Sri Lanka police imposes a curfew in the Grandpass area of Colombo following violent incidents; US, UK express concerns over violent clash in Sri Lanka; United States Air Force Pacific Command and the Sri Lankan Air Force conduct joint training Mission in
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    • According to reports, Sri Lanka police imposed a curfew for a second day on August 11 in the Grandpass area of capital Colombo after tensions flared up in the area following the mob attack by Buddhist extremists on a Muslim prayer center on August 10, 2013. 1 The United States Embassy expressed concern over the attack and called for prosecution of perpetrators in the attack and an end to religious-based violence. 2 The US also expressed its concern over army attacking the peaceful demonstrator protesting against contaminated water in Weliweriya. 3 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of Britain Alistair Burt also expressed serious concern on the violent disruption of the protest in Weliweriya. In a statement posted on the government website, Burt urged the Lankan government to ensure a swift and transparent investigation into the incident. 4
    Reports noted that a five-day long joint training mission conducted by the United States Air Force Pacific Command with the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) came to a conclusion on August 9 at the SLAF Base Katunayake. 5

    According to reports, Sri Lankan High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam was summoned by Joint Secretary (BSM) Harsh Vardhan Shringla and a formal demarche made against the large number of Indian fishermen who are in their custody. India's High Commission in Colombo too raised this matter formally with the Lankan Foreign Ministry. Currently, there are 114 Indian fishermen and 21 fishing boats in Sri Lankan custody held over various periods of up to two months. 6 Kariyawasam's summoning followed a request made to the Indian Prime Minister by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to exert "coercive diplomacy" to get the fishermen released. Sri Lanka says Indian fishermen, taking advantage of Sri Lanka's procedure of releasing them after mediation by the Indian High Commission office, are deliberately indulge in illegal fishing. The government of Sri Lanka says the Indian fishermen arrested for poaching in Sri Lankan waters would be dealt with according to local laws. 7

    According to reports, External Affairs Minister Professor G. L. Peiris, representing President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the inauguration of President Hassan Rouhani as the eleventh President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, conveyed to the new President the warm felicitations and good wishes of President Rajapaksa, and his appreciation of Iran’s goodwill and friendship for Sri Lanka. Soon after the ceremonial induction in the precincts of Iran’s Parliament, Minister Peiris called on Mr. Jangiry, First Deputy to the President of Iran. Minister Peiris also held discussions with Dr. Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as informally with Dr. Javad Zarif, Professor of Law and former Permanent Representative of Iran at the United Nations, who was named by President Rouhani soon after the inauguration as the Foreign Minister- designate of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Mr. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Minister for Petroleum Industries, joined Minister Peiris at these meetings. 8

    In other developments, reports noted that the US$ 500 million Colombo South Port was declared opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on August 5, 2013. This new expansion to the existing Port of Colombo, located mid-way on the sea has world class facilities and with its 18-metre draft, can handle even the biggest Triple-E Class vessels carrying 18,000 containers. The US$ 500 million project was launched in 2006 to cater for the increasing demands of services in the international shipping industry. 9

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