The number of tourists visiting Sri Lanka in April has increased by 14.7% year-on-year, with less tourists visiting from India and the Middle East.

Numbers from Western Europe increased by 10%, while visitors from China and the US also increased by 98.5% and 68.9% respectively.

The drop in tourists from the Middle East comes as increased violence and discrimination against Muslims is taking place on the island.

Addressing the 23rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka, Ravinatha Aryasinha, accused the Council of selectively targeting countries and exploiting human rights for political purposes.

In an oral statement, Aryasinha said:

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is currently on a 4-day visit to China where he is due to meet with high ranking Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping.

According to a statement released by the Sri Lankan President’s office, whilst in China Rajapaksa will hold a series of talks with officials including Prime Minister Li Keqiang, Vice President Li Yuanchao, Minister of Defense Chang Wanquan and Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng. The statement also said the talks will,

Sri Lanka has denied accusations from the US that it continues to import Iranian crude, in breach of sanctions.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapakse, brother of the president, said this issue was raised by the US with the government.

President Mahinda Rajapakse said, according to the Sunday Times, that small countries like Sri Lanka were being picked for such accusations.

Plans to build a Buddha statue at the northern gateway of Batticaloa city have raised concerns among residents, reports Uthayan.

There are currently no religious symbols at the ornamental gateway to the region, where a Buddhist population is practically non-existent.

TNA MP P. Ariyendran slammed the idea, alleging that the plans were drawn up with the intent of distressing the population of Batticaloa.

"The entire population of Batticaloa is Tamil-speaking," Ariyendran said, "there is no need to raise more Buddha statues here."

Sri Lankan Buddhist organisation 'Ravana Balaya' has slammed Sri Lanka's cricketers as having 'betrayed the country', after several players returned from participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament.

The group's secretary Ven. Iththaekande Saddhatissa Thero stated that the cricketers were "disgracing the country and themselves too", according to ColomboPage, and warned that they would " face their wrath", as they returned from India.

Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa exalted the values of Buddhist teachings, asserting that Buddhism had never allowed Buddhists to become extremists.

Addressing devotees on Wednesday, Rajapaksa said that the Mahasangha 'should be more concerned and well-informed about a situation being plotted to rouse communal tensions and create a crisis situation among religions and sects of the same religion to breach the religious harmony in the country'.

A government website quoted him as saying:

A parliamentarian from the Tamil National Alliance, M.A Sumanthiran, speaking to the Sunday Leader, outlined that the government was  responsible for the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) calls to abolish the 13 Amendment.