The European Commission has complained to the government about its announcement of the lifting of the fisheries export ban, saying that it had not been formally announced.

Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) has sought clarification on why the announcement was made by the fisheries ministry, the Sunday Times reported.

The Pakistani president Mamnoon Hussain said that his country and Sri Lanka need to increase cooperation to strengthen their relationship, the Daily Mirror reported.

Speaking to a high level Sri Lankan delegation led by the speaker of the parliament Karu Jayasuriya, the president said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s process of implementing the UN Human Rights Council resolution on accountability and reconciliation “remains shrouded in secrecy” writes Human Rights Watch Director Brad Adams.

Adding that Sri Lanka’s process had kept international organisations out of the loop, he said,

“Even some international bodies that are supposed to be engaging with the working group say that they do not have the most basic information about its structure. The same is true for other developments related to the UN resolution.”

Stressing the need for clarity of Sri Lanka’s process in advance of the upcoming session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Mr Adams said,

Retired military personnel from Sri Lanka’s armed forces are to be hired to various roles in the government and semi-government sector due to a shortage of suitable candidates, stated Sri Lanka Defence Secretary.

“As a solution to the lack of technically and professionally skilled persons in the government field the Ministry of Defence has decided to launch this project on the advice of President Sirisena,” said Karunasena Hettiarachchi.

Over 4,000 Tamil children have lost one or both parents in the Kilinochchi district alone, according to statistics released by the Sri Lankan government’s District Secretariat.

According to the statistics 3,044 children have lost their father, whilst 764 have lost their mother. 476 children have lost both parents.

The statistics were compiled from across the region, including Karaichchi, Kandavalai, Pachchilaipalli and Poonakari.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera welcomed a decision by the European Union to lift a ban on fishing exports from the island, stating that his government had taken “immediate measures” to revoke the ban since coming into power.

"The lifting of the red card will allow Sri Lanka to resume fish exports to the EU's 28 member countries,” said Mr Samaraweera, noting that EU markets “accounted for 68 percent of Sri Lanka's fish exports, amounting to 108 million dollars”.