Parents and relatives of Tamil Political Prisoners handed over a petition to the Northern Chief Minister C.V Wigneswaran yesterday (6), requesting to organize a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena when he visits Jaffna next week for an event in connection with Thai Pongal. Accordingly, President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will be participating in the upcoming Thai Pongal festival event that is scheduled to be held in Jaffna. Families of Tamil Political Prisoners in the North have decided to meet President Sirisena during his visit to the Thai Pongal event and have written an official petition to the Northern CM requesting a meeting.

The anticipated Cabinet reshuffle is likely to not take place as President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had decided to put it off. Informed sources said this decision was made by the duo after a discussion. The two leaders are of the opinion that the opposition will get political mileage out of a cabinet reshuffle if it frustrates some Ministers. However, it is expected that some joint Opposition members who are likely to cross over to the government will be given cabinet port folios soon. It was previously reported that Opposition MP Geetha Kumaraisnghe would be appointed as the Chairperson of the Galle District Development Committee after her anticipated cross over to the government.

The Sri Lankan government has denied reports that it has struck a deal with Pakistan for the purchase of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) says the security forces are on full alert to identify if there are Islamic State (IS) terrorist members operating in Sri Lanka. An MOD statement said that it has been brought to the notice of the Ministry of Defence that some recently-published media reports indicated the presence of Islamic State (IS) terrorist members in the country and their alleged links with the ISIS organization.

The CID on January 04 arrested a sergeant attached to Army intelligence and is questioning him over the murder of TNA MP Joseph Pararajasingham. The suspect had been a supporter of former East chief minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan before joining the Army. A Muslim, he has been serving at the military intelligence camp at Giritale. His connection to the gunning down of Pararajasingham at a Christmas mass in 2005 in Batticaloa came to light during interrogation of four other suspects already in remand custody.

The Sri Lanka Air Force yesterday said it was unaware of an agreement signed with Pakistan to purchase eight JF-17 fighter jets, although Pakistan media had reported of such a move. When contacted by the Daily Mirror, Air Force Group Captain Chandima Alwis said they were unaware of any such arrangement.

The Norwegian Government is to hold talks with former President Chandrika Kumaratunga.The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, B

China and Sri Lanka had discussions today on the Colombo port city project and other Chinese funded projects in Sri Lanka. The talks took place between a visiting Chinese delegation and Deputy Minister of National Policy and Economic Affairs Niroshan Perera. The Chinese delegation led by Yang Weiqun, director of the department of Asian affairs at the Chinese Commerce Ministry, is in Sri Lanka on an official visit. The State Ministry of National Policy and Economic Affairs said that future investment opportunities for China in Sri Lanka was also discussed at the meeting.

Jaffna Peninsula fishing industry is still unable to reach the amount of catch that used to be caught in the pre 1983 times, despite the removal of restrictions to fishing in Northern waters, which was imposed for nearly three decades. According to a hand book released a week ago, by the fisheries circle, for the year 2016, in the peninsula prior to the tensions in the area 48,677 metric tonnes of fish was caught.

India is disturbed over Sri Lanka

The state witness for the prosecution in the trial in connection with the murder of former TNA Jaffna district MP Nadaraja Raviraj yesterday affirmed Court that the officers attached to the Naval intelligence camp in Laundry Watta in Gangaramaya conspired to commit the murder of Raviraj. Witness Wijeya Wickrema Manamperige Sanjaya Preethi Viraj who was made a state witness for the Raviraj murder trial made this revelation before Colombo Additional Magistrate Thilina Gamage.

Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan slammed at his party stalwart, Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran stating that the latter's conduct was being "carefully watched". "The unique opportunity the country has been given to solve the national issue should not be spoilt by taking rigid and strident postures," the Opposition Leader said, in an interview with the Daily News, lashing out at the conduct of the Northern Province Chief Minister.

Visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawasz Sharif today said Pakistan was ready to give Sri Lanka the most favoured nation (MFN) status in trade. He expressed these views after signing eight memorandum of understanding (MoUs) with Sri Lanka in several fields, including nuclear, trade, defence, security and anti-terrorism.

