The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum Asia), calling for sustained “international scrutiny” until tangible results were achieved on the ground, urged Sri Lanka to “fully demilitarise” the North-East of the island, release political prisoners and allow the OHCHR investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL) team full access into the island.

The Sri Lankan government consistently claimed the LTTE was active in South Africa after the end of the island’s armed conflict in 2009, despite findings by the South African intelligence agency which denied this, reports Al Jazeera.

In a set of secret intelligence cables obtained by Al Jazeera’s investigative unit, the State Security Agency of South Africa said “ongoing allegations have been made since 1998 by amongst others, Sri Lankan government officials and some Sri Lankan academics that Tamil organizations in South Africa are providing the LTTE and some of their supporters with weapons, as well as providing members of the LTTE and Tamil organizations in South Africa with para-military training”.

“Available information does not confirm these allegations,” continued the cable.

Sri Lanka’s newly appointed military officials all held senior positions during the final phase of the island’s armed conflict where tens of thousands of Tamils were massacred and alleged crimes against humanity were committed, reports Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka.

“Recent appointments to top military posts have heightened doubts on the effectiveness of the proposed 'internal mechanism' to investigate war crimes,” said JDS, detailing several of the newly appointed senior military officials.

The new commander of Sri Lanka’s army, Lieutenant General Crishanthe de Silva, was “in charge of dispatching civilians fleeing the north at the conclusion of the war,” during his time in Kilinochchi as Forward Maintenance Area Commander.

Major General Kamal Gunaratne, the new Master General Ordnance of Army Headquarters was also reportedly “considered the most senior among military commanders in the attack on Mullaithivu” and is accused of overseeing the execution of Balachandra, the son of LTTE leader Velluppillai Prabhakaran and newsreader Isaipriya.

Sri Lankans and Indians should be able to travel to each other’s countries and do business with no hindrance, said Sri Lanka’s Central Bank governor on Thursday.

Speaking to The Hindu, Arjuna Mahendran, expressed optimism about establishing a Free Trade Agreement with India, stating,

“I think a Free Trade Agreement with India is definitely very desirable for Sri Lanka, not only with India but also with China and the United States.”

The International Monetary Fund has rejected a US$4 billion bailout for Sri Lanka and instead urged the country to restrict its intervention in foreign exchange markets.

Sri Lanka's finance minister Ravi Karunanayake travelled to Washington last month, where he sought “international goodwill” for the bailout, hoping to secure more than US$4 billion to finance the “restructuring” of debt.

However the proposal has been rejected by the IMF.

SriLankan Airlines increased its losses by 24% in 2014 reports ColomboPage, with the company losing Rs. 32.4 billion last year.

In annual reports submitted to parliament, the government owned company stated that mandatory aircraft modifications and an increase in finance expenses led to the loss, up from Rs. 26.1 billion in 2013.

Sri Lanka’s Investment Promotion Minister threatened legal action against a state-owned Chinese firm if it failed to halt construction on the Chinese funded ‘Port City’ project in Colombo.

The minister, Kabir Hashim told Reuters that construction work ought to be halted whilst an investigation into the project was underway. However, construction work on the project has accelerated since the new government came into office in January reported Reuters.

"Rightfully, they should stop," said Mr Hashim. "The ministry of ports will take necessary action to halt the work until this inquiry is done."

If construction, currently being carried out by the China Communications Construction Co Ltd (CCCC), was not stopped, "legal action will be instituted against them to not proceed any further," warned the minister.

In a statement delivered to the 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Danish Foreign Minister Martin Lindegaard highlighted victims of human rights abuses from around the world, including Sri Lanka.

See excerpts below:

"For a moment in January, we were all Charlie in solidarity with the victims of a horrific crime in Paris. A month later the world showed solidarity with the victims of a similar attack in Copenhagen,

"In the same spirit, the many hours of hectic work that lie before this Council in the coming weeks must be done in solidarity with - and with a constant focus on - the victims of human rights violations all around the world,