The Sri Lankan government is in the final stages of formulating the controversial ECTA trade agreement with India, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Saturday.

The prime minister said they were also reviewing its FTA with China.

“Additionally, we are looking at entering into such partnerships with Singapore, Turkey, USA and Pakistan,” he said.

Mr Wickremesinghe further said that the government would work on regaining the GSP+ trade concessions, just as it did for the recently lifted fisheries export restrictions.

“We plan to work towards regaining GSP Plus in the same manner and are in the process of assuring the international community that Sri Lanka abides by norms and standards expected of a democratic nation. We plan to enter into several bilateral agreements that will empower the economy and drive the country forward,” he said, while blaming the previous government for the restrictions.

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.

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

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.