Postal voting for Sri Lanka's local government elections is to begin on January 22 for officials at police stations, election offices, district secretariats and the divisional secretariat. 

Officials at other government offices will be allowed to start their postal vote on January 25-26. 

Around 560,000 applications for postal voting have been accepted by the Election Commission. 

The Sri Lankan government "do not want to punish the offenders who committed war crimes – including torture, rape, plunder and acted brutally, calling them heroes instead" the chief minister of the Northern province, C V Wigneswaran told the Huffington Post in an interview this week. 

Asked for his opinion on Colombo's seeming lack of seriousness in implementing a credible transitional justice program, Mr Wigneswaran said, 

The US government is to award $1.2 million to Sri Lanka over three years towards countering human trafficking. 

“The United States has a strong commitment to working with international partners to tackle the root causes of modern slavery and protect victims and vulnerable populations.  Through the EQUIP project, we will continue to support the government of Sri Lanka in combating the scourge of human trafficking," the US ambassador to Sri Lanka, Atul Keshap said. 

An EPDP local government candidate was arrested in Jaffna on Friday night.

Kanthaiah Sivaji who is contesting under the EPDP at the Chavakachcheri divisional council (prathesiya sabai) election was arrested by Kodikamam police who had an arrest warrant from Chavakachcheri court, after the candidate failed to turn up in court in relation to a traffic accident.

Pakistan’s Army Chief said that his country and Sri Lanka were probably the only two countries who understand what it takes to 'defeat terrorism', the Daily Mirror reports. Pakistan has long been a supporter of Sri Lanka and has come to its defence at international platforms including the UN Human Rights Council.

Sri Lanka will be celebrating its 70th Independence Day on a grand scale, “having regained its world image” according to the Home Affairs Minister.

The European Union discussed the implementation of the cosponsored UN Human Rights Council resolution with Sri Lanka, meeting in Colombo for the 21st meeting of the EU-Sri Lanka Joint Commission today. 

The ongoing use of torture, the lack of accountability and justice, as well as the failure to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act were highlighted in a joint statement issued following the meeting. 

The Sri Lankan government has "stalled on its key pledges to provice justice for conflict-related violations and strengthen human rights protections", Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2018, published today. 

In an op-ed marking Sri Lanka's unity government's 3rd anniversary in power, The Economist said the president was 'struggling to keep his promises of reform', nothing that the 'economy is weak and the opposition strong'. 

The UK leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn in his Thai Pongal address this week, highlighted the ongoing persecution faced by Tamils and called on the UK government to take a lead in ensuring Sri Lanka works towards justice for Tamils. 

The Asian Development Bank approved an additional $75 million on Tuesday to fund the development of small and medium sized enterprises in Sri Lanka. 

"SMEs have the potential to reduce regional inequalities in Sri Lanka given that SMEs are more widespread throughout the country than larger enterprises, which are mainly based in the capital Colombo," the ADB's principal finance specialist, Don Lambert said. 

Sri Lanka's prime minister and UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe ordered UNP ministers to curtail criticism of the president, Maithripala Sirisena. 

Speaking to the UNP Working Committee meeting on Wednesday morning, Mr Wickremesinghe was quoted by the Daily Mirror telling UNP ministers "not to make controversial statements dragging President Maithripala Sirisena anymore". 

The LTTE's former Jaffna commander, Col. Kittu was remembered in Puthukudiyiruppu 25 years after he and nine other Maaveerar committed suicide after being surrounded by Indian navy warships in 1993. 

The event was addressed by the local representatives for Crusaders for Democracy and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). 

Sri Lankan authorities have remanded two individuals for allegedly 'promoting the LTTE' over the New Year period. 

The two individuals were accused of posting a New Year greetings containing 'LTTE symbols' in a social media post.