Sri Lanka's foreign affairs minister, Mangala Samaraweera pledged the new draft constitution would be presented before the next budget, which is expected in mid-November. 

“We hope to be able to present that in parliament before the next budget,” the Daily Mirror quoted Mr Samaraweera as saying whilst addressing a gathering at Point Pedro on Sunday. 

“We have been busy creating or placing a foundation for a new Sri Lanka. Based on the three pillars of democratisation, reconciliation and development,” he added. 

Northern Province Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran has called on the Sri Lankan president to ensure the safety of Tamil students at the University of Peradeniya, following an attack on Tamil students

The parents of Tamil students who were attacked by Sinhalese students met with Justice Wigneswaran on Saturday. Many of the parents were still hesitant to send their students to classes, they said.

Muslim and Tamil students were injured in an attack by Sinhala students last week. Some of those injured are still receiving treatment in hospital.

The USS Frank Cable is set to visit Sri Lanka on Monday, making it the third United States navy ship to visit the island this year.

The crew of 500 members “will enjoy shore leave and volunteer at an animal shelter,” said an official press release.

Earlier this year the USS Blue Ridge and USS New Orleans visited Colombo.

The former Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa is to form a new party, breaking away from the Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP). 

The new party will hold consultations with other political parties in view of forming a 'Common Front', the Sunday Times reported. 

The split in the SLFP follows increasing animosity between members loyal to Mr Rajapaksa and those loyal to the current president, Maithripala Sirisena. 

The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, who is due to visit Sri Lanka on August 31, said he hoped Sri Lanka "fully implements the resolution" passed by the UN Human Rights Council, reiterating the reasons why resolution called for international participation in any accountability mechanism. 

Muslims protested on Saturday demanding resettlement into Jaffna. 

Holding signs the protesters urged the Northern Provincial Council chief minister, C V Wigneswaran to take action. 

The bodies of five men who died at sea at Camber Sands last week were formerly identified by the police yesterday as that of a group of five British Tamil men who had been childhood friends. 

Tamil IDPs from Vali North this week accused the Sri Lankan government of seeking to portraying a false image of resettlement to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon during his visit next week by rehousing them in different land instead of allowing them to return to their own homes. 

"As the visit of UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon to Jaffna is scheduled this month end, the Sri Lankan government is speeding up its conspiracy to show as if the resettlement issue is settled," the president of the Vali North group for resettlement and rehabilitation, A Gunabalasingam said.