A Muslim home in Sri Lanka was defaced with graffiti earlier this month as part of a Sinhala nationalist campaign sweeping across the island.

The graffiti – which spelt out the words “Sinhale” (Lions’ Blood in Sinhala) - was found spray painted over the walls of Muslim homes in Nugegoda.

The campaign, which has seen the slogan appear on public buses, police motorbikes and other vehicles, is being promoted by current UPFA Parliamentarian Udaya Gammanpila and the Sinhale National Movement.

Whilst the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka called for those responsible for the graffiti to be arrested, Mr Gammanpila remained defiant, stating that “no one can challenge the fact that Sri Lanka is ‘Sinhale’ and that even historically, pre-independence, Sri Lanka was recognized as a Sinhala nation,” according to The Sunday Leader.

The Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena said on Monday that due to the country's "middle path" foreign policy, "Sri Lanka has only friends in the world today", reported the Daily Mirror.

"The country extends a hand of friendship to all countries in the world," he added whilst speaking to envoys.

He thanked countries for extending their support to Sri Lanka, especially noting the "close cooperation" given at international forums.

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The Sri Lankan government pledged that the killers of the murdered Sunday Leader editor, Lasantha Wickrematunge would be brought to justice by next January.

"I assure that we will carry out the investigations and bring justice for Wickrematunge before next January," the Sri Lankan minister Ravi Karunanayake was quoted by UCA News as saying on the 7th anniversary of his death on January 8th, 2009.

The new government's failure to bring the perpetrators to account has been criticised by the former editor's wife, who said, "The police have taken such a long time with this investigation. We're wondering if somebody is dragging their feet or putting some restrictions on the investigations."

The ministry of defence announced an initiative to provide special privilege cards to ‘War Heroes’ in Sri Lanka, reports Lankabusiness.

This meeting was held under by of State Minister of Defence, Ruwan Wijewardene, who said the privilege card project would provide families of war heroes with special benefits including scholarships, discounts on products and services and priority services of other facilities.

Commanders of the Army and Air Force, officials from the MoD and Sri Lanka’s police were also present at the event.

Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday announced that the country’s constitution needed to be changed to suit the present era for the development of the country.

Addressing a special session of parliament, Mr Sirisena said the draft constitution must fulfill the needs to eliminate poverty and achieve prosperity through economic development and strengthen unity among all ethnic religious groups.