Sri Lanka's leading meteorologist publicly apologised for using the name of a Sinhala king for a cyclone that affected the region two weeks ago, reports FoxNews.

Succombing to outcries against using King Mahasen's name in a 'negative' light, the SH Kariyawasam apologised "if any insult was caused to King Mahasen or the country's proud history".

Commenting on the recent self-immolation by a Buddhist monk, who was protesting against the Halal slaughter of cattle and alleged conversion of Buddhists, Tamil journalist J.S. Tissainayagam, labelled the act "one more step by Sri Lanka’s chauvinist Sinhala-Buddhists to undermine the Muslim political base".  

Read his full piece here. Extracts have been reproduced below.

"The suicide by a Buddhist monk who set himself on fire in Sri Lanka to protest the slaughter of cattle has been hailed as an act of great self-sacrifice and compared to acts of self-immolation by Tibetan Buddhist monks protesting China’s repression in Tibet. Nothing could be more ill-informed. In fact, it is one more step by Sri Lanka’s chauvinist Sinhala-Buddhists to undermine the Muslim political base."

"The campaign to stop the slaughter of cattle and instances of violence against Muslims are not isolated events in Sri Lanka. These are steps to politically disempower Muslims are uncannily reminiscent of the way the Sinhala establishment tries to destroy the Tamil power base."

A gang, thought to be affiliated to Minister Mervyn Silva, attacked Chairman of the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha, Prasanna Ranaweera and Pradeshiya Sabha member Nadeeka Sampath Vitharana last week Thursday, for not giving due recognition to Mervyn as the Keleniya UPFA Chief Organiser.

The two local politicians were organising a function to welcome Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s wife, when the thugs arrived and threatened and assaulted people present.

China has pledged to provide funding to develop Sri Lanka’s transport sector, which will include the construction of a  number of expressways, road networks and railway lines.

In the midst of  bilateral discussions between Sri Lanka and China, the two governments signed an agreement for China to fund the construction of a Northern Expressway that will link Colombo to Jaffna.

According to Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, will visit Sri Lanka from the 25th to 31st August 2013.

Commenting on Pillay's upcoming visit, Aryasinha said today,

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.