Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena vowed to protect the foremost place of Buddhism in Sri Lanka’s new constitution and said who would not govern the country without seeking advice from the Buddhist Maha Sanga, reports Colombo Page.

Sri Lanka’s military spokesperson denied reports of maintaining secret torture camps in the areas it previously held around the Palaly military base in Jaffna.

Speaking at a news conference in Colombo Brigadier Jaynath Jayaweera said,

“There were reports that there were two military torture camps in Valikamam Noth. We totally reject these allegations. When the enemy launch a sudden attack from the land, these places should be highly protected. That’s why we used barbed wire around camp. Just because you saw this, do not imagine that the military had torture camps all over the place. We totally reject these allegations.”

The Chief Minister of Northern Province visited newly returned areas in the former High Security Zone of Valikamam North on Thursday.

Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran visited the area and discussed the huge issues of resettlement and rebuilding with locals and officials.

The Northern Provincial Council plans to establish a memorial in honour of those who were massacred during the final stages of the armed conflict at Mullivaikkal before this year's anniversary of the deaths on May 18th.

Each NPC member has pledged to provide one lakh of their own allocation towards to the project, which was first discussed by the Council on November 4th, 2015.

Marking the Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena's one year in office, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, urged Sri Lanka to ensure progress implementing the UNHRC resolution, reconciliation and good governance.

“I urge continued progress in these areas and emphasis the need for inclusive consultation processes to address issues of transitional justice.  I also support the government’s efforts to advance a nation-wide dialogue to achieve a long-term political settlement acceptable to all,” the Secretary General said in a statement on Thursday.