Internal Developments:

FCDI arrests Basil Rajapaksa:

1. Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, was arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) on May 12.

SL asks UK Tamil expatriates to show flexibility:

2. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, Head of a committee providing technical support to the Constitutional Assembly to draft Sri Lanka’s new constitution, told a gathering of Non Resident Tamils of Sri Lanka (NRTSL) in London to be open to political compromises as the island nation undergoes constitutional reforms. He added that it was impossible and unrealistic to expect all aspirations and demands of everyone to be fully met. There have to be compromises. According to Wickramaratne, this was a great opportunity that may not come again in the foreseeable future

PRECIFAC Activities:

3. Parliamentarian and former President’s son Namal Rajapaksa gave a statement to Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) on May 10 regarding the alleged misuse of flights operated by the Air Force.

4. Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s wife Pushpa and daughter Thejani, were summoned by the PRECIFAC on May 13. However, for the second time they informed the commission of their inability to report as they are out of country.

LG Polls may not be held this year:

5. Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Faizser Mustapha ruled out the possibility of holding elections for the local authorities this year because of work involved in delimitation. The Minister said the committee, assigned to sort out anomalies in delimitation of electoral wards, would be given an extra month to finish the task, so that election under the ward system are conducted in a manner that would be fair to all the communities.

MR’s Military security replaced with police personnels:

6. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Media Unit has revealed that MR’s military security will be replaced with police personnel. Under the plan, 50 of the 102 member security detail, which included five Army Majors and 45 Commandos, would be replaced with four police Sub Inspectors and 46 police constables. Arguing that MR was still facing threat to his life, his Media Unit urged that he be given proper military protection.

External Developments:

President Sirisena visits India:

7. Sri Lankan President paid a two day working visit to India on May 13 and 14, 2016 during the course of which he held talks with Prime Minister Modi; released ‘Simhastha Declaration’; attended Simhastha Kumbhamela in Ujjain; addressed a valedictory session in ‘Vaichaarik Kumbh’ and also visited Sanchi Stupa to attend a function by organized by the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka. During the bilateral meeting the two leaders deliberated all major bilateral issues, particularly problems being faced by Indian fishermen, status of various economic projects being implemented by India in the island nation and steps to further increase trade and investment. Modi also appreciated Sirisena's efforts to promote reconciliation in Sri Lanka so that all sections of the Lankan society can live with equality and dignity. This was Sirisena’s second visit to India after he took over the charge as Lankan President in January last year.

India’s help sought to tackle drug problems in Jaffna:

8. In a meeting with a former Indian diplomat, leaders of fishermen from Jaffna raised the issue of the easy availability of drugs in the region, and sought India’s help to tackle the problem. Attributing the availability of illicit substances to the growing instances of crime, Jaffna District Fishermen’s Federation’s president pointed out that drug trafficking, especially the smuggling of “Kerala ganja”, a prohibited substance, had gone up in recent times. The meeting was a back channel initiative between India and leaders of fishermen societies in the Northern Province.

Torture Still Continues in Sri Lanka- UN Official:

9. United Nations Human Rights expert and Special Rapporteur, Juan E. Mendez has criticized Sri Lankan justice system (May 7) and said that he had found credible evidence of detainees being tortured and of disappearances even after end of the war in May 2009. He added that between 16,000 and 22,000 people had gone missing during the conflict and its immediate aftermath.

US Eases military trade restrictions on SL:

10. The United States government has eased military trade restrictions imposed on Sri Lanka in 2008, by amending the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) under which United State policy to deny licenses and other approvals to export or otherwise transfer defense articles and defense services to Sri Lanka would now be considered on a case-by-case basis.