The United Nations on Wednesday raised concern for the safety of Rohingya Muslim asylum seekers in Sri Lanka after Buddhist monks and hardline nationalists forced them to flee a U.N. shelter in the capital Colombo.

Sri Lankan monks and hardline nationalists protesters forced 31 Rohingya Muslim asylum seekers to flee a United Nations safe house in the capital Colombo on Tuesday, police said.

The group of 30 Rohingya refugees, who were detained at a house of UNHRC in Mount Lavinia, had been taken into the Police custody for their protection, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said.

Whether we vote in favour of or against a Bill solely depends on the decision of the JVP Central Committee. The JVP is not pandering to Rajapaksa or any other party, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said.

President Maithripala Sirisena directed to the Finance Ministry to impose 100% levy on imported big onions.

Sri Lanka will bring in a permanent price index to control the price of coconuts after several black marketeers have been caught selling coconuts at exorbitant rates, a local media report said Monday.

The price of a domestic Litro gas cylinder (12.5kg) would be increased by Rs.110 with effect from midnight today, the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said.

A day after Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe categorically stated that his government will not admit Rohingya refugees into the country, a pro-peace think tank, the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka appealed to the Sri Lankan government to lift the ban on the entry of Rohingya refugees

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the country will attract $1 billion of investment after completion of the first site of a China-funded massive port city project, state media reported Sunday.

The Government will introduce new reforms to the Sri Lanka Police to make it more efficient and productive, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

President Maithripala Sirisena says Sri Lanka is performing for the betterment of its people with much responsibility, in keeping with the charters of UN, as a member of United Nations. He said the government is taking the process to ensure human rights and reconciliation forward step by step.

The Ocean University of Sri Lanka, the first ever state university for maritime and ocean sciences is going to be upgraded under the financial and technical assistance by the Republic of Korea.

Sri Lanka is in talks with two Chinese companies about investing up to $3 billion to build in a new refinery at its Chinese-controlled port, a top government official said on Friday.

The European Union (EU) has pledged Rs. 5.4 billion (EUR 29.7 million) to reduce poverty in Uva and Central Provinces by improving both living conditions and food security.

The Ministry of Health says the prices of expensive medical drugs will be reduced in the near future.