<p>Amid the ongoing political turmoil Sri Lanka on Thursday signed two deals with Chinese firms for development of the port city project, Reuters reports.&nbsp;</p> <p>An official at Sri Lanka Ports Authority confirmed to Reuters that two contracts were signed worth over $50 million.&nbsp;</p>

The leader of the United National Party (UNP), Ranil Wickremesinghe said he was to register a new alliance "soon". 

“We will soon register a new political alliance which we will form together with all parties who stands for democracy and rule of law in the country,” Wickremesinghe was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying. 

Sri Lanka’s parliament has passed a motion earlier today voting to cut the budget for the Prime Minister’s office, in a blow to Mahinda Rajapaksa and his supporters after they boycotted the sitting.

The motion, which was passed 123 to none, means that Rajapaksa will not be able to use government finances for day-to-day expenditure. 

Thousands of Swiss Tamils gathered in Zurich on Tuesday to mark Maaveerar Naal, alongside the Tamil nation in the homeland and across this diaspora.

Thousands of Canadian Tamils came together near Toronto to commemorate Maaveerar Naal. Proceedings commenced at 6:00, with further events at 13:00 and 18:00. Tamils shops in Toronto were closed out of respect for the remembrance day. Tamils travelled to the location from all across the Greater Toronto Area, with long queues forming at the venue in Markham as snow fell.

Tamils across Kilinochchi commemorated Maaveerar Naal, with services taking place at Visuvamadu and Mulankavil thuyilum illams, as well as at Kanagapuram.

TNA MP Shritharan attended the event at Visuvamadu, while the former NPC council member Ananthy Sasitharan was present at Mulankavil.

Tamils across Australia and in New Zealand marked Maaveerar Naal yesterday, as part of commemorations worldwide to remember those who died fighting for the Tamil struggle.

In Australia events were held in Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Queensland and Sydney.

Maaveerar Naal was commemorated at all four Thuyilum Illams in Mullaitivu: Alampil, Aalankulam, Mulliyavalai and Vannivilankulam.

<p>Sri Lanka’s highest ranking military officer Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne has been remanded in custody over his involvement in the cover up of the disappearance and murder of 11 Tamil youths, in a dramatic day in court.</p>

The home of a Maaveerar Naal organiser in Point Pedro was attacked overnight, with fittings vandalised. 

The attack, which locals believe was orchestrated by vandals associated with the Sri Lankan police, followed police attempts to disrupt Maaveerar Naal commemorations in Munai, Point Pedro yesterday, where locals had gathered to remember those who died fighting for the LTTE.

The 18-year old organiser was briefly held by police during the commemorations yesterday, before being released. 

Thousands of Tamils attended Maaveerar Naal commemorations at the Kanagapuram Thuyilum Illam earlier today, as part of remembrance events held across the North-East.

Maaveerar Naal commemorations took place in Amparai's Kanchikudiyaaru Thuyilum Illam, which locals had cleared in advance and recovered a small number of headstones that had been destroyed by the Sri Lankan military previously. 

Hundreds of Tamils in Trincomalee marked Maaveerar Naal at the thuyilum illam in Aalankulam, Sampur.

The cemetery had been decorated in the colours of Tamil Eelam as well as featuring the traditional welcome arch at the entrance.

Thousands of Tamils commemorated Maaveerar Naal in Batticaloa at a number of public and private events across the district.