The commander of Sri Lanka’s army claimed that his forces had the support of “nearly 100% of the Tamil people” in an interview to a Sinhala magazine last month, yet noted that the military in the North-East had to remain vigilant.

Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, also stated that the military continues to “maintain surveillance all the time” as the “'Eelam' ideology still persists”.

The British government said any arms deals with Sri Lanka “take into account international humanitarian and human rights law” last week,

Britain’s Secretary of State for International Trade, Graham Stuart, responded to a question by the former Chairman of the Conservative Party Grant Shapps on the UK’s weapons sales to Sri Lanka, stating that “all export licence applications are considered on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria”.

Preparations were underway this week for a military parade marking Sri Lanka’s Independence Day on Feb 4 despite the military's well documented role in the mass killing, torture and disappearance of Tamils. 

The parade comes as the government continues to claim to be committed to ensuring reconciliation. 

The United National Party pledged to build 1000 Buddhist viharas in the Tamil homeland, under the guise of reconciliation.

“500 million rupees has been allocated to build 1000 viharas in the Northern and Eastern Provinces,” a UNP manifesto said on a page titled ‘Reconciliation’.

The construction of Buddhist sites in the North-East in areas with few, if any, Buddhist residents leaves a perception of Sinhalese imperialism, a US State Department report said last year.

The United National Party (UNP) today suspended its assistant leader and the former finance minister, Ravi Karunanayake following an inquiry's recommendation that he should be referred to the attorney general for investigation of possible bribery. 

The Asian Development Bank this week assured Sri Lanka it would provide further assistance in order to develop the agricultural sector. 

The assurance came during a meeting with ADB officials and the Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday. 

Read more here. 

Last month the ADB approved an additional $75 million to fund the development of small and medium sized enterprises in Sri Lanka, on top of a pledge to provide $1 billion worth of assistance over four years. 
 

The Sri Lankan military continued to intrude on religious activities in the North-East as soldiers from the 64 Division in Mullaitivu took part in festivities at a temple in the district last month.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe pledged that his party would rebuild the economy in the Tamil North-East of the island, but said that first the economy of the whole island needed a “fix”.

Speaking at a rally in Vavuniya, Mr Wickremesinghe vowed to bring development projects to the North-East.

"But before we take steps to fix the economy in the North-Eastern region we have to fix the country's economy," he said.

"We have to start taking steps in line with this agenda,” he added. “We are going to develop the Trincomalee Port,” he said, noting that “it is the best port in Bay of Bengal”.

The United States’ Ambassador to Sri Lanka said his country “has stood shoulder to shoulder with Sri Lanka” as it prepares to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two governments this month.

As part of celebrations, new bilateral initiatives will be highlighted by the US as well as “exercises between the two countries’ militaries will enhance disaster response capabilities and expand interoperability”.

Residents in Batticaloa and Trinco took part in festivities this month celebrating the Tamil festival of Thai Pongal.