^{Photograph: Sri Lankan troops prepare for deployment to Lebanon earllier this month.}

The United Nations has confirmed that it has out “on hold” the deployment of a Sri Lankan commander who was set to lead troops as a peacekeeper in Lebanon, after concerns over his involvement in war crimes.

The Sri Lankan military declared that it had completed the construction of the walls of a Buddhist vihara in Amparai, as the army continued its involvement in consolidating Sinhala Buddhist presence in the North-East.

The Sri Lankan government is attempting to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act in time for the start of the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, the Sunday Times reports.

The final draft was given to the cabinet for approval last Wednesday by the Foreign Minister, Tilak Marapana, and gave rise to objections from the housing minister Sajith Premadasa.

The foreign minister reportedly said that it would be imprudent to stop the new counter terror legislation passing into law so close to the upcoming human rights council session.

Tamil families of the disappeared have seen out almost a year protesting on the roadsides of various towns, in search of answers about their disappeared family members.

Work at Sri Lanka's ministries has ground to a halt as the country's political turmoil continues, the Sunday Times reports. 

The country's unity government was thrown into crisis this month after the country's local government elections delivered a bruising defeat to both main parties of the coalitions, and a victory to the newly established party of the former president, the SLPP. 

"The entire state machinery including the Treasury is operating at a snail’s pace as many officials adopt a wait and see attitude in exercising their official functions," the paper reported. 

The SLFP has decided to quit the national unity government, the party spokesperson, MP Thilanga Sumathipala told reporters on Sunday night. 

The announcement came following a meeting between senior UPFA members, including senior figures within the SLFP, and the president, Maithripala Sirisena.

Mr Sirisena has urged them to wait for a decision from the Supreme Court regarding the president's power over the appointment of the prime minister, before making such a decision, the spokesperson added this morning. 

Ten Tamil fishermen massacred by the Sri Lankan Navy in 1984 were remembered in Vadamarachchi, Jaffna on Sunday.

The Sri Lankan government released 109 Indian fishermen on Sunday. They are expected to be repatriated over the next few days. 

Over 135 fishermen were in Sri Lankan custody for allegedly poaching in the island waters. Their trawlers and nets were confiscated by the Sri Lankan authorities. 

The release comes ahead of the St Anthony's festival on Katchatheevu island on February 23 and 24. 

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Sri Lanka's former army commander, Sarath Fonseka, who is accused of orchestrating war crimes against the Tamil people, sought to be appointed the minister of the law and order, arguing he would demonstrate quick results. 

"I will show results in six months if I am given the portfolio of Law and Order" Mr Fonseka was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying. 

The UNP's assistant leader, Ravi Karunanayake vowed the unity government would keep on going despite the UNP and SLFP's election defeat at the local elections last weekend. 

"No matter what sort of political clashes take place, the UNP would not let a reversal of the people's mandate received in January 8, 2015," Mr Karunanayake was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying. 

"People had shown a red light to the government by the recent LG election and they have fair reasons to do so. We have failed to initiate some election promises made on 2015."