A Sri Lankan military official said the army was keeping a close watch on the activities of Tamils to prevent any promotion of “terrorism and anti-state activities”.

Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, head of the security forces in Kilinochchi, said that this was necessary to prevent a revival of the LTTE, reported the New Indian Express.

“What is ‘spying’ for you is ‘being aware’ for us. It is a thin line which divides spying from being aware,” he said.

Ranasinghe justified the presence of military personnel at civilian events.

“We do not interfere with the proceedings. We just listen to find out if anyone is promoting terrorism and anti-state activities,” he said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has left Sri Lanka for a visit to the Vatican, on an invitation by The Holy See.

The president is expected to meet Pope Francis on Friday, before talks with Cardinal Parolin, who is secretary of state and prime minister of The Holy See.

Pope Francis is due to visit Sri Lanka in January next year.

Rajapaksa will be accompanied by Minister of External Affairs G. L. Peiris, Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera, Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga, Monitoring MP of the Ministry of External Affairs Sajin de Vass Gunawardena and Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Kshenuka Senewiratne.

A Tamil mother in Mulangavil slammed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Disappeared, after she was offered poultry farming when she had attended to register the disappearance of her son.

“Who are you fooling, you cannot fool God. I want my child," she shouted, after storming out of the Commission's session in Mulangavil.

Sri Lanka is not concerned by an Amnesty International report submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Committee said the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commissioner, on Thursday.

Amnesty International submitted a 40 page report documenting violations of civil and political rights to the UNHRC International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which will convene on 07 October.

Speaking to Sri Lankan press, the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commissioner Prathiba Mahanamahewa, said,

Published 29/09/14

Updated 17:30 BST 01/10/14

Sri Lankan authorities have sabotaged a journalism training program set to take place in a resort in Negombo, reports the Associated Press and Reuters.