A Sri Lankan government minister has hit out at France for teaching Sri Lanka about “good governance and democracy”, in the aftermath of the Paris attacks that killed 129 people.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the French government, alongside other Western countries had put pressure on Sri Lanka to adhere to "good governance" during the armed conflict.

“They came to teach us about good governance and democracy,” he said. “They claimed that since there is no reconciliation in Sri Lanka and since we are not addressing the issues of minorities there is terrorism in Sri Lanka.”

Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena has reiterated Buddhist links with Myanmar’s opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, in a congratulatory message following the party’s electoral victory last week.

“It is indeed a personal achievement for you and your party in the peaceful struggle for democracy over the years in your country,” said Mr Sirisena.

“Sri Lanka and Myanmar share long standing relations which is underpinned by Theravada Buddhism and had been nurtured by frequent exchange of pilgrims and people to people contacts,” he added.

The Tamil Lawyers Forum released a statement today calling on Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena to release all Tamil political prisoners that are currently being held in Sri Lankan prisons.

“Following the failure of President Maithripala Sirisena to resolve the issue of the Tamil political prisoners before the 7th of November 2015 as promised, the inmates have resumed their fast unto death,” said the Tamil Lawyers Forum.

India’s Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar acknowledged that Sri Lankan troops continued to receive training in Indian defence colleges, despite domestic opposition.

Visiting the Coonoor Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), where there are currently 35 defence officers from 24 countries undergoing training, Mr Parrikar stated that no Sri Lankans were present at that particular institute, due to local protests.

The Sri Lankan government has begun talks with Iran on resuming oil shipments from the country, when sanctions are lifted as scheduled in early 2016.

Sri Lanka imported over 90% of it’s oil from Iran before international sanctions on Tehran came into its place, over its nuclear programme.

The head of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Roknoddin Javadi said that Iran was ready to resume shipments once the sanctions are lifted.

“Iran’s oil negotiations have started with Sri Lanka,” the Mehr news agency quoted him as saying.

“All the countries are serious about purchasing crude oil from Iran,” he said, adding “we believe we will have suitable conditions”.

Sri Lanka's only oil refinery is configured to run on Iranian light crude, which meant that the sanctions were particularly devastating for the country.

The Sri Lankan government is keen on clinching several free trade agreements with the US and other countries, and regaining lost trade preferences, such as GSP+, as exports and investments have dropped significantly.