The visas of members of the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), who were due to travel to Sri Lanka on a fact finding mission over the recent impeachment of the Chief Justice, had their visas revoked, according to the Institute.

In a statement, the institute said:

Sri Lanka’s Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the government is confident that India will support Sri Lanka against the US-sponsored resolution at the Human Rights Council in Geneva next month.

Representatives of Tamil political parties and civil society and diaspora groups who met last weekend in Berlin will continue discussions in the coming months, the Global Tamil Forum said this week.

The full text of the statement on behalf of the participating organisations follows:

The Minister for Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda, who is also leader of the paramilitary EPDP, has announced that he would resign from his ministerial position to contest the Northern Provincial Council Elections as a candidate for the Chief Minister position.

Authorities in Australia suspect a high level Sri Lankan government official of being personally "complicit" in the transfer of asylum seekers to Australia, reports The Australian.

The newspaper reports that the official, whom the paper has chosen not to identify, is alleged to be responsible for sanctioning asylum seekers boats for the past ten months, during which time several refugees have perished at sea.

The second phase of oil exploration in the Mannar basin will begin next month announced Cairn India.

The company said drilling would be brought forward from June to mid-February, due to early rig availability and excellent logistical preparations.

The drilling of a fourth exploratory off well has been planned, 21km off the coast of Kalpitiya.