The Sri Lankan government is in discussion with Israel's Aerospace Industries (IAI) over upgrading five grounded Kfir fighter jets.

In an interview to Jane's Defence Weekly, a senior IAI official reportedly said, "the company is in talks with the Sri Lankan government to upgrade and return to service its five grounded Kfir fighters."

Sri Lanka's armed conflict ended over 8 years ago, in May 2009. Kfir jets were used through out the conflict by the Sri Lankan military to target civilian areas in the North-East.

The former Sri Lankan navy spokesperson Commodore D.K.P. Dassanayake has been further remanded until December 22 over the disappearance of 11 Tamil youths in 2008, Colombo Page reports. 

Mr Dassanayake was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in July this year. 

A number of bail applications made have so far been rejected. 

The Sri Lankan military declared open a new holiday resort in the Jaffna peninsula last month exclusively for Sri Lankan troops, built on the tens of thousands of acres of land it still occupies in the Northern Province.

Defying repeated calls for the military to cease its involvement in civilian activities, troops from Sri Lanka’s navy carried out a medical clinic for local Tamils in Jaffna last week.

A Kilinochchi police officer has been arrested for possession of over 100 grams of heroin, worth around 1 lakh rupees.

The police officer who currently serves at Poonakary police department was arrested along with the driver of the three-wheeler in which he was caught with the drugs.

The officer has previously been suspended from duty in connection with criminal activity.

Both the officer and the driver will be presented at Kilinochchi magistrates court.

India's Consulate on Tuesday marked the birthday of the Tamil poet Mahakavi Bharathiyar. 

The event was chaired by India's Consul General, A Natarajan and featured the chief minister of the Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran as the chief guest. 

The event took place at the Nallur Thukka Thevi hall. 

The United States on Friday launched a US$ 2 million programme to end AIDs in Sri Lanka. 

The programme - HIV/AIDS Technical Assistance Partnership - aims to end cases of AIDs in the island by 2025.

"USAID Sri Lanka has been working closely with the Government of Sri Lanka on a number of social and economic development efforts. This partnership is very important as Sri Lanka moves down the path to ending the spread of AIDS," the Mission Director of USAID Sri Lanka, Dr. Andrew Sisson said.

The Sri Lankan navy arrested 27 Tamil Nadu fishermen on early Tuesday morning for allegedly poaching off the coast of Neduntheevu. 

The fishermen, from Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu, were taken to Kangesanthurai port along with five boats.

According to the Rameswaram Fishermen Association, over 3000 fishermen were chased away by Sri Lanka navy by opening fire. 

The targetting of Tamil journalists in the North-East contradicts the Sri Lankan government's claims of media freedom, the Jaffna Press Club has said.

Releasing a statement on Sunday, the press club condemned the detention and questioning of a group of journalists by Sri Lankan soldiers in Mullaitivu this weekend.

"On one hand Tamil journalists are forced to work in an unsafe environment," the organisation said. "On the other hand those behind the attacks and threats are never put before the law."

The chief of India's air force arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday for a four day visit which include discussions on regional security. 

Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa is expected to hold meetings with Sri Lankan air force officials, as well as visiting the army and navy headquarters. 

"The visit of the Indian Air Chief would provide impetus towards increasing defense cooperation between the two Air Forces and pave the way for greater interaction in the future," the Sri Lankan ministry of defence said.