"China and Sri Lanka are friendly neighbors. Our relationship has withstood the test of time, and is founded on a solid footing. Cooperation between China and Sri Lanka in various fields serves the aspirations and interests of the two peoples."

(Photograph: IBNS)

Sri Lanka’s external affairs minister, Mangala Samaraweera, has been urged by his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj to ensure the “political reconciliation” of the country’s Tamil population, during the first talks between the two governments since Sri Lanka’s presidential elections.

Mr Samaraweera also met with Prime Minister Modi, who congratulated the new Sri Lankan government on its election victory and expressed hope that President Sirisena’s victory will advance peace, reconciliation and development in Sri Lanka, and peace and progress in the region.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has denied agreeing to giving "full autonomy" to the Tamil regions of the island.

An Indian news channel, NDTV, on Sunday tweeted that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had told them “in principle, we have agreed to full autonomy to Tamil areas".

Sri Lanka's The Nation newspaper contacted Mr Wickremesinghe after the tweet which it termed as 'controversial', was posted, to verify whether he had made such statement.

The Northern Provincial Council has appointed a team of specialists to investigate the contamination Chunnakam Power Station.

On Saturday, Tamils in Chunnakam protested the contamination of the local environment and water sources caused by the leakage of heavy fuel oil waste from the power station.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has filed a petition in Sri Lanka's court of appeal, seeking the arrest of  Kumaran Pathmanathan, also known as KP.

"We want him arrested for his activities. He has to answer many questions," JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath told media.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) criticised Sri Lanka's new government for delaying taking action against members of the former government involved in bribery and corruption.

A spokesperson for the party told the Asian Mirror that so far five people with bribery and corruption allegations levelled against them, including former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, have left the country.

A clinic based at the American University's law college has called on the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) to investigate charges of genocide against the Sri Lankan state and refer the country to the International Criminal Court.

In an article, published in the college's Human Rights Brief, the UNROW Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic details aspects of Sri Lanka's genocide against Tamils, including killings, measures intended to prevent births and the government's intent to destroy a group in whole or part.

"The obligation to prevent and punish genocide under the Genocide Convention is not a matter of political choice or calculation, but one of binding customary international law. The Office of the High Commission on Human Rights’ Investigation on Sri Lanka (OSIL) should investigate and report on the charge of genocide in its submission to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2015. The UN Security Council should refer the situation in Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court for prosecutions based on war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide," UNROW argued.

Sri Lanka has reiterated its position that it will not remove the military from the country's north, saying that the new government's priority remained with national security.

Newly-appointed state minister of defence, Ruwan Wijewardena said President Maithripala Sirisena made it clear he will not allow the country to be divided.