Sri Lanka's former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa criticised the government today, stating that they had imposed taxes on all commodities. 

Speaking at a religious ceremony at a Buddhist vihara in Kadawatha, Mr Rajapaksa was quoted by Adaderana as saying, "the government might be able to control the public but not the Maha Sangha". 

The massacre of 63 Tamils in cold-blood by Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF) in Valvai on August 2, 1989 was remembered today 29 years on. 

IPKF officers, led by Brigadier Sankar Prasath, entered homes in the region after imposing a curfew and shot and stabbed residents to death.

Some young men were dragged to the local junction where they were shot and killed. 

A Tamil man has been arrested in Germany accused of war crimes and being a member of a ‘foreign terrorist organisation’, reports AP.

The 36-year-old identified as Sivatheeban B is accused of tying up 16 captured Sri Lankan soldiers in 2008, guarding them and driving them to a site where they were allegedly shot.

Prosecutors allege he was a member of the LTTE between 2006 and 2009.

Mr Sivatheeban is being detained pending a potential indictment.

The Sri Lankan military continued its involvement in civilian activities, holding a dental clinic in Kilinochchi earlier this year.

Sri Lankan police personnel station in several areas across Jaffna have had their leave cancelled, as the security presence in the peninsula is increased.

The Daily Mirror reports that in Koppay, Chunnakam and Mannipay, the Sri Lankan Police’s Senior DIG in Jaffna cancelled leave for officers, with “special police operations” underway.

A former LTTE cadre's home in Kilinochchi was attacked in the early hours of Wednesday.

The home of K. Sivakumar in Vaddakkachchi was attacked around 2.30am by unknown persons. His motorbike was also damaged.

When Mr Sivakumar went to Tharmapuram Police Station to report the attack, he was told to come back later as there were no Tamil-speaking police officers.

A ‘special’ motorcycle police team has been deployed in Jaffna to deal with rising violent crimes in the district.

The Assistant Superintendent of Jaffna Police Station said that the team had been deployed to patrol areas including Jaffna, Koppay, Manippay and Chunnakam.

The Assistant Superintendent said a further 100 civil police officials had been engaged in duty too and that the police aimed to crackdown on crime in one or two weeks.

The association of Tamil families of the disappeared based in Amparai opened a district office in Thirukkovil on Wednesday.

The office will serve as a base for the districts families of the disappeared to organise and campaign.

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s former Chief of Staff and three others have been issued notices to appear before a Special High Court this month.

Sri Lanka’s Attorney General last week filed indictments against former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath along with former Executive Director of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) Piyadasa Kudabalage, Director General of the Samurdhi Development Department Neil Bandara Hapuhinna and Lasantha Bandara.

The Sri Lankan army announced that it had helped repair the roof of a Tamil primary school in Mullaitivu, as criticism over its involvement in civilian activities continues. 

The Sri Lankan government is to call for fresh bids to explore Mannar and Cauvery basin, the government spokesperson was quoted by EconomyNext as saying today. 

The announcement comes following a Cabinet meeting this week where the proposal, by Arjuna Ranatunga, was approved. 

Sahathevan Nilakshan, the up and coming Tamil journalist who was shot and killed by suspected Sri Lankan military intelligence personnel on August 1st, 2007 was remembered today eleven years on by fellow media workers and his family. 

Nilakshan was 22 years old when he was gunned down outside his home in Jaffna. 

The Sri Lankan government today raised import tax on small hybrid cars by over 50% in an effort to raise revenue for the state. 

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland arrived in Sri Lanka today as part of a four day official visit of the island. 

Ms Scotland, who met with the Sri Lankan prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Tilak Marapana today, is expected to meet with the leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), R Sampanthan tomorrow.