A former deputy chief justice of South Africa, Dikgang Moseneke met with officials from Sri Lanka's Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation this week to share his experiences of constitution making process. 

Highlighting the fact South Africa's constitution was not based on religion or ethnicity, Mr Moseneke said, "in our system everybody has right to be a Buddhist, be a Muslim, to belong to a Hindu religion or even no religion”.  

Sri Lanka's Joint Opposition on Thursday threatened to quit the constitution-making process unless the government announces elections, the Daily Mirror reported. 

"There was no point in participating in the process as long as there was no elections in the country," Prof G L Peiris told the paper. 

The Leader of House, Lakshman Kiriella MP rejected media reports that the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance Bill had been taken back, stating that the bill would be debated in the future. 

The Daily Mirror reported that Mr Kiriella told parliament media reports that the Bill was taken back by the government was not true.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said his government would protect Sri Lankan soldiers and the “freedom earned for the country” by the military, in a speech at Temple Trees on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka’s president assured the Buddhist Maha Sangha that it will be consulted on the draft constitution.

A meeting between the Maha Sangha led by Maha Nayaka Thero was held at the President’s House in Kandy today, reports Adaderanal.lk.

The Buddhist monks also presented a list of proposal pertaining to the constitution to Mr Sirisena.

The meeting comes after several Buddhist institutions in Sri Lanka rejected the need for a new constitution.

The Sri Lankan navy on Thursday arrested eight fishermen from Tamil Nadu, The Hindu reported. 

The men, who were reportedly detained around the Neduntheevu area, have been taken to the Kankesanthurai naval base. 

The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Emmerson is to make an official visit to Sri Lanka on July 10 - 14, where he is expected to meet with detainees suspected or convicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. 

Mr Emmerson plans to obtain first-hand information on steps taken regarding counter-terrorism and assess how they affect the promotion and protection of human rights.

The Tamil National Alliance on Thursday urged the senior members of the Buddhist clergy to reconsider their decision to unanimously reject any constitutional change in Sri Lanka. 

The newly appointed Sri Lankan Army Commander has refuted war crimes allegations but said that the tri-forces would face up to any investigation in order to clear their name.

Sri Lankan airlines will be running a direct flight service between Hong Kong and Colombo starting July 15th 2017.

The national carrier of Sri Lanka will have five direct flights to Hong Kong a week.

The airline’s management officials were summoned by the Sri Lankan cabinet last month to discuss a Rs 22 billion loss.

Sri Lanka’s parliament did not take up the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance Bill this week, despite it having been scheduled for debate on Wednesday.

Leader of the House Minister Lakshman Kiriella and Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala said the bill would not be debated as scheduled.

More than 75 senior Buddhist monks from all three sects of the Sangha called on the Sri Lankan government not to abolish the much criticised Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), after a meeting in Kandy this week.

Following a four hour meeting at the Sri Chandananda Buddhist College of Asgiriya, all the leading Sangha agreed to deliver a present a memorandum signed by the prelates to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, urging him not to abolish the PTA.

The mother of a young Tamil construction worker has reported him missing from Jaffna since Friday 30th June.

18-year-old Grecian Premilan from Mulankavil, Kilinochchi left work in Navanthurai, Jaffna for home on Friday evening and has not been seen since.

The Sri Lankan government will be taking steps to rehouse the families of 3650 dead Sri Lankan soldiers before President Sirisena’s term ends, the Minister of Housing and Development has said.

The minister, Sajith Premadasa, made the remarks while laying the foundation for a housing scheme for 34 dead soldiers’ families in Anamaduwa, Puttalam.