Money allocated for resettlement is being funnelled to the Sri Lankan army, a Northern Provincial Council minister said on Wednesday. 

Women’s affairs minister Ananthy Sasitharan accused the Sri Lankan government of diverting funds, including international aid money, meant for resettling Tamil war victims to the military, under the guise of relocating camps.

Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry Secretary Kapila Waidayaratne said Sri Lanka is interested in Russian arms and ships during a visit to a military exhibition in Russia reports Colombo Gazette.

Speaking to Russian News outlet Sputnik, Mr Waidayaratne said the Sri Lanka’s delegation had arrived at Russia’s military forum to see the expertise and technology available.

Heading the Sri Lankan delegation to Russia, Mr Waidayaratne, said,

Two new appointments were made to the Northern Province on Wednesday in health and agriculture. 

Dr G Gunaseelan appointed as the province's new Minister of Health, Indigenous Medicine, Probation and Childcare Services. Mr K Sivanesan was appointed as the Minister of Agriculture, Agrarian Services, Animal Husbandry, Irrigation, Fisheries, Water Supply and Environment.

Both men were sworn in before the Northern Province's governor, Reginald Cooray in Jaffna. 

The draft 20th Amendment to Sri Lanka's constitution was today tabled in parliament, the Daily Mirror reported. 

Dozens of Sri Lankan troops took part in a military exercise in Trincomalee this month, in the run up to a major joint field training exercise to be held later this year.

A delegation from the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) in Sri Lanka met with the head of Sri Lankan army on Monday, to discuss the role of the military in the North-East.

Sri Lanka’s minister of justice has been sacked this morning, following criticism of the current government over a financial deal with China and after he allegedly delayed investigating cases of bribery and corruption.

The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Command of the Indian Army visited Jaffna and Trincomalee this week, meeting with Sri Lankan military commanders.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena handed over a cheque for Rs. 45 million rupees on Tuesday, to be used towards the renovation of the golden roof of a Buddhist vihara in Kandy.

The Canadian government has announced David McKinnon will be the new High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, taking over from Shelley Whiting.

“Shelley's left big shoes to fill but I could not be happier or more honoured,” said Mr McKinnon on Twitter, after the announcement was made.

The head of Sri Lanka’s army warned that deserters posed a “threat to society” according to a report in The Island, and called on private businesses across the island not to provide them employment.

The Sri Lankan resettlement ministry will give the army 178 million rupees to return civilian land in Keppapulavu, the minister for resettlement confirmed on Tuesday.

Photographs: Shalin for Tamil Guardian

Sri Lankan soldiers will begin construction on a new home for the family of a Tamil student shot and killed by police last year.

Sri Lanka’s treasury has released funds to distribute dry food rations amongst drought affected people in 15 districts, reports Colombo Page.

The President’s office has also issued instruction to the Army to produce a performance report on how dry aid is distributed by the Divisional Secretaries across the island.