Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday welcomed the government's initiative to release 701 acres of land held by the Army, for resettlement in the Jaffna district. TNA thanked President Maithripala Sirisena for releasing these lands in keeping with the promises given to the people. Opposition Leader R. Sambanthan has requested the President to release these lands for resettlement during his latest visit to Jaffna. In a media release, TNA said rest of the lands held by the Army will gradually be released to their original owners. They also requested the government to take measures to release the Tamil political prisoners ahead of the New Year.

Army Commander Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva says the army is prepared to face any challenge. Addressing troops at the Colombo Army Headquarters, Crishanthe De Silva said that everyone in the army should remember that their prime responsibility is to safeguard the territorial integrity and the unitary status of the country while extending their best cooperation towards nation-building.

Scientists had warned that the Jaffna Peninsula might be obliterated from the Sri Lankan map due to rising sea level and the polluted underground water, a Provincial Council Minister told the Daily Mirror today.

A Cabinet reshuffle is likely to take place on January 04, authoritative government sources confirmed Asian Mirror. Under the new reshuffle, two prominent ministries will be given to UNP General Secretary Minister Kabir Hashim and former Law and Order Minister Thilak Marapana, they further added. Asian Mirror also learns that Hashim, who is currently the State Enterprise Development Minister, is the front-runner to be the new Finance Minister. Meanwhile, at least four members of the UPFA who supported former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the last Parliamentary election, are expected to join the government on January 04.

The Homagama Magistrate Court today (30) rejected bail for the Army intelligence officers who are remanded over the Prageeth Ekneligoda disappearance case. Although the legal unit of the military does not appear on behalf of Army personnel facing criminal charges, they have made an exception on this case on several counts. However, for the first time in history of the military legal unit, a private lawyer has been outsourced to appear on behalf of the Army personnel facing charges.

Pakistan is pushing hard to secure an agreement in principle with Sri Lanka to sell its multi-role combat aircraft JF-17 Thunder to the island nation, according to a UK-based defense publication. Following the first export deal for its JF-17 multirole fighter to Myanmar, Pakistan is expected to be pushing hard for a follow-up agreement with Sri Lanka that would mark an important step in further extending its defense co-operation footprint in the Indian Ocean region, a report in IHS Jane's Defense Weekly said.

made it clear that it has no need of such a bridge. Minister of Highways and University Education, Lakshman Kiriella, addressing the media said that Sri Lankan Government did not have any discussion with India regarding constructing a bridge linking two countries. "We had no discussion with Indian Government regarding constructing Hanuman Bridge. However, Opposition tries to mislead the public claiming that we support this project. Prime Minister also made it clear nothing was discussed regarding the Hanuman Bridge during his official visit to India few months back," he added.

Sri Lanka and China are set to take a final decision on the proposed Colombo Port City as well as several other development projects at a top-level meeting to be held on January 6 between a high powered Chinese delegation and the Sri Lankan government. A spokesman from the Ministry of Policy Planning, which comes under the purview of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, said a top level delegation led by Advisor to the Department of Asian Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce in China, Yang Weiqun, is due to visit Sri Lanka in January and will hold talks with their Sri Lankan counterparts, including Deputy Minister of Policy Planning Niroshan Perera on January 6.

Sri Lanka Army, in keeping with the new government's policy to release more security forces-held lands to the civilians, has released another 700 acres. The Army has 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, the BBC reported. The Government Agent told BBC that 300 families have lived in the land before the war but since the boundary markers of the plots have been removed, the lands need to be re-measured before handing over to the owners.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) had discussions today on the proposed constitutional changes. The TNA media office said that the discussion held today was the first round of talks on the proposed constitutional changes between the two political parties. The SLMC delegation was led by Minister Rauff Hakeem while the TNA delegation was led by opposition leader R. Sampanthan.

Sri Lanka is sending a contingent of 484 men and women athletes to take part in the 12th South Asian Games to be held in India

The Judicial Services Commission (JSC) has decided to cancel the transfer of Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya and Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris, which raised deep concerns among the country's legal fraternity. Earlier, the JSC transferred Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya as a District Judge in Colombo from January 1, 2016. Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris had been transferred as the District Judge of Matara from January 1, 2016.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) recently arrested another Army Officer attached to the State Intelligence Service in connection with the abduction and murder of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda. CID sources said he is a member of the gang who abducted Eknaligoda in 2010. According to sources Abeyratne was a Sergeant during the period when Eknaligoda was abducted and later promoted to the Lieutenant rank.

