The Sri Lankan government has called upon the US to lift warnings about travelling to the island, after an update to the travel advisory by the State Department.

The US ambassador to Colombo, Michelle Sison, was summoned to a meeting with the Ministry of External Affairs, where they requested the US to withdraw the advisory.

The July 1st issue of Time magazine has been banned in Sri Lanka, due to its cover sotry -  "The Face of Buddhist Terror".

According to the AFP, the spokesperson for the Customs Department Lesley Gamini said the issue was banned as it 'could raise religious tensions in the country'.

Gamini said:

"By operation of law these magazines will be confiscated,"

A former MP and member of President Rajapakse’s SLFP has slammed the Tamil newspaper Uthayan’s content, saying it is attempting to sow communal hatred.

The paper had recently carried comments by a catholic priest and a former judge, who had criticised the oppression and militarisation in the Tamil homeland.

The Daily News reported that they said that Tamils remained oppressed by the government and still lived in fear across the island, although the war had ended.

Sri Lanka and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate vocational training for Sri Lankan nuclear scientists in Russia, reports Colombo Page.

The agreement includes managing nuclear and radiation safety issues and development of nuclear technology infrastructure in Sri Lanka.

The attack on Tamil ‘Boycott Sri Lankan Cricket’ campaigners by Sri Lankan cricket fans at the Oval on June 17th was truly shocking. What began as Sri Lankan fans shouting and spitting at activists, swelled into anti-Tamil taunting followed by physical assaults, where Tamil activists were punched and kicked by a mob. This attack was not alcohol fuelled sporting hooliganism; nor was it pro-government Sri Lankans attacking anti-government activists - as the attackers’ taunting made clear, the activists were targeted solely because of their Eelam Tamil identity, not for their campaigning. The attack was racially motivated violence by ordinary Sri Lankans against Eelam Tamils on the streets of London.

A Buddhist monk has been remanded in prison for the killing of a man.

Saman Kumara Tillakaratne died during a visit to a temple, after the monk allegedly attacked him with a cricket bat and a brick.

The victim died the day after he was admitted to hospital. Police are reported to have recovered the bat and brick, used in the attack, and a bloodied robe, from the monk’s home.

Recent bilateral discussions between Sri Lanka and the Seychelles have resulted in three new signed agreements that look to bolster air links, defence cooperation and vocational training, reported Colombo Page.

Mahinda Rajapaksa has allegedly refused entry to the new Norwegian ambassador to Sri Lanka partner, as the pair have had a same-sex marriage, reports LankaNewsWeb.

Reports suggest that Rajapaksa has been involved in lengthy conversations on the matter with the Buddhist group, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS).