A senior source at the British Foreign Office told The Times Sunday night that there had been disquiet at Defence Secretary Liam Fox’s links to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa since late last year.

Dr Fox sent a senior delegation of British naval officers to the inauguration of Rajapaksa in what the Sri Lankan regime believed was a gesture of support for his second term as President, the paper reports Monday.

In its lead editorial Monday, The Times newspaper said UK Defence Secretary Liam Fox owed the country “an explanation and an apology” for having given unparalleled official access to the Ministry of Defence and talks overseas to Adam Werrity, a close friend.

The editorial adds:

India will help in re-building 79 schools in the war-shattered Vanni, visiting Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said Monday.

The schools are located in Vavuniya, Mullaithivu and Kilinochchi, he told reporters.

India will also restore the famous Tirukoteeswaram Temple in Mannar, and has offered help in restoration of another ancient temple near Sampur.

Asked about the once much-vaunted, but crawling, Indian housing project, which he visited on Sunday, he agreed that the pace of progress was slow.

Addressing soldiers gathered for the army's 62nd anniversary parade, army commander, Jagath Jayasuriya, congratulated them on the 'major development role' they are purported to have played in the North-East.

The Sri Lankan Prime Minister has said that the people in Sri Lanka have once again endorsed the policies of President Rajapakse’s Government.

In a statement, released after the landslide victory for Rajapakse’s Party in the south of the island, Mr Jayaratne says that the people, who voted for the United People’s Front Alliance, want to see continued development of the country.

Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara said,

Voicing serious concern over increasing attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy, chief minister J. Jayalalithaa said such assaults on Indian citizens should be viewed as "an act of provocation and aggression against India."

Ms. Jayalalithaa conveyed her strong sentiments to foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai, who called on her here ahead of his three-day Colombo visit beginning Sunday.

Indian press reports quoted her as saying:

The UK defence secretary, Liam Fox, admits 'mistakes were made', the day before a report into recent revelations regarding the defence secretary's working relationship with a personal friend, Adam Werritty, is due to be delivered to the prime minister, David Cameron.

The televised statement was delivered the same day a video emerged showing Fox and Werritty in a meeting with Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Fox said,