Law enforcement authorities are close to instituting legal proceedings against ousted president Mahinda Rajapaksa and members of his regime, a Government spokesman said. Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said enough evidence had been uncovered to hold trials against former regime members facing human rights abuse and corruption charges, Economy Next reported.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) may consider taking action against Parliamentarian Dharmalingham Sidharthan for joining the Tamil People

The United States says the past year marked important democratic gains in Sri Lanka and some other countries. US Secretary of State John Kerry said that despite turbulence and tragedy, the past year has provided fresh hope that the world community can come together and tackle even the hardest problems.

The Chinese Government says it will have talks with Sri Lanka next year on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Gao Hucheng, the minister of commerce in China, said that China will step up negotiations next year on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, as well as the free trade agreement between China, South Korea and Japan, and the country

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with approval of the Cabinet, has appointed a 24-member committee comprising representatives from political and civil society to obtain views on constitutional reforms from the public.

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has strongly turned down requests made by party seniors to work with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to ensure the party's victory at the forthcoming Local Government election. Kumaratunga has made it clear that the Rajapaksas should stay out of the party's election campaign as they were responsible for the SLFP's defeat at two successive national level elections. A group of party seniors, including Minister S.B. Dissanayake, are currently holding discussions to bring the two former Presidents together in the run up to the Local Government election.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa did not discard the possibility of forming a new party if things go from bad to worse.He said that he was the only Sri Lanka Freedom Party member who has never betrayed the party. "I have never left the party and joined another," he said. He was of the view that those who are being removed from the SLFP should have a party to be involved in politics. Speaking at an event in Urubokka, Rajapaksa said that there should be a strong opposition to show the correct path to the party ruling the country. "If there is no strong opposition, the government will go astray", he said

The Tamil People's Council (TPC) formed its first subcommittee to draft proposals to the proposed new Constitution. The TPC's second meeting since its inception on 19 December was held at the Jaffna Public Library Auditorium yesterday. Northern Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran chaired yesterday's meeting accompanied by cochair members Dr. P. Lakshman and T.Vasantharaja of Batticaloa Civil Society. People's Liberation Organization Tamil Eelam leader and the TNA Parliamentarian D. Sidarthan also participated at the TPC meeting along with the EPRLF Leader and former TNA Parliamentarian Suresh K. Premachandran.

The blanket ban imposed by the Sri Lankan government to restrict indiscriminate use of polythene bags at groceries and retail outlets will come into effect from January 1, 2016. According to the government, the directive is aimed at minimizing the effect of the disposal of the polythene bags on public health and protecting the environment. The use of polythene bags with less than 20 microns will be prohibited from January 1. Violators will be fined up to Rs. 10,000 or face imprisonment according to a Presidential directive.

The Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry expects to enact amendments to the local government electoral system before the expiry of office of remaining 23 local government bodies by April 2016, enabling the government to call local government polls in June, a senior official source said yesterday. Secretary of the Local Government and Provincial Councils, Kamal Pathmasiri while expressing his deep satisfaction over the government

The Chief Minister of Sri Lanka

Minister of Public Enterprises Development, Kabir Hashim will be appointed the Finance Minister in the coming Cabinet reshuffle at the end of January 2016, Ceylon Today reliably learns. Meanwhile current Minister of Finance will be made either the Minister of Trade or Water Supply and Drainage. Portfolios of about 10 ministers will change and it is also believed that Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe will be removed from the post of Minister of Justice.

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) had commenced investigations regarding the hacking into their official website. Last weekend, an unidentified group had logged in to the SLA official website without any permission and had proceeded to distort the information on the website. Apparently, the website was hacked by a group operating from abroad and the SLA was able to restore it after the cyber attack. When contacted, Army Media Spokesman, Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera said, the Army is closely monitoring more possible cyber attacks and is ready to take necessary action to prevent any damage that could occur due to such cyber attacks.