A Tamil refugee has been arrested in Tamil Nadu for holding a hunger strike demanding the Indian government hand him, his family and other Tamils who have fled Sri Lanka to the United Nations, instead of deporting them back to the island.

32-year-old Chenthuran was arrested by Tamil Nadu police from a camp in Cheyyar, earlier this week and is currently being held in Puzhal Prison in Chennai.

A second patrol boat donated by the Australian government to Sri Lanka has arrived in Colombo this week, having been ceremoniously received by the Sri Lanka Navy.

Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa told The Island that the army will be carrying out rebuilding work in Aluthgama and other towns affected by Sinhala mob violence.

Rajapaksa said that the military would provide free labour while the government would cover other costs.

"The president has issued the necessary instructions before leaving for the Maldives,’ the defence secretary said, adding that the government would take all measures to prevent recurrence of communal violence.

The European Commission has announced it will provide €250,000 to help families in the island’s North-East, affected by the drought caused by a lack of adequate rainfall.

“The effect of the drought is likely to linger on for some time as water reservoirs have dried out”, said David Daly, the Ambassador of the European Union in Sri Lanka, in a press release.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed the appointment of the three experts to the international inquiry into Sri Lanka by the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner by Navi Pillay, in a statement released on Thursday.

Hailing the “strong team”, Mr Hague said the inquiry is an important step in establishing the truth and facilitating reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

The foreign secretary urged the Sri Lankan to ensure the safety of those engaging with the investigation and for government to cooperate with the investigation.