Russia’s ambassador to Sri Lanka urged Colombo to look to his country for the purchase of military equipment, at a press conference last week.

The Island quoted Ambassador Alexander Karchava as telling journalists that “Sri Lanka is searching for a number of products in the air, sea and land”.

“We can accommodate everything,” the ambassador said. “Russia has the originals and they are durable, unlike the duplicates."

The Constitutional Assembly Steering Committee has decided to obtain the views of parliamentarians on drafting the new constitution on January 9th 2017 reports Colombo Page.

The Sri Lankan government must end impunity for torture by holding those responsible accountable said Amnesty this week. 

Families of the missing demonstrated in Jaffna town on Saturday marking international Human Rights Day. 

The UNP announced Thursday that a new constitution would offer greater devolution of power however, would maintain a unitary state and the current executive presidential system, thereby rejecting Tamil demands for a federal structure. 

The UNP statement, made at its party headquarters did not however detail which powers would be further devolved. 

The statement to maintain a unitary state was endorsed by the SLFP as well. 

The World Bank board last week approved a $75 million credit to improve the selection, administration and payments within Sri Lanka's welfare programs. 

Thousands of people attended Maaveerar Naal commemorations in Switzerland last month, as Tamils across the word remembered the lives lost in the Tamil freedom struggle.

Soldiers from the 661 Brigade in the 66 Division of the Security Force Headquarters (Killinochchi) gave away school accessories to children in Pooneryn on Monday.

Troops received sponsorship from National Tourist Guide Lecturers’ Association and the ‘Kind Heart’ Association.

The Tamil National Alliance urged the government to relocate chief monk Ampitiye Sumanarathana from the Eastern Province after tensions on Sunday.

Seenithamby Yogeswaran, TNA’s Battacloa District Parliamentarian, asked the government why it has failed to take any action against Sumanarathana for his hate speech against Tamils and Muslims.
Further, he explained how Sumanarathana’s ongoing behaviour has disrupted the community.

The Sri Lankan president cleared the names of Sinhala chiefs who were previously branded 'traitors' by the then British governor in 1818. 

"After 198 years, I cleared the names of Wellassa heroes including Monarawila Keppetipola," tweeted Mr Sirisena. 

The Norwegian ferry operatory, Norled AS, MMBL Pathfinger Group and Aitken Spence are to establish a ferry service linking Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka, SLBC reported. 

The first stage of the operation would link Tuticorin to Colombo, before providing a service connecting Talaimannar to Rameshwaram. 

A further stage would provide a service between Colombo to Kochi, in Kerala.