“[The] bulk of the development activities are large-scale public investments in infrastructure… employing skilled and semi-skilled labour from the south, as well as under-employed Sri Lanka Army personnel.”

“Secretary Defence thanked the Maha Sanga for safeguarding Buddhism and Buddhists and the immense support given by the Maha Sangha to the tri forces personnel and government leaders.”

"These types of religious activities show the rise of the Buddhist people".

Whilst also in Kilinochchi, Rajapaksa declared open a renovated Hindu Kovil, greeted by schoolchildren singing the national anthem, decreed to be sung only in Sinhalese almost 2 years ago.

Rajapaksa at Hindu kovil in Kilinochchi, raising the Sri Lankan flag at the entrance.

Rajapaksa also unveiled a plaque at the entrance of the kovil, above which flies the Sri Lankan flag. It is written entirely in English.

The plaque at the vihara however, was written in Sinhala only.

See both plaques below.

Plaque at Buddhist Vihara in Kilinochchi, entirely in Sinhalese.

Plaque at Hindu kovil in Kilinochchi, entirely in English.

After 2012 had the highest ever allocation for the Defence and Urban Development Ministry, Sri Lanka has once again planned to increase the amount of money allocated to the defence budget.

Last week, the cabinet approved the 2013 Appropriation Bill, estimating government expenditure at Rs 2.52 trillion (£12 billion).

The biggest amount, as usual, is allocated to the defence ministry, with Rs 290 billion (£1.4 billion), an increase of Rs 60 billion (£290 million), sources told ColomboPage.

The President’s Office budget will also increase to over Rs 7.4 billion next year.

The finance minister Mahinda Rajapakse, who is also president, is currently preparing the 2013 budget, will present the budget to parliament on November 8.

Sri Lankan Minister’s call to arms (14 Aug 2012)

Highest ever defence budget passed (19 Dec 2011)

2012 budget fosters militarisation (21 Nov 2011)

A Sunday Leader journalist, Nirmala Kannangara, and photographer were stopped from entering the Suriyapuram camp in Nanthikadal by army officers last week.

The journalist and photographer were also threatened to not write anything detrimental about the army officers.

The Sunday Leader team was met with hostility, with one of the officers warning the journalist to “mind her business.”

After shouting at the pair, “You people are paid by NGOs and whatever they ask, you are prepared to dance to their tunes” the army officer went on to describe the reporting of detrimental issues in Sri Lanka as “not right”.

The photographer, Thushitha, was eventually surrounded by rifle wielding guards and forced to delete most of the photos that he had taken.

The Sunday Leader’s  attempts to investigate the camp, where the last batch of Manick Farm IDP’s were brought to despite government claims that they were re-settled in their villages, proved unsuccessful and  the party was forced to reverse back to the main road.

See here for the journalist’s full encounter with the camp guards.

Tamil Nadu fishermen were attacked by Sri Lankan Navy personnel, reports NDTV.

The fishermen who were fishing around the Katchtheevu area on Sunday, were pelted with stones and had their fishing nets broken by the Navy crew.

See related articles:

Madras High Court urges protection of fishermen (25 Sep 2012)

Another attack on Tamil Nadu fishermen by Lankan Navy (07 Sep 2012)

Tamil Nadu fishermen fear reprisal attacks from SL Navy (06 Sep 2012) and our TG Comment here.

8 more fishermen attacked by SL Navy (19 Aug 2012)

Tamil Nadu fishermen attacked by SL navy in Indian waters (18 Aug 2012)

Lankan Navy attack Indian fishermen with stones and logs (29 Jul 2012)

23 Indian fishermen arrested by SL Navy (22 Jul 2012)

SL Navy accused of attacking Indian fishermen (24 Jun 2012)

Lankan Navy arrest 43 Indian fishermen (26 Jan 2012)

Lankan Navy attacks again (11 Dec 2011)

SL Navy attacks continue to escalate (Nov 2011)

Jayalalitha asks Delhi to control ‘rogue elements’ (Nov 2011)

"This is especially prudent in the context of the economic crisis that is sweeping Europe at present and is likely to lead to a slowdown in tourism from Europe,"

The residents of Dambulla - a land claimed to be of sacred value to the sinhala Buddhists - have received written notice, asking them to vacate by the end of next month, reports Colombo Page.

According a board member from Dambulla mosque, which has been targeted by Buddhist monks on several occasions, the Urban Development Authority has written to 52 houses and 23 shops, who are apparently living in land that falls under the Sacred Area Development Act.

They have been instructed to move within two weeks, and told they can move to land on Kandalama Road.

The Urban Development Authority is under the Ministry of Defence, overseen by the President’s brother Gothbaya Rajapaksa.

"Starting a Dhamma School in Jaffna will create the proper path to reawaken Buddhism in the North."

The Attorney General’s Department has issued no correspondence regarding investigations into an assault on Uthayan’s editor, reported the newspaper. The editor, G Kuganathan was left severely injured when he was attacked in July 2011.

Questions were raised regarding inquiries into the assault at an annual press meet held at Jaffna’s Police Headquarters.

Regional Superintendent Srikuganesan in response to the questions said:

“We had written to the Attorney General’s Department asking for approval to conduct investigations regarding this specific case, but we are yet to receive a response from the department.”

“Because of this we cannot take legal action, but on receiving a response we can commence appropriate action.”

“Meanwhile, a lawyer has been named in association with this attack, so we need approval from the Attorney General to investigate him, as well as to hold further investigations.”

Police have been citing this reason for several months, reports Uthayan, with no arrests having been made over a year after the attack took place.

Jaffna’s Military Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe has declared that the Army is in Jaffna to protect citizens and not to seize their lands or money.

Hathurusinghe claims that since the end of the war in 2009, the army has improved its rapport with the people of Jaffna by providing security as well as various developmental services.

Uthayan reports the Commander as saying in a rather puzzling statement:

“Security forces have been living together with the people here for a very long time; so many people may be bothered by or have had difficulties with the soldiers. However I believe that these are far outweighed by the benefits reaped from the presence of the troops.

“The number of soldiers in Jaffna is not important, the protection and services they provide are of importance and of quality, as many soldiers are providing assistance and services to the public.

“I would like to declare to you all that the presence of soldiers in Jaffna is by no means a plan to seize your lands or your money but they are there purely for your protection.”

An Uthayan journalist who attempted to visit the Tamil families 'resettled' into the Suriyapuram forests on Friday, was stopped by the Sri Lankan army soldiers, reported the newspaper.

Despite showing his press pass, the journalist was told by the soldiers, that they had orders from above instructing them not to allow any more media personnel into the area.

Uthayan reports, that a source from within the military says the instructions came from Major General Mark.

The UN Refugee Agency expressed concern on Thursday, about the families who have been relocated from Menik Farm.

Despite seeing the closure of Menik Farm as a "significant step towards ending displacement", the UNHCR's representative in Sri Lanka Michael Zwack pointed out, "but there are still people displaced in different situations who need to find a solution."

On their website, UN Refugee Agency wrote,

'When it [Menik Farm] was shut down on Monday, there were just 346 people left.

But this last group of people was not allowed to return to their homes in the Kepapilavu area of north-eastern Sri Lanka's Mullaitivu district because their land is being occupied by the military. They were, instead, relocated on state-owned land and they must wait to hear if they will be able to return home or, if not, whether they will receive compensation.

While acknowledging government efforts to resolve the issue, Zwack stressed that allowing people to settle anywhere in the country, and resolving legal ownership of land, is a key part of the reconciliation process.'