The Sri Lankan government "do not want to punish the offenders who committed war crimes – including torture, rape, plunder and acted brutally, calling them heroes instead" the chief minister of the Northern province, C V Wigneswaran told the Huffington Post in an interview this week. 

Asked for his opinion on Colombo's seeming lack of seriousness in implementing a credible transitional justice program, Mr Wigneswaran said, 

"Do you think the government would ever be serious in furthering the transitional justice process? They are good at talking. They will go on talking and the world community and Tamils would be fooled again and again."

The US government is to award $1.2 million to Sri Lanka over three years towards countering human trafficking. 

“The United States has a strong commitment to working with international partners to tackle the root causes of modern slavery and protect victims and vulnerable populations.  Through the EQUIP project, we will continue to support the government of Sri Lanka in combating the scourge of human trafficking," the US ambassador to Sri Lanka, Atul Keshap said. 

An EPDP local government candidate was arrested in Jaffna on Friday night.

Kanthaiah Sivaji who is contesting under the EPDP at the Chavakachcheri divisional council (prathesiya sabai) election was arrested by Kodikamam police who had an arrest warrant from Chavakachcheri court, after the candidate failed to turn up in court in relation to a traffic accident.

Pakistan’s Army Chief said that his country and Sri Lanka were probably the only two countries who understand what it takes to 'defeat terrorism', the Daily Mirror reports. Pakistan has long been a supporter of Sri Lanka and has come to its defence at international platforms including the UN Human Rights Council.

The Pakistan Chief was on a two day visit at the invitation of the Sri Lankan Army Commander.

Sri Lanka will be celebrating its 70th Independence Day on a grand scale, “having regained its world image” according to the Home Affairs Minister.

Sri Lanka, which was relegated to the background, will proudly celebrate this year’s Independence Day after winning over the international world and regaining its world image, said Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena in a press release, reports dailynews.lk.

The European Union discussed the implementation of the cosponsored UN Human Rights Council resolution with Sri Lanka, meeting in Colombo for the 21st meeting of the EU-Sri Lanka Joint Commission today. 

The ongoing use of torture, the lack of accountability and justice, as well as the failure to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act were highlighted in a joint statement issued following the meeting. 

The Sri Lankan government has "stalled on its key pledges to provice justice for conflict-related violations and strengthen human rights protections", Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2018, published today. 

“Victims of abuses who struggled for years seeking justice finally had a moment of hope two years ago when Sri Lanka pledged to the UN to take action,” HRW's South Asia director, Meenakshi Ganguly said.

In an op-ed marking Sri Lanka's unity government's 3rd anniversary in power, The Economist said the president was 'struggling to keep his promises of reform', nothing that the 'economy is weak and the opposition strong'. 

Read full op-ed here. 

Extract reproduced below: 

The UK leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn in his Thai Pongal address this week, highlighted the ongoing persecution faced by Tamils and called on the UK government to take a lead in ensuring Sri Lanka works towards justice for Tamils. 

"The Tamil people have made huge sacrifices in their struggle for human rights in Sri Lanka - and still face persecution today. As we approach the 70th anniversary of Sri Lanka's independence, our Government must take a lead in ensuring the Sri Lankan government takes active steps to support justice for Tamils in Sri Lanka and commit to serious post-conflict reconciliation."

The Asian Development Bank approved an additional $75 million on Tuesday to fund the development of small and medium sized enterprises in Sri Lanka. 

"SMEs have the potential to reduce regional inequalities in Sri Lanka given that SMEs are more widespread throughout the country than larger enterprises, which are mainly based in the capital Colombo," the ADB's principal finance specialist, Don Lambert said. 

"The additional support will ensure that more SMEs have wider access to credit," he added. 

SMEs, which are considered essential to the development of Sri Lanka's economy continue to find access to finance difficult.