The Financial Crime Investigations Division arrested UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa a short while ago over investigations regarding alleged financial frauds during the former government's era.

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Rajapaksa arrived at the FCID this morning to record a statement over the misplacement of funds amounting to Rs 70 million.

He will be produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate.

Most mainstream Muslim organisations in Kerala have denounced the so-called "Islamic State" (IS), also known as ISIS or ISIL, even as the investigation into the suspected defection of at least 12 Keralites to the proscribed organisation unfolded across the State and beyond India's borders on Sunday, The Hindu said.

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Meanwhile, Central and Kerala State security agencies were trying to gauge whether the "IS", which runs a slick online propaganda campaign, had gained any local appeal.

They were investigating whether any ultra-conservative religious outfit had recruited the “missing persons” for the embattled IS in Iraq and Syria.

Officials privy to the Central and State inquiries said the focus has also shifted to Sri Lanka, which “reports indicated” was the “common transit camp” for several of the “missing families” suspected to have joined the IS.

Sri Lanka orders probe

They told The Hindu that the Sri Lankan government was conducting its own investigation after reports emerged that at least two of its citizens had joined the IS last year.

The inquiries would also focus on how the “missing families” were radicalised, if they were at all.

They would centre on whether the missing persons were in "IS" territory and who guided them to their destination.

The agencies were sifting through hundreds of FB groups, which claim to be affiliated to the "IS" to see whether any evidence of the “missing families” would crop up.

(With inputs from The Hindu)

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein praised the government Government of Sri Lanka, saying that the overall steps to implement some of the key commitments made in UN Resolution last year are encouraging.

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However, he added that more rapid and sustained progress could have been made on some other issues.

"Overall, the Human Rights Council should be encouraged thus far by the steps that the Government of Sri Lanka has taken to implement some of the key commitments made in Resolution 30/1, and the consultations and preparations now underway to further elaborate and design the transitional justice mechanisms," Al-Hussein said in the advanced version of his oral update on Sri Lanka, released on Monday.

The report on Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka listed the restoration of the Constitutional Council, an independent Human Rights Commission and the ratification of the Disappearances Convention (CED) as important achievements of the government.

"Nonetheless, the establishment of full transitional justice mechanisms will be needed to provide a comprehensive response to past human rights violations and ensure that they do not reccur," it said.

The UNHRC Chief noted that more rapid and sustained progress could have been made on issues such as the release of land and detainees and the revision of the PTA and witness protection laws, which would build confidence with the minority community.

However, he acknowledged that the transformative process will take time. "Inevitably, the transformative process on which Sri Lanka is embarked will take time. Dealing with the multiple tracks of constitutional reform, transitional justice, economic recovery and security sector reform would tax the capacity of any government," the Al-Hussein explained.

Meanwhile, he urged the Government to take concrete steps to address the impatience, anxiety and reservations towards the process that stem from various quarters, and reiterated the importance for all Sri Lankans to rally behind the process."

The High Commissioner also said that his office will continue to stand ready to provide further advice and technical assistance.

UPFA MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage today said that Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake will surely go to prison for contempt of court since he had alleged that lawyers and judges were dealing with drug smugglers.

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Speaking at a press conference today in Colombo, Aluthgamage said that there were voice recordings of Ramanayake making such comments at an interview in a radio channel.

Furthermore, he responded to the allegations that he was using a defender with forged number plates and added that the vehicle was actually used by the Deputy Sports Minister.

Aluthgamage said that Ramanayake is trying to play the film actor's role in Parliament. He has not understood the difference, Aluthgamage said.

Former Defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday revealed his principles in politics and said that he was ready to work together with anyone who safeguards the unitary status of the country and the war heroes who defeated terrorism.

Speaking at an event in Colombo, he said that whether he becomes the first or the second is immaterial.

He was referring to a recent statement made by Minister John Seneviratne, who said that discussions were being conducted to make Gotabaya Rajapaksa the second leader of the SLFP.

President Maithripala Sirisena is the Chairman of the party. However, a large section of the party still support former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and are in opposition to the government.

Seneviratne said that Gotabaya Rajapaksa's elevation would bring about reconciliation between the two camps in the party.

However, senior members of the Maithri camp have been opposed or silent on the matter. Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga expressed her total rejection of the proposal at a recent event. MEanwhile party stalwart Nimal Siripala de Silva declined to comment on this when he was queried by the media recently.

Additional Secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs Anusha Palpita is likely to be interdicted by the Public Services Commission, informed sources said.

Several parties have requested the PSC to interdict him on the grounds that he is an accused in the Rs 600 million sil-redi case.

Despite being an accused in the case, he was appointed to the Additional Secretary post recently. He assumed duties last week.

Anusha Palpita was the former Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission during the presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa. He and former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga stands accused in the sil-redi case currently being heard at the Colombo High Court.

Minister Rauff Hakeem hit out at people who are spreading what he called false news about the Madawala Madeena Central College (National School), claiming that there was no "Jihad" movement active in the school and that there was immense respect for the Sinhalese teachers among the villagers.

Speaking at an event in Kandy District yesterday, Hakeem said that the news of a jihadi group had spread through the internet, based on a letter allegedly written by a husband of a teacher at the school.

However, it has only created distrust on the Muslim community and has damaged the relations between Sinhalese and Muslim communities, he said.

The people in Madawala have immense respect for the Sinhalese teachers in the school, he added.

A dispute occurred in the school on May 27 during a meeting, when a group protested against the principal of the school.

Meanwhile, a letter allegedly written by the school SDS surfaced on social media. The letter was addressed to the Assistant Education Director in Kandy and copied to the Prime Minister and the Education Minister. It called for removal of Sinhalese teachers and teachers coming to school from distant places.

Police have arrested 15 "flood looters" from several flood hit areas in the Colombo district, Police sources said.

They said the Police would also take tough action against those who purchase 'stolen goods'.

According to the Police , the security forces as well as relief workers have managed to prevent incidents of 'flood looting'- to a great extent.

Many flood victims refused to leave their houses, despite imminent threats to their safety, as they feared that their houses would be looted after evacuation.

At this point, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe intervened and instructed military forces to provide security to the houses of victims who feared 'flood looting.'

Former Minister Mervyn Silva today announced that he was launching the authentic 'Joint Opposition' with himself as its leader.

He made this announcement at a press conference held in Colombo. A banner with the name and symbol of the 'Joint Opposition' was hanging behind him as he spoke.

He described the 'Joint Opposition' supporting former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as something not needed, similar to the appendix in a human body.

He added that those who claim to be the 'Joint Opposition' cannot use the term as they are UPFA Parliamentarians.

Silva claimed that a large number of supporters will be joining him in this new movement.

Sri Lanka's former Test cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene said that he was disappointed with the ICC system and process regarding charges, saying that a player should be allowed to play until all charges are proven.

Commenting on Twitter on the release of Kusal Janith Perera of all charges, Jayawardene said that his case must be a lesson for the cricket administrative body.

"So happy that matter solved and KJP can play again.Disappointed with system and proses.@ICC player should allow to play until all hearings" he said on Twitter a short while ago.

In another Tweet, he said: "No one is guilty till proven and every one deserves a explanation. Let's learn from this"

Kusal Janith Perera was suspended by the ICC late last year and missed several international tours including the 2016 World T20. ICC said late last evening that Perera is cleared of all charges with immediate effect and the suspension was also lifted.