Hundreds of Sri Lankan expatriates gathered at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Muscat to celebrate the country's 67th Independence Day, on Wednesday morning.

Sri Lanka's new President Maithripala Sirisena has renewed orders allowing for troops to be deployed across the island, dampening hopes Thursday of a lower-profile military presence under his rule.

Sri Lanka has decided not to scrap what was thought to be a controversial venture by China called the Colombo Port City Project estimated to cost US$1.5 billion and undertaken by China Communication Construction Company Limited.

Cabinet spokesman - Rajitha Senarathne says the cabinet has approved the National Drug policy Bill.

A European Union ban on fish exports from Sri Lanka because of its failure to comply with international obligations to prevent illegal fishing remains in place, the European Commission said in a statement.