The Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse has urged expatriate Sri Lankans ‘from all communities’ to return to the island and support its growth.

Gotabhaya said the government was keen on creating an environment conducive for professionals to live and work in Sri Lanka, reported Colombo Gazette.

"Our oil storage tanks located in Trincomalee were privatized. We are currently having talks to take them back (under state control)".

The Sri Lankan Navy has been engaging in further landgrabs in Pattikuda in the eastern Pulmoddai region, reports Tamilwin.

A sign was erected on the land, belonging to local residents, declaring it to belong to the navy. Residents were forced out, with their huts, fences and crops destroyed.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has slammed the Indian government over reports that the Indian Coast Guard is participating in military exercises with the Sri Lankan Navy.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, Jayalalithaa said,

“I am totally dismayed to note from media reports that the Indian Coast Guard is participating in a marine defence exercise and has deputed ships, officers and men to Trincomalee, to participate in this exercise which is reported to be commencing there on 21st December, 2013.”

“This is in complete and callous disregard of the strong views and emotions of the people of Tamil Nadu clearly and unambiguously conveyed in my earlier letters to the Prime Minister, through Assembly resolutions and through protests, agitations and demonstrations by the people of Tamil Nadu.”

“The Government of India has still chosen to ride rough shod over the groundswell of emotions in Tamil Nadu and has persisted with its policy stance towards Sri Lanka.”

The British Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Hugo Swire, during proceedings at the House of Commons on Tuesday, outlined that any investigation that Sri Lanka were to commence, must be accepted by the international community in order to be deemed credible.

Responding to questions on UK involvement in ensuring an appropriate resolution was passed at the UNHRC in March 2014, Swire highlighted that the UK was regularly engaging with other countries on Sri Lanka, including discussions on the content.

Swire added,

"The Prime Minister has said that the UK would use its place on the UN Human Rights Council to call for an international investigation if there has been no progress. An assessment will be made at the UN Human Rights Council in March 2014."

"We regularly discuss Sri Lanka, including accountability, with a range of other EU, Commonwealth and international partners. In those discussions we are exploring options, including the content of a UNHRC Resolution, ahead of the March session. It is too soon to define what any international investigation might consist of."

"We have made clear that any investigation must be internationally accepted to be considered credible."