Families of Tamil political prisoners at special prayers for the detainees at Nallur Kandasamy Kovil.

^{Photo: Hamsan for Tamil Guardian}

Tamil civil society and political organisations have called for businesses and institutions to remain closed on Friday, October 13, in solidarity with Tamil political prisoners and their demands.

On Monday, Amparai residents remembered 7 Tamils shot dead by Sri Lankan Special Task Force Troops in Thirukkovil in 2002.

More than 1,000 Sri Lankan troops took part in a dengue cleanup program at schools across Kilinochchi and Vavuniya last month, declared an official military website

The commander of Sri Lanka’s 591 Brigade oversaw a military ceremony to donate books to a children’s school library in Mullaitivu last month.

The National Audit Bill was approved by Sri Lanka's cabinet on Tuesday after key amendments were made, Adaderana reported. 

Both the UNP and the SLFP had opposed powers given to the Auditor General in the previous draft. In the current version, the Auditor General has no power to impose financial responsibility or surcharges on any individuals or institutions. 

The bill was one of the election promises made by the current government as part of its pledge to end corruption in state institutions and ensure transparency. 
 

Sri Lankd and Finland issued a joint declaration this week agreeing to closer cooperation on developing clean and renewable energy sources. 

The declaration comes as the Sri Lankan prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe visited Finland, meeting with his counterpart on Tuesday. 

Sri Lanka and India will hold joint military exercises in Pune between October 13 - 25. 

Officials from the army were quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying, "the aim of the joint training is to exchange the best of military practices of the two countries and build a strong military-to-military relation between the two armies."

Sri Lanka's foreign ministry on Wednesday rejected reports the government would be bound by recommendations made by the UN Special Rapport on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence, Mr Pablo de Greiff who is due to visit the country this month.

Womens organisations in Mullaitivu paid tribute to 2nd Lt. Maalathy on Tuesday.

The first female LTTE fighter to be killed in the armed struggle, Maalathy was remembered at the Tamil National People's Front's Mullaitivu office on the 30th anniversary of her death.

Maalathy, the first female LTTE fighter to be killed in the Tamil armed struggle, was remembered in her hometown of Aandankulam in Mannar on Tuesday.