The Sri Lankan government is currently drafting the 19th amendment to the country's constitution, which will repeal powers that were granted to provincial councils under the previous 13th amendment, reported ColomboPage.

The Sri Lankan Army has organised a “dental clinic and awareness lecture on oral hygiene” for children from the Methodist Girls’ School in Point Pedro, Jaffna.

The Sri Lankan government will declare a month starting from May 08th as the National War Heroes Commemoration Month (Ranaviru Month) to commemorate war heroes of the three armed forces and Police who perished and were injured in the three-decade long civil war, reported Colombo page.

Speaking to Channel 4, activists criticised Cameron's decision to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka in November.

The director of Tamils Against Genocide (TAG), Jan Jananayagam, said:

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian, S. Sritharan, has been summoned to the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) headquarters for questioning over comments he made to the press on land grab by the Sri Lankan state in the Kilinochchi District.

Two men from the TID arrived at his house in Jaffna and questioned his wife regarding himself.

Speaking to Ceylon Today, Sritharan said,

The leader of a new political movement Unity of Diversity, Azath Salley, is being held by the CID on a three-month detention order.

Salley, who is also the leader of the Muslim Tamil National Alliance, was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act after complaints were made that he was inciting racism, and has been admitted to hospital after starting a hunger strike.

“He was taken into custody under Section 120 of the Penal Code and provisions under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). He has violated clause 21 of the PTA,” said police spokesman SP Buddhika Siriwardena.

Family members reported that his health had further deteriorated.

UNP MPs Karu Jayasuriya, Ravi Karunanayake and Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene, Colombo Mayor A. J. M. Muzammil and Azath Salley’s three brothers were refused permission to visit him, while the TNA’s Sumanthiran visited Salley in his capacity as a lawyer, reported The Island.

Human rights groups have criticised the British government’s stance on Sri Lanka and called for a Rolls Royce engine deal with Sri Lankan Airlines not to influence their position, in light of British Prime Minister David Cameron’s decision to attend the upcoming Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting.

The Guardian reported Amnesty's UK head of policy and government affairs, Allan Hogarth, said,

"This must not detract from raising human rights issues. It must not be a condition on Britain remaining silent".

Brad Adams, of Human Rights Watch, also commented on the deal, stating,

"The UN estimates that 40,000 civilians were killed by the Sri Lankan army. Although the British economy is in trouble, it would be a serious outrage and betrayal of basic principles to sell the attendance of the Queen or prime minister at CHOGM for the purchase of some Rolls-Royce engines. These decisions should be made independently and on the merits."

The British Foreign Office meanwhile responded by saying,

"The decision to hold the meeting in Sri Lanka was taken by the Commonwealth as a whole in 2009 and reaffirmed in 2011. We respect the collective will of the Commonwealth".

"Obviously, you have to separate the bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka from CHOGM. They are aligned but our decision on CHOGM will be a result ultimately of what our objectives are for that meeting. Our relationship with Sri Lanka is not defined by one meeting."

See more from The Guardian here.

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) - a constituent of the ruling UPFA coalition, warnedyesterday that it would quit the coalition, if the Northern Provincial Council election, was to take place.

The National Organizer of the JHU, Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe, said he was confidence the government would consider their concerns. 

Officials have confirmed the UK Prime Minister David Cameron will attend CHOGM despite increasing calls to boycott the event, reports the Telegraph.

A government spokesperson said:

“We do not think that turning away from the problem is the best way to make progress in Sri Lanka. There’s nothing to suggest that not going will convince Rajapaksa he must do more,” 

“Instead, we should make very clear that as the incoming chair of Chogm they need to live up the values of the Commonwealth. We believe that the attendance of many world leaders and the global media will help to shine a light on what is going on the country, what has been achieved and what more needs to be done.

“And the PM will use his visit to see the situation in the country for himself and be clear on what progress is needed.”

Thailand and Sri Lanka have agreed to double trade between the two countries to $1bn over the next three to five years.

Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul agreed the increase while in Colombo at the the 3rd Sri Lanka-Thailand Joint Commission meeting, alongside Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister GL Peiris.