Sri Lankan police have apologised after they “married” nine sniffer dog pairs in a Buddhist ceremony.

Police said the weddings were arranged to promote domestic breeding of sniffer dogs, but apologised for offending cultural sensibilities.

The Culture Ministry condemned the ceremony, with minister T B Ekananayake saying the police had "contemptibly devalued" weddings in a devoutly Buddhist country.

Members of Sudan’s military are currently in Sri Lanka to explore training opportunities.

The delegation, led by former secretary general of defence ministry Gen. (Retd) Abdel- Rahman Mohamed Zein, met with defence secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse and discussed joint military cooperation on Monday.

The defence ministry’s website says that the parties discussed areas of mutual interest and bilateral relations at the meeting.

“Some statements/reports have even attempted to portray this as an attack on the media. This is far from the truth and we refute all such allegations. The Sri Lanka Army does not approve of any crime and particularly we regret this incident in which a senior journalist has suffered at the hands of a gang of thieves"

"This soldier was arrested whilst in service in September 2009 for theft.  After a summary trial according to the Army Act he was awarded 90 days detention on October 6 and whilst being held in detention at his Regimental Centre to be handed over to the Panagoda Detention Barracks (an Army correctional facility administered by the Military Police) he escaped from detention and deserted on October 8, 2009.  On May 24, 2010 he surrendered.

After due disciplinary procedure he was awarded 90 days detention in July 2010 and was detained at Panagoda Detention Barracks.  Upon completion of the period of detention he was handed over to the Regimental Centre on September 9, 2010 and on October 6 2010 he became absent without leave and was later declared a deserter.  On June 25, 2013 Hungama Police arrested this deserting soldier and he was handed over to his Regiment on July 9, 2013.

"I am here to assess the human rights situation and I am speaking to both the government and the civil society. And I'm traveling around the country as much as I can, and when I go back, I will be reporting on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka."