China's Defence Minister Liang Guanglie, who is currently on an official visit to Sri Lanka spoke about China's national defence policy, and dismissed talk of the "China Threat Theory".

Guanglie said,

"On this point, the Chinese government issued a whitepaper China's Peaceful Development in 2011, solemnly declaring to the world that China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development. The core idea of this path is that China will develop itself through upholding world peace and contribute to world peace through its own development."

"Up to now, China has dispatched around 21,000 person/times to 30 UN Peace-keeping missions, making it the largest personnel contributor among the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council. We have sent rescue teams for 18 times to conduct humanitarian rescue operations. Since 2008, China has sent 12 batches of naval task forces to conduct escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia. With the further modernisation of China's national defense, China will make greater contributions to world peace as a responsible member of the international community."

See also: China's support for Sri Lanka's militarisation (28 Aug 2012)

Indonesian authorities are holding in custody 50 asylum seekers from the island of Sri Lanka for the past two days, just after they survived the sinking of their vessel en route to Australia, and over 24 hours in the water. Over one hundred others perished.

The National Search and Rescue Agency spokesperson, Gagah Prakoso, said to AFP:

An event, part of a cultural exchange programme of Kalai Kaviri College in Trichy, has been cancelled after protestors demanded that the Sri Lankan participants be sent back.

54 students and 10 teachers from Sri Lanka came to participate in a programme on Thursday, but were told by college administrators to return to Sri Lanka as the programme had been cancelled.

Members of Naam Thamizhar Iyakkam protested outside the premises, shouting slogans against the Sri Lankan state and Mahinda Rajapakse.

The annual animal sacrifice for the feast of Sri Bhadra Kali Amman in Munneswaram has been cancelled on the request of President Mahinda Rajapakse.

The ritual which involves the sacrifice of hundreds of goats and fowl has sparked rows between the areas Hindu Tamils and Buddhists.

Apparently oblivious to the state's attitude towards religions other than Buddhism, the temple's Chief Priest had actually requested the President's protection for the feast to go ahead.

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Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa recently made a trip to Sudan and met his counterpart, the ICC wanted Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein, Sudan’s Minister of Defence.

Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein had an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court earlier this year, for 21 counts of war crimes and 20 counts of crimes against humanity.

The Chinese minister of National Defence, General Liang Guanglie met President Rajapakse in Colombo on Wednesday.

The president thanked China for standing by Sri Lanka during difficult times and for “cultural cooperation” and “forthcoming economic assistance”.

Reports suggest that China is planning to pledge US$ 100 million to fund Sri Lankan Army projects in the northeast of the island.

Gen Guanglie is leading a 23-strong delegation - made up of several high-ranking military officials - on a five day visit to Sri Lanka and is expected to visit military facilities in the north of the island.

“Since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, China-Sri Lanka friendship has withstood the test of international vicissitude and we have always maintained good cooperation,” the General said, speaking at during an event at the defence college in Colombo.

“We all know that since the beginning of its reform and opening-up, China's overall national strength and international influence have grown remarkably."

"Some people in the international community suspect that China would take the road of expansion with force, and have been actively spreading the ‘China Threat Theory’.”

The Tamil detainee, Sundaram Satheeskumar, who was attacked in Galle prison last week, was transferred to Colombo National Hospital for medical treatment, reports Uthayan. 

Satheeskumar who was left in a coma after the attack, suffered extensive bleeding around his brain due to a significant head injury.

Sexual abuse and rape of former female LTTE cadres by Sri Lankan Army troops remains rampant in the North-East, as harrowing accounts from victims and medical professionals have revealed.

Former LTTE cadres told TamilNet of how rape and sexual abuse routinely took place in the detention camps that the Vanni population was herded into in after the Mullivaikal massacre of 2009. The abuse has not ceased, with the women reporting that such assaults were regular occurrences whenever they were “summoned” by Sri Lankan soldiers for “interrogation”.

Former chairman of Sri Lanka’s tourism, Nalaka Godahewa has been announced by the government as the new market regulator for the country - the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

His predecessor, Tilak Karunaratne, resigned in early August citing widespread market malpractice and impunity. Many investors have claimed that stock exchange is over regulated and Godahewa’s “market friendly” charisma has hopes to succeed. 

But some have noted that regulations will be difficult to enforce even under the new chief as investors are powerful enough to fend off any probes.