A cross-party delegation from the US House of Representatives met with the Tamil National Alliance on Thursday during a visit to Sri Lanka. 

The Asian Human Rights Commission in a statement on Thursday urged action over the death of a Tamil boy who was killed during a police chase by Sri Lanka's Special Task Force. 

"The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information about Mr. Sathasivam Madisam of Karadiyanaru in the Batticaloa District," the AHRC said in its statement. 

Sri Lankan military officers and students from the Sri Lanka Defense Service Command are currently visiting Rwanda for a two week 'study tour'. 

The team was welcomed by the Rwanda Defense Forces' air force chief of staff, Brigadier General Charles Karamba. 

"Both countries have undergone periods of calamities," Sri Lanka's Colonel Ekanayake was quoted by Colombo Page as saying. 

Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the United States praised relations between the two governments, stating that they had reached “unprecedented heights”, as he leaves his post to take up a new assignment as the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The list of Sri Lanka’s landmark achievements are too many to mention,” said Prasad Kariyawasam at a farewell event held in Washington DC.

Sri Lanka's minister of provincial councils and local government, Faiszer Musthapha said that provincial council elections would all be held on one day, which would be next year at the earliest. 

Three provincial councils elections, including that in the Eastern province were due to be held this October. 

The World Bank Group will partner with Sri Lanka’s Bank of Ceylon to set up a US $100 million financing structure to allow for an increase in lending for renewable energy projects in Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a constituent member of the World Bank Group, will provide a 7 year finance deal to the Bank of Ceylon to support the expansion of conventional and non-conventional renewable energy projects.

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Justice and Buddha Sasana Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe vowed  to regain ownership of the recently leased Hambantota Port.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ravi Karunayake resigned from his portfolio on Thursday, after being dogged by allegations of corruption.

Mr Karunayake stepped down from his post, however, maintained his innocence and denied all allegations against him.

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena is to issue 10,000 deeds to settlers this week under the Mahaweli development project, a controversial scheme that Tamils have criticised as Sinhala colonisation.

Sri Lanka’s president and prime minister took part in a Buddhist ceremony last week, presenting religious items to a senior Buddhist monk who has been appointed head of the Amarapura Nikaya order.

Seven Tamil youths including a key suspect in the Kokkuvil sword attack case will be remanded until 22nd August, the Jaffna Magistrate court has ruled.

Jaffna acting magistrate judge, V. T. Sivalingam, ordered for the seven men to be kept in detention until the 22nd August when they will be subjected to an identity parade.

The seven youths were arrested on Monday by Terrorism Investigation Department officers and were subjected to extensive questioning.

The Sri Lankan navy reported it had arrested at least 9 people in Point Pedro this week, claiming that those held had been engaged in “illegal sand mining”. 

The “9 civilians and a tractor” were reportedly held along the Point Pedro – Manatkadu road on Monday. They have since been taken to the Point Pedro Police Station for “further investigations,” according to an official navy website.

The Sri Lankan military held a Buddhist ceremony as their Eastern province headquarters “to invoke blessings on troops,” reports an official military website.

Thunnalai residents have filed a complaint against STF and police round-up operations, that resulted in 24 arrests in the area, to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.

Thunnalai locals, including mothers of some arrested youths, filed a complaint at the HRCSL regional office in Jaffna on Wednesday.

The residents have said that the search and round-up operations which lasted three days were carried out inhumanely and led to wrongful arrests.