A British Eelam Tamil was detained and tortured by the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department (CID) when he visited the island earlier this month.

Sivasubramaniam Jeevan, who lives in Scotland, was interrogated about diaspora activities while being beaten, electrocuted and threatened.

He told TamilNet that he is undergoing psychiatric treatment due to the trauma he sustained during his detention and that he was only released after bribing Sri Lankan officials.

See here for full report on TamilNet.

Speaking at an event to mark 'International Coconut Day', Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has slammed non-governmental organisations as destroying the dignity and cultural values of the country, liking them to coconut 'mitas'.

The event was organised by the Coconut Development Ministry and Temple Trees in Colombo.

Rajapaksa said,

"The coconut industry is being developed according to a local made strategic plan instead of foreign plans. We Sri Lankas need not have foreign plans."

Commenting that 'mitas' have been destroying coconut plantations, Rajapaksa added,

"There are Mitas lurking in other fields trying to destroy the country. Certain Mitas of Nun Government Organisations are among them. Those Mitas are destroying cultural values of the country."

"The country has been placed on a fast development track after being liberated from terrorism which stifled the country's progress for nearly three decades. These Mitas come in various forms and are carrying out hidden agendas to destroy this peaceful atmosphere.'

"They are engaging in destroying the dignity of the country. But the people are vigilant about the behaviour of these forces,"

Recalling folklore of Prince Vinaya, Rajapaksa also added,

''As a result of certain narrow minded political decisions by past governments and private sector activities, coconut cultivation in Sri Lanka had seen a gradual decline."

"Besides, our coconut cultivation was badly affected by terrorism and the tsunami. Considering these hindrances and drawbacks, the government has done a lot for the uplift of coconut cultivation . Under these initiatives, government offers a fertilizer subsidy apart from the various other benefits. A 50 kilogramme bag of coconut fertilizer,worth Rs 4,200 is offered to coconut cultivators for only Rs 1,200. The government provides a Rs 3,000 subsidy for each bag of coconut fertilizer,"

See report from the Ministry Of Defence here.

The Sri Lankan Minister of Media and Information declared on Monday that Sri Lanka will no longer allow room for the TNA to deceive the international community, reported Uthayan.

Responding to TNA’s reluctance to participate in the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Tamil issues, Rambukwella emphasised that Parliament was the land’s highest institution and that the select committee would be the best place to find a solution for the ‘national issue’.

Rambukwella also stressed the friendship between India and Sri Lanka and hoped that India would persuade the visiting TNA delegation to participate in the PSC.

The TNA have expressed their reluctance to join the PSC, claiming that the party is not willing to lead the Tamil nation into another incident of betrayal or trickery.

Civil societies sources in Amparai state that disadvantaged Tamil Saiva families are being converted to Islam by mosque leaders through financial enticement, reported TamilNet. Approximately seventy five Saiva families living in Nainaakdu have been converted to Islam and a mosque has been erected recently for the convertees’ use.

Tamil girls working in textile shops owned by Muslims in Kalmunai-Akkaraippaththu have also been facing sexual harassment and used for prostitution. These allegations have been reported to local police, who are however to be believed to be part of the prostitution ring.

The Sri Lankan foreign minister, GL Peiris arrived in Kuwait this weekend to take part in the ACD foreign ministry meeting - Asia Cooperation Dialogue.

The meeting will include ministers from 32 ACD countries.

Speaking to The Island this weekend, the GTF spokesperson Suren Surendiran commented on the recent statement by the TNA on their visit to New Delhi, and stressed the diaspora's determination to continue.

"India’s interest in Tamil affairs in Sri Lanka is vital in achieving a just political solution for the Tamil National Question, equality, dignity and justice for Tamils. India is not just a regional power, it is growing to be an international power. Having a regional alliance with the Tamil Nation is not just important for Indian security but also significant to establish a stable region."

"For the current Indian Government, the politics in Tamil Nadu is key to sustain the existing coalition and in the elections that are due in less than two years. In those circumstances, it is vitally important the elected representatives of the Tamil people, the TNA, to engage India at the most senior levels of the establishment. We are encouraged by the Indian Prime Minister’s remarks that `India would never backtrack from its position that Tamils in Sri Lanka should lead a life of dignity and self respect in a peaceful environment’ as reported in the local Indian media."

"The diaspora is united in its fundamentals. Therefore be it at the UNHRC or any other international forums we, collectively will continue to demand for an international independent investigation to establish the truth on what happened at the last leg of the war that ended in May 2009. The fact that human rights conditions for Tamils, particularly for young women and generally for the youth has deteriorated since the end of the war will be exposed with credible evidence at every international opportunity presented to us."

"We will continue to work with likeminded and progressive forces in the south to expose the oppressive and dictatorial ways of this regime. We will highlight through constitutional experts and human rights bodies how the basic fabric of democracy is broken in Sri Lanka by the introduction of the 18th Amendment to the constitution and the consequences that are felt at every election process since, the lack respect for law and order, destroyed general governance, the lack of media freedom and most serious of all the interference and subjugation of the judiciary."