The Army has denied reports, on the existence of torture camps, in the areas released a week ago in Valikamam North. 700 acres of land area has been released for the resettlement of IDPs by the security forces in the North. President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to officially hand over the documents confirming the land ownership of their original lands, at a function coinciding with 'Thai Pongal' celebration on 15 January, sources said.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya yesterday (4) ordered retired Major General Bandara Jayasundera to be released on cash bail of Rs 10,000 and on two personal bails of Rs 500,000. Jayasundera who was present before PRECIFAC is alleged to have provided false evidence to PRECIFAC who are investigating corruption and large scale frauds allegedly having taken place at Rakna Lanka Arakshaka Seva Private Limited.

The Police are behaving like kids in the case where a man was allegedly abducted and assaulted by supporters of parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera said today. He told a media briefing that reports about the police seeking advice from the Attorney General was incorrect.The Thera said they were unhappy about the police failing to take legal action against the parliamentarian on this matter.

The world's biggest blue star sapphire, worth at least $100 million (

Former Sri Lankan Attorney General and constitutional expert, Shiva Pasupathy, has

Main opposition Monday welcomed President Maithripala Sirisena's promise of land for 100,000 people who were forced from their homes during the long civil war, most of them Tamils. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said Sirisena's pledge to give displaced civilians new plots within six months was a

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair met Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and opposition leader R Sampanthan today and discussed the UN resolution on Sri Lanka. The TNA media office said that the discussion also included resettlement, accountability, a political solution, the return of Tamil people

Pakistan Prime Minister was given a warm reception when he arrived in Sri Lanka today for a three day visit which is expected to strenthen political, economic and trade ties between the two countries. He was greeted at the Bandaranaike International Airport by Prime Minister Ranil Wikramasinghe, other ministers, diplomats and top officials. Mr.Shareef, wife and the official deligation were driven to Colombo in a motor cade on the decorated super highway from the Katunayake airport to the clombo city.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena plans to visit Jaffna on Thai Pongal Day and hand over the land deeds for 600 acres held by the security forces to the rightful owners, according to a report in The Hindu newspaper. In an interview to The Hindu on Sunday, President Sirisena said he would soon set up a task force to find solutions to problems of the displaced persons. The Army last month formally released 700 acres of land held by Armed Forces in Valikamam North area of Jaffna and handed them over to the Jaffna Government Agent Nagalingam Vedanayagam.

Indian foreign secretary S JaishankarIndian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar is likely to visit Sri Lanka next week for talks, sources told the Colombo Gazette. Sources said that the date for the visit is not confirmed but he may arrive before January 15. Jaishankar is expected to have brief talks with the Sri Lankan Government and also set the groundwork for a visit to Sri Lanka next month by Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Allaying misgivings about a request he had made to the army, Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran said, he had merely requested the army to look into the possibility of repairing the drainage system in Jaffna, as it was the army that had filled the drains with earth during the war to prevent the LTTE from planting claymore mines in them. He regretted that some people had twisted his request.

The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report submitted by Trincomalee Power Company Ltd. (TPCL) pertaining to the 500 MW coal power project in Sampur has been approved by the Central Environment Authority (CEA). Secretary of Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Dr. Suren Batagoda said, Tender will be call for construction of the coal power plant would kick start in April 2016. Director General of CEA K. H. Muthukudaarachchi informed Ceylon Today, that the conditional EIA report would be released to media after 5 January.

The dates for the visit to Sri Lanka by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) claims that no decision has been made regarding the purchase of aircraft for the SLAF yet, despite reports that Pakistan is expected to be pushing hard for a follow-up agreement with Sri Lanka on the purchase of its JF-17 multirole fighter aircraft for the Sri Lanka Air Force. Speaking to The Sunday Leader regarding this issue, the Air Force spokesman Group Captain Chandima Alwis said that the evaluation process is still on-going and no decision has been made regarding a decision.

With the term of the Presidential Commission to Investigate Complaints Regarding Missing Persons (PCICMP) ending next month, the commission has sought a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena to discuss its activities. Commission