Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena met with both the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres and Commonwealth Secretary General, Patricia Scotland whilst in New York last week, where they discussed “reconciliation” on the island.

The Sri Lankan president’s official media outlet claimed both Guterres and Scotland “praised Sri Lanka” for “progress”, though there have been no press releases from the UN Secretary General’s office or the Commonwealth on the meetings.

Three Tamil youths have been arrested in Jaffna in connection with gang violence, Koppay police have announced.

Police said dangerous weapons which the youths were in possession of were also seized.

The three were all around 23-years-old and were from the Vannarpannai, Chavakachcheri and Jaffna Town areas.

Police said they are now in search of a gang leader using the statements given by the arrested youths.

Tamils across the North-East have begun clearing Maaveerar thuyilum illams (LTTE martyr cemeteries) in preparation for Maveerar Naal, or Heroes Day, in November.

Sri Lanka’s prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe warned that the island’s economy faced “double trouble” as US sanctions against Iran look to come into effect later this year.

Sri Lanka’s finance minister Mangala Samaraweera claimed his government was able to halt a United Nations investigation into human rights violations committed by the military and saved former president Mahinda Rajapaksa from facing trial at an international tribunal.

“Our country was marked as a blood stain on the world map,” said Samaraweera. “We were accused of violating human rights in the war. An international investigation was to be held even without our involvement."

Scotland’s police announced a last minute cancellation of a visit by a contingent of Sri Lankan policemen to the UK, which was scheduled for this month, following pressure from Tamil activists.

The Sri Lankan contingent, which included controversial head of the Sri Lanka Police IGP Pujith Jayasundara, were due to visit for a training program.

Tamils in Jaffna protested calling for the release of Tamil political prisoners who are currently hunger striking for their freedom in Anuradhapura prison.

The US Naval Special Warfare Unit held further training sessions for Sri Lankan navy soldiers in Trincomalee last week, as engagement between the two militaries continues to grow despite a lack of accountability for war crimes committed by Sri Lankan troops.

Sri Lanka's military "is always in its highest readiness to defend the country in all aggressions" said the head of the army Mahesh Senanayake in a speech to troops as they concluded a military exercise last week.

Sri Lanka's president told an audience at the embassy in New York that his government is "always fully committed to safeguard the honour, dignity and respect of war heroes from the top generals to the last private soldier", as he continued to reject a hybrid accountability mechanism for crimes committed by Sri Lankan troops.

Tamil political prisoners who have been hunger striking for 16 days have begun refusing medical treatment since Friday.

All ten detainees who have been protesting for their release were receiving treatment for around a week due to the severe decline in their health.

However all ten, including two detainees that were transferred from Magazine to Anuradhapura prison, decided to escalate their strike on Friday by also refusing medical treatment.

A Tamil journalist was attacked in Jaffna on Friday while she was riding her motorcycle home.

Sumithi Thangarasa, a freelance journalist, said she was on her way home from the temple when she noticed she was being followed by an unknown person on another motorcycle.

She attempted to swerve her vehicle away when she noticed the attacker was attempting to crash into her, but the attacker followed and crashed into her and threatened her verbally before fleeing the scene.

The Sri Lankan government has strongly considered the possibility of resuming the ferry service between Rameshwaram and Talaimannar according to the tourism minister.

Speaking at a World Tourism Day event at the University of Jaffna, the minister, John Amaratunga, said the government was keen as the service would benefit Northern Province tourism.

The minister all said he frequently requested the Tamil diaspora to return and invest in tourism.

Sri Lanka’s army commander has said the army can reinstate camps in the North if necessary and clamoured for the forces to be given powers to deal with Jaffna’s gang problem.