Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa has told the Daily Mirror of Sri Lanka’s relief that the US was able to find a resolution to the stand-off between Democrats and Republicans, which brought the country close to defaulting on its debt.

As the controversy around the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting grows, reports have emerged that the Indian Prime minister Manmohan Singh may boycott the summit.

"The Prime Minister and other senior leaders in the party have been discussing the issue for the last month. We got indications that the PM is not likely to attend the meeting," a Union minister from Tamil Nadu told the Times of India.

A spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry refused to confirm Singh’s attendance, only saying that an Indian delegation would attend the summit.

Six men, including a close associate of President Mahinda Rajapkse have been charged with the murder of Khurram Shaikh, who was shot and stabbed in Tangalle, southern Sri Lanka, in 2011.

The suspects have been freed on bail until the next court date, yet to be determined.

The Chavakachcheri Pradeshiya Sabha, on Monday, passed a resolution that called for the reconstruction of LTTE cemeteries in the Northern Provincial area.

Cultural Affairs Minister T.B Ekanayake said this week that the Veddha people in Sri Lanka should not play cricket as it was detrimental to their culture.

An influential group of MPs has criticised the British government for its approach with Sri Lanka and its stance during the allocation of the 2013 Commonwealth heads of Government Meeting.

Britain’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka John Rankin said on Wednesday that Prime Miinster David Cameron will use his visit to Sri lanka next month to pressure the government to make “concrete progress” on human rights issues and accountability for war crimes.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has written to the President of the DMK, M Karunanidhi, calling on hunger striker Thiagu to call off his fast, stating a decision to attend the upcoming CHOGM has yet to be decided.

Thiagu, General Secretary of the Tamil National Liberation Movement, has been on hunger strike since the 1st of October.

Writing to the DMK Chief, Singh stated,

"I wish to inform you that a decision on the issue of my participation in the CHOGM conference will be taken only after considering all relevant factors, including the sentiments of your party and the Tamil people."

Speaking at a Sri Lankan military gathering in the Northern Provincial area of Vanni, Sri Lanka’s Army Commander, Daya Ratnayake, issued a stern warning to individuals or parties that attempted to divide the country.

A case brought by the parents of Ganesan Nimalaruban, who died last year in a Vavuniya prison, has been dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Nimalaruban died along with another inmate after riots by Tamil detainees, during which several prison guards were taken hostage.

Speaking at a Jaffna press conference at the Jaffna Press Club on Monday, Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam praised the people of the North for demand for self-determination expressed by their votes at the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) elections last month.

Listen to press conference in Tamil here:

Standing by the TNPF’s decision to boycott the election, Gajendrakumar said that the Tamil people of the North were to be praised for rejecting Sri Lankan rule in the Tamil homeland, and for expressing their enduring desire for the right to self-determination, despite all the obstacles and hardships they have faced in the four years since the end of the armed conflict.

"We also view this [election result] as something special. As you well know, our party boycotted this election completely."

"But despite that, we did not ask the Tamil people to boycott the election or to act in a way that we instructed. As you well know we did released a written statement, that only a few media outlets covered. In that way, we left the election to the conscience of the people."

"As far as we are concerned, even today, the [Tamil] people have clearly expressed their aspirations, namely, firstly, they have categorically rejected the Sri Lankan state's conduct and rule within the Tamil homeland. Secondly, with regards to Tamil political aspirations, even today, they have once again, resolutely voted for the right to self-determination, seeking the reaffirmation of our nationhood, and unanimously, for the freedom of a nation; in a vote that has no historic precedence."

"We bow our heads to their [Tamil people's] act"

Gajendrakumar said that his party would work to keep the people actively engaged in politics, outside of election time.