Melani Manel Perera

Jeyakumari Balendaran, 50, was arrested along with her 13-year-old daughter for harbouring a criminal. So far, no evidence has been produced to substantiate the charge. "Her release gives us greater cause for hope," says activist with the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice.

Christian and Buddhist leaders and clerics, as well environmentalists protest a Chinese project to build a port city in Colombo, which they deem illegal. A day after the crackdown, the government put the project on hold.

Health, agriculture, education, land and fishing were the main issues discussed with provincial authorities. "The task of bringing together the minds of the people cannot be achieved only through physical development," the president said.

The land had been expropriated by the previous administration for tourist purposes. For years, the local population had launched a campaign to regain their property. Local leader: "Despite threats and abuse, we have had the courage to go on."

Kumara Illangasinghe was appointed Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the Parliament of World Religions. He hopes his office will help him to teach people how to "live in peace and harmony," and "not allow religious extremism."

A group of 45 women from the Archdiocese of Colombo took part in a retreat at the Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka in Tewatte. Their day was divided between the Via Crucis, the recitation of the Rosary and Mass.

Twenty local and foreign organisations and 133 women touched by the country's civil war have called on the government to start an independent investigation, in cooperation with the UN. The failure of many past inquiries is a sign of the culture of impunity that has come to prevail in Sri Lanka after the Civil War.

The two women decided to emigrate to find work. A mutual friend arranges their journey to Thailand. There, they are forced to work in a brothel. They manage to escape. "Without the support of our family, we would have committed suicide."

Many Sri Lankans seek work and easy money in the Gulf, the Middle East, Malaysia and Singapore. However, the poorly educated and the unskilled have become the victims of human trafficking, including prostitution and forced labour. A Sister of the Good Shepherd who works with migrants bears witness to the problem. For her, Sri Lankans have a right "to find work and earn a living in their country."

In his first television interview, Maithripala Sirisena talked about the country's new course. He said he was a "regular guy" and dropped all honorary titles. He also gave up a number of perks that come with the job. Fundamental to his victory was getting votes from all the people.

The new president Maithripala Sirisena has returned Shirani Bandaranayake to office, from which she was removed in 2013 with a controversial impeachment motion. The previous government had "punished" the judge for a number of judgments made against the state.

Tamil votes in the northern part of the country were crucial in ensuring Maithripala Sirisena's victory. Now Tamils want basic human rights restored, the military back in their barracks and new economic policies to curb the price of basic necessities.