Sri Lanka’s new government has approved a proposal to conduct a feasibility study that looks to construct a naval base at the Hambantota port.

The Hambantota port, which was built using a Chinese loan of $316 million, faced criticism from the United National Party (UNP) for being underutilized, reports the New Indian Express.

Sri Lankan army strengthens High Security Zone in Valikaamam North (22 Jul 2015)

Sri Lankan Army demolishing civilian homes in Vali North (16 Jun 2015)

Sri Lanka's army 'categorically denies' closing down 59 military camps in North-East  (16 Jun 2015)

We have not removed a single army camp from North – Minister  (15 Jun 2015)

Military camps in Jaffna needed for ‘national security’ says army commander (11 Jun 2015)

Sri Lankan military continues to build Buddhist temples in North-East (10 Jun 2015)

Silent war against Tamils through Sri Lanka's military occupation finds US think-tank (28 may 2015)

(Photos: Tamil Guardian)

The massacre of thousands of Tamils at the hand of Sinhala mobs, known as Black July, was marked on its 32nd anniversary with a vigil outside Downing Street in London.

British Tamils gathered outside the prime minister's residence and lit candles in remembrance of those who died in 1983.

Sri Lanka’s prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe handed a copy of the United National Party (UNP) manifesto to the head monk of the Buddhist Maha Sangha at the UNP official manifesto launch on Thursday.

Whilst outlining UNP plans to create a society that would have a "competitive economy and safeguard the equal rights of the people," the prime minister assured the audience that Buddhism "would be given its foremost place."

The deputy foreign minister of Sri Lanka has ruled out a federal setup for Sri Lanka.

Ajith Perera, who is also the chief organiser for the Kalutara district for the UNP, said at a press conference that the UNP-led United National Front for Good Governance would only devolve power within a unitary state.

The European Union’s ban on imports of fish caught in Sri Lanka has caused losses in revenue totalling $75m since January, according to foreign ministry spokesperson Mahishini Colonne.

The EU, which is the largest export market for the island’s fisheries industry, brought in the ban for the government’s failure to crack down on illegal fishing.

Ms Colonne said on Wednesday, the government has been taking steps to address the issues, including are fitting vessel monitoring systems on high sea fishing vessels, maintaining and updating a register of high sea fishing licenses, banning vessels using harmful fishing methods and prosecuting those found to be fishing illegally.

Bodu Bala Sena CEO Dilanthe Withanage claimed Sri Lankan Muslims linked to the Islamic State were behind the riots in Aluthgam, in which Muslims were attacked by Sinhala mobs.

Speaking to media on the reported death of a Sri Lankan member of the Islamic State group, Mr Withanage said the BBS had warned about the dangers of Sri Lankans being recruited to join the group in Iraq and Syria six months ago, but it was ridiculed as racist at the time.

“Several Sri Lankan Muslim communities have requested the BBS to help free them from this extremism and they said that they would support silently,” he said.

“We can clearly say the Sri Lankans, who worked for ISIS, have involvement in the Aluthgama incident. Sri Lankan authorities are afraid of investigating in to the ISIS related incident in the country,” Mr. Withanage said.

BBS General Secretary Galagodaathe Gnanasara said the government should investigate and publish how “Muslim extremists” are being funded in Sri Lanka.