Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said during a meeting with supporters that only politicians who represented the LTTE, and those who supported their cause, did not acknowledge the progress made by the government, reported state media.

“No one is getting killed by bombs anywhere now. Highways which were only dreams for us before are now a reality. We will soon commence the construction of Kandy and Northern highways. Even the roads in rural areas are now been improved and carpeted. 96% of the population is now have electricity. We will be able to provide power to the remaining 4% by next year.”

“It is only a handful of politicians who represented the LTTE and those who supported their cause do not acknowledge this progress. I could not change them,” he said, while speaking at a meeting with Sri Lankan organisations based in Europe, during his visit to Rome

The Northern Provincial Council's Agriculture and Environment Minister P. Ayngaranesan said action is underway to ensure 100,000 trees are planted in the month of November, declaring it the first of an annual tree planting month.

A motion proposed by Ayngaranesan was accepted and passed by Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran, ensuring the tradition would be carried on every year in the North from the 1st of November until November 30th, reports Uthayan.
 

A Sri Lankan military official said the army was keeping a close watch on the activities of Tamils to prevent any promotion of “terrorism and anti-state activities”.

Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, head of the security forces in Kilinochchi, said that this was necessary to prevent a revival of the LTTE, reported the New Indian Express.

“What is ‘spying’ for you is ‘being aware’ for us. It is a thin line which divides spying from being aware,” he said.

Ranasinghe justified the presence of military personnel at civilian events.

“We do not interfere with the proceedings. We just listen to find out if anyone is promoting terrorism and anti-state activities,” he said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has left Sri Lanka for a visit to the Vatican, on an invitation by The Holy See.

The president is expected to meet Pope Francis on Friday, before talks with Cardinal Parolin, who is secretary of state and prime minister of The Holy See.

Pope Francis is due to visit Sri Lanka in January next year.

Rajapaksa will be accompanied by Minister of External Affairs G. L. Peiris, Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera, Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga, Monitoring MP of the Ministry of External Affairs Sajin de Vass Gunawardena and Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Kshenuka Senewiratne.

A Tamil mother in Mulangavil slammed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Disappeared, after she was offered poultry farming when she had attended to register the disappearance of her son.

“Who are you fooling, you cannot fool God. I want my child," she shouted, after storming out of the Commission's session in Mulangavil.