The Colombo Telegraph has published a statement by the TNA on the party's recent visit to India. Reproduced in full below:

A Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentary delegation led by its leader R. Sampanthan and comprising, S Senathirajah, K Premachandran, A Adaikalanathan, A Vinayagamoorthi, Pon Selvarajah and M A Sumanthiran visited New Delhi on the invitation of the Ministry of External Affairs between the 10th and 13th of October 2012. During the visit the delegation met with the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the Minister for External Affairs Shri S M Krishna, the Leader of the Opposition Shrimati Sushma Swaraj, the National Security Advisor Shri Shiv Shanker Menon, the Secretary of External Affairs Shri Ranjan Mathai, the Joint Secretary Shri Shringla and other officials.

The TNA delegation conveyed to the Prime Minister its sincere thanks on behalf of the Tamil People in Sri Lanka for the substantial multi-faceted assistance being provided by the Government of India to enable the Tamil People to recommence life and rebuild their future. The TNA also thanked the Prime Minister for the consistent interaction by the Government of India with the President and the Government of Sri Lanka to bring about reconciliation between the Peoples in Sri Lanka through the effective implementation of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and the evolution of an acceptable political solution to the national issue.

The TNA however intimated its grave concerns over the lack of progress by the Sri Lankan Government in the effective implementation of the constructive recommendations of the LLRC and the lack of a genuine commitment on the part of the Government of Sri Lanka to the evolution of an acceptable political solution. The TNA also observed that without meaningful action with regard to the above issues, the Tamil People in Sri Lanka cannot secure a future marked by equality, dignity, justice and self-respect. The TNA urged the need for urgent action to redress this situation. The discussions were free and frank, and the Prime Minister and the others reassured the TNA delegation that India was firmly committed to and would contribute its best efforts to ensure that the Tamil People in Sri Lanka secured a future marked by equality, dignity, justice and self-respect.

In an interview with the pro-government newspaper, The Sunday Island, the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa called for the 'abolition of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution without further delay'.

Stating that the 13th Amendment was 'nothing but an impediment to the post-war development process', Gotabhaya Rajapaksa asserted 'that the SLFP-led UPFA should either do away with the 13th Amendment or amend it taking into considering ground realities'.

He went on to liken the constitutional amendment to the Norwegian led 2002 Ceasefire Agreement, and said:

"The 13th Amendment and the CFA didn’t serve the people of Sri Lanka. Instead, they facilitated interests of various other parties, including the LTTE. Interestingly both supported the separatist cause."

Asked whether it was his opinion or that of the government's, he reportedly remarked:

"I’m not talking about President Rajapaksa’s government or the UPFA. I’m not talking politics. People should realise the external interference will not be beneficial. Whatever the party in power, it must have the freedom to take decisions for the benefit of the majority of Sri Lankans."

The Sri Lankan embassy in the US has managed to ward off a campaign launched by a US congressman pushing for progress on the UNHRC resolution adopted earlier this year, according to sources at Sri Lanka's External Affairs Ministry.

Speaking to the Sunday Leader, sources at the ministry said they had managed to have House Resolution 177, first presented by Republican congressman, Michael Grimm in 2011, removed from the calendar this year, but feared that it may be re-submitted and passed before January.

According to the Sunday Leader, sources said: "Ambassador Wickramasuriya and officials from the Sri Lankan Embassy in the US are working hard to discourage support for the resolution and attempt to withdraw it completely or change the resolution to be supportive of Sri Lanka and focus on positive developments.”

Indian and Sri Lankan officials have held talks about civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries.

A statement, released by Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Ministry, said that the discussions were “warm and friendly”.

“Discussions were held in a warm, friendly and cordial manner. Both sides exchanged views on all aspects of civil nuclear cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the uses of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes to mutual benefit of the people of the two countries.

“It was agreed that the two sides would work towards a comprehensive Agreement on Bilateral Civil Nuclear Cooperation. Discussions included, inter alia, training of officials, nuclear safety and response to nuclear accidents.”

Meeting the TNA leader R. Sampanthan and his delegation, the Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna stressed the need for early resumption of talks.

The seven member TNA delegation are currently visiting India, and have also met with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Sampanthan said,

"Prime Minister said India would never backtrack from its position that Tamils in Sri Lanka should lead a life of dignity and self respect in a peaceful environment. He told us that India is fully with Sri Lankan Tamils and would continue to engage with TNA."

Sri Lanka’s information minister Keheliya Rambukwelle has announced that a joint task force, consisting of private and public sector personnel, has been set up to double trade between Sri Lanka and India.

Industry and commerce minister Rishad Bathiudeen made the proposal, which was then accepted by the cabinet.

India is also reported to have agreed to the setting up of an industrial zone, “most probably [...] in Trincomalee,” according to Bathiudeen.

Bilateral trade between the two countries was worth US$5 billion, with Sri Lankan exports to India reaching US$500 million last year.