Sri Lanka's media minister and government spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella told a group of Buddhist monks that he will look into their complaint against English language media, accusing them of bias in their coverage of the violence in Aluthgama.

The monks, made up of members from the Bodu Bala Sena, the Sinhala Ravaya and the National Bhikku Front lodged a formal complaint with the ministry, with BBS leader Gnanasara saying that the media disrespected Buddhism, reported Colombo Gazette.

“Some journalists are being funded by Embassies to publish misleading reports on the Aluthgama incident,” he said.

A Muslim minister meanwhile accused the media of being partly responsible for the rise of racist outfits.

India should support the UN inquiry into mass atrocities in Sri Lanka and ensure it succeeds urged a Tamil Nadu delegation of politicians and activists, in a meeting with the country's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday, the Times of India reported.

The delegation, comprising the PMK youth wing leader, Anbumani Ramadoss, retired IAS officer Devasagayam, former MP for Dharmapuri, Senthil, and a representative from the Civil Society Coalition for Justice and Peace, K Balu, submitted a memorandum urging the BJP government to proactively support and assist the inquiry.

"Considering the fact that the Sri Lankan government has repeatedly betrayed its trust, misplaced though it may be, India should support the investigation and adopt a proactive role to facilitate the 'credible international investigation' to succeed", the memorandum reportedly said.

"People of India voted for a change and gave a historical verdict. We submit that the government stands up to that high expectation and puts its heart and mind for a change in India's policy towards Sri Lanka in every spear," it added.

The Sri Lankan government expressed concern about the escalating violence in Gaza, resulting in the “tragic loss of civilian life”, in a statement released on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka called on both sides to “exercise restraint” and said that “cross-border provocations” needed to cease.

“Sri Lanka calls upon the parties concerned to exercise utmost restraint in a bid to halt the violence and ensure a climate conducive to the recommencement of negotiations for a lasting solution to the conflict. Sri Lanka calls upon the parties to engage at the earliest in direct dialogue which is the only viable initiative for sustained peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

The Indian government has announced that it will assist the setting up of two new buildings for University of Jaffna faculties in Kilinochchi.

India will set up the physical infrastructure for the Faculty of Agriculture and the Faculty of Engineering, at a cost of Rs600mn (£2.7mn) according to a statement on the Indian High Commission’s website.

“In addition to the physical infrastructure, the Government of India will also provide, through a reputed Indian institution, support for curriculum development, faculty exchanges, training and research,” the statement said.

“India has been privileged to partner with Sri Lanka in its development efforts, and this project is yet another example of India’s continued commitment.”

The Bodu Bala Sena on Tuesday urged the Sri Lankan government to expel Rauff Hakeem, the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the country’s justice minister, over his recent comments about “Buddhist extremism”.

“We are ashamed of the President and government because Hakeem had condemned the Buddhists and the monks who brought the President into power,” BBS Secretary General Galagoda Gnanasara said, according to the Daily Mirror.

“If I am the leader I would have fired him,” he said.

The BBS said that recent statements made by Hakeem were dangerous and were an insult to Buddhists in the country.

The North-East of the island is under Sri Lankan military invasion, said the Tamil National Alliance spokesperson at a meeting Tuesday in Jaffna, reports Uthayan.

Speaking at the National Fishermen Cooperation Movement, MP Suresh Premachandran, citing several facts,  condemned the Sri Lankan government’s actions during the armed conflict and afterwards.

Mr Premachandran deplored the heightened military presence alleging that 75% of the Sri Lankan military was based in the North-East.