The US has welcomed the release of Ms Balendran Jeyakumari, a human rights activists, who had been detained without charge for a year.

Speaking at the daily press briefing of the State Departmen, spokesperson Jen Psaki said,

"The United States welcomes the March 10th release of eight Sri Lankan detainees, including human rights activist Balendran Jeyakumari, who had been arrested under the previous administration and held without charge. We understand Ms. Jeyakumari has been released on bail pending trial, and we encourage the Government of Sri Lanka to afford the individuals and all detainees due process of law. We applaud this positive step and encourage the government to continue its efforts to ensure human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Sri Lankans."

Ms Jeyakumari and her teenage daughter Vipoosika were detained on March 13 2014, by Sri Lanka’s anti-terror police under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Vipoosika was later released, however, her mother was transferred to Boosa prison, notorious for its endemic use of torture and sexual violence against Tamil detainees.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Sri Lanka to go beyond the 13th Amendment and reiterated his belief in “co-operative federalism”, as he began his visit to the island with speeches in Colombo.

Speaking to the media on Friday morning, Mr Modi said,

“We stand with [Sri Lanka] in your efforts to build a future that accommodates the aspirations of all sections of society, including the Sri Lankan Tamil community, for a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity in a united Sri Lanka.”

“We believe that early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and going beyond it would contribute to this process,” added the prime minister.

He later addressed the Sri Lankan parliament where he said he was “a firm believer in cooperative federalism.”

Photograph: Tamil Guardian

Reiterating that the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL) would be strengthened and released before 30 September the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Al Hussein, said that he would use his judgement to decide when exactly it was released.

Speaking to NGOs at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Human Rights Chief Zeid, said,

Sri Lanka will remain a priority for the UK in 2015, including on issues such as "respect for human rights, a sustainable political settlement and accountability for alleged war crimes", according to the 2014 Human Rights and Democracy Report by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

"The human rights situation in Sri Lanka continued to be of concern in 2014, with little overall improvement. The UK remained concerned over a number of issues: restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly; increases in attacks on Muslim and Evangelical Christian minorities; reports of torture and allegations of extrajudicial killings; and restrictions faced by minority Tamils in formerly conflict-affected areas in the north and east. Human rights defenders (HRDs) and those with dissenting voices were intimidated and subjected to harassment," the report says.

Last year saw no progress on a political solution for the Tamil community, the report further said, urging the Sri Lankan government to work with the TNA.

The state-owned China Construction Communication Company (CCCC) is losing over $380,000 per day, according to a statement from the company, after the Sri Lankan government suspended construction around the Port City project in Colombo.

According to the company, the suspension has harmed efforts to protect land reclaimed due to the suspension, which is in place whilst the Sri Lankan government decides on the fate of the project. Over 200 metres of breakwater which has been constructed so far has been damaged, said CCCC.

"As a result of this suspension, CCCC estimates an initial direct loss for the company of over 380,000 U.S. dollars per day. Furthermore, the interest on the financial loan obtained by the company for the development of the project is being paid, regardless of the ongoing suspension," the company added in a statement.

Updated 17:45 GMT

A former female LTTE fighter, who is working as a pre-school teacher under the management of Sri Lanka's Civil Security Division (CSD) at Puthukudiyiruppu, Mullaitivu was abducted by a member of the Civil Defence Force on Wednesday, before being hospitalised earlier today.

The 26 year old woman, named as Vishvalingam Vinothiny from Puthukudiyiruppu, was heading to the pre-school on Wednesday morning when four men on motorcycles stopped her.

The men assaulted her until she fell unconcious before placing her on one of the motorcycles and driving off. 

One of the key suspects in the abduction is a Tamil member of the Civil Defence Force, a paramilitary unit, auxilliary to the security forces, which specifically targets Tamils in the conflict zones for recruitment.

According to locals, who wished to remain anonymous, officers with Sri Lanka's police force, who know the suspect well, stood by whilst the attack and abduction took place.

She was admitted to Puthukkudiyiruppu Hopsital at 10:00 this morning. Her current condition is unknown.

Ms Vinothiny, a former member of the LTTE was put through the Sri Lankan government's 'rehabilitation' programme after the end of the armed conflict, before also joining Civil Defence Force.

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena says no UN officials will be allowed to visit the island to conduct investigations into mass atrocities.

In an interview for the BBC Sinhala service, President Sirisena said the government had requested the UN to have faith in a domestic process.

“No, we have made a clear statement requesting them to have faith on our domestic investigation,” he said in response to a whether the government would allow external investigators.

“What we can do is to take UN's opinions in to consideration and strengthen the domestic mechanism accordingly. Therefore I don't think that we need anyone from outside to conduct the investigations. But of course, we can obtain their ideas to make our work more effective.”