Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs has inaugurated a newly established Buddha Sasana Council, as the state continues to draw closer to Buddhism on the island.

Neville Wanniarachchi, the former Chief Security Officer of ex-Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been remanded until 17 October on charges of failing to disclose the source of millions of rupees’ worth of assets.

Wanniarachchi, a retired Sri Lanka Army Lieutenant Colonel, appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on Thursday to provide a statement. He was subsequently arrested and produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama, who ordered his remand.

A Sri Lankan diplomat remained in the chamber of the United Nations General Assembly as dozens of delegates walked out in protest during a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week.

As Netanyahu took to the podium, representatives from across the globe left their seats, with large sections of the hall standing empty. Outside the UN, protesters gathered in Times Square, condemning Israel’s assault on Gaza.