan actress Jacqueline Fernandez campaigned for Rajapaksa as he sought re-election as president on the invitation of Rajapaksa's son Namal. It was the first time that a Bollywood actor promised to campaign for a Sri Lankan leader. When Salman was asked about his views of Mahina Rajapaksa at the time, he stated "the president is an amazing man and he is one of the most humble people that I have met."

India and Sri Lanka’s navies conducted a three-day military exercise off the coast of Trincomalee from the 19-21 Oct as part of the 8^th anniversary of the bilateral agreement known as SLINEX.

Ahead of US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo’s, visit to Sri Lanka, the country’s opposition leader Sajith Premadasa has urged the government to push for a repeal on the US travel ban imposed on Sri Lankan army commander, Shavendra Silva, and his immediate family.

A senior education official, who was arrested for sexually harassing a married woman, was released on bail by Jaffna Magistrate Court on Thursday.

Sri Lanka’s parliament passed the 20^th Amendment to the Constitution on Thursday, a move that will see the presidential office currently occupied by Gotabaya Rajapaksa significantly strengthened, as Opposition parliamentarians were amongst those joining the regime to vote in favour.

Amnesty International have called on the US Secretary of State to address the 'deteriorating human rights situation' in Sri Lanka during his visit next week.

The 33^rd anniversary of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) massacre was marked at the Jaffna Hospital, with staff and family members holding a commemorative ceremony on Wednesday, in memory of the dozens killed.