The body of a man was found near the Mayilliddi army camp in Point Pedro, on Wednesday morning, the Uthayan reported.

It has been identified as Balasingham Sathasivam, a 40 year old man from from  Azhiyavalai, Thalaiyadi, on the Jaffna peninsula.

Point Pedro police said they are carrying out investigations into the death.

An 11 year old girl has been admitted to Jaffna Hospital after being raped by an officer within the Sri Lankan navy, reported the Uthayan on Wednesday.

The rape occurred in Karainagar, near Jaffna. Oorkavaththurai police are said to have arrested a suspect in connection with the incident.

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.

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.