Sri Lankan soldiers have embarked on a United Nations peacekeeping mission to Mali this week, despite concern over their role in the sexual abuse of minors on a previous mission.

The Sri Lankan military declared that 150 troops from 10 regiments of the army had left this week to join the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

A further 50 Sri Lankan soldiers will also join.

The departure comes after the commander of Sri Lanka’s army claimed their involvement in peacekeeping missions was an “endorsement that recognizes our professionalism at international level”.

Thirteen Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested on Sunday morning by the Sri Lankan navy for allegedly entering island's eaters. 

The navy also confiscated two fishing trawlers, which have been taken to the naval base at Karainagar. 

The 13 fishermen have been handed over to Jaffna fisheries officials, the Daily Mirror reported. 

The arrest comes just days after courts in the North-East ordered the release of 69 Indian fishermen detained in Sri Lanka. 

The Sri Lankan Army is demolishing houses and buildings in unreleased lands in Myliddy and using those materials for further construction on the Thalsevana resort, a  military-run resort built on occupied land in Kankesanthurai, the Vali North resettlement committee has said.

In the majority of cases where Tamil lands have been released from high security zones and general army occupation, the residents have returned to destroyed homes and infrastructure, the committee said.

Sri Lanka’s navy provided interest free loans to forty sailors this week as part of a range of benefits provided for its troops, as defense spending continues to dominate Sri Lanka’s budget.

Loans worth Rs. 500,000 each were granted to the sailors, reports an official military website. The loans are part of a range of benefits granted to the military.

A total of 1,151 sailors have been granted interest free loans so far said the navy, totaling a sum of at least Rs. 576.2 million. At least an additional 4,000 more sailors are also set to receive loans.

The Sri Lankan military continued to intrude on Christmas festivities in Jaffna this month, despite government pledges to withdraw the military from civilian activities.

Sri Lanka received its first instalment from China for Hambantota Port totalling US$ 292.1 million, the Central Bank confirmed on December 26. 

The sum was credited to Sri Lanka by China Merchant Port Holdings (CMPort) in line with the long lease of Hambantota Port to the Chinese state owned company. 

The whole programme is expected to see a US$ 1.12 billion investment by CMPort. 

Read more here and here. 

The Sri Lankan government has sought an emergency supply of fertiliser from Pakistan after farmers raised concerns of supplies running out. 

The government's news portal reported that the Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena "immediately contacted Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi" requesting assistance. 

Mr Abbasi has pledged 41,000 metric tons of fertiliser for immediate delivery, with 75,000 metric tons in the near future. 

The Indian government offered Sri Lankan officials training towards understanding India's method of governance, PTI reports. 

Forty-five day long training courses have been introduced, starting on January 15, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said in a statement. 

"The training courses aim to give Sri Lankan government officials an understanding of India’s approach towards governance and rural and urban development," the statement noted. 

The residents of a Mullaitivu village are still unable to return to their homes despite announcements by the Sri Lankan Army that their lands have been released.

Sri Lanka's Department of Archaeology has been given the authority to take control of land in Sampur which is claimed to be the site of a Anuradhapura era Buddhist stupa. 

A team of archaeologists claimed to have made the discovery on November 11 during an excavation. 

One day after the alleged discovery, the site was reportedly demolished by unidentified persons. 

In a statement announcing the department's take over of the disputed land, Sri Lanka's Speaker, Karu Jayasuriya pledged to action against those responsible.