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The Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter, one of Sri Lankas most senior Buddhist authorities, has called on all the major Buddhist traditions, including the Theravada, Mahayana and Thanthirayana, to unite in safeguarding the "purity and dignity" of the Buddhist Sasana, amid what he described as mounting challenges facing the clergy.

His appeal comes as the Sinhala Buddhist establishment faces unprecedented public scrutiny following a wave of criminal allegations against monks, among them cases of child sexual abuse.

In May, Sri Lankas National Chil

Hamas has announced the dissolution of its governing body in Gaza and said it is ready to hand civilian authority to a Palestinian technocratic committee, in a move aimed at reviving a stalled United States-backed ceasefire plan as Israel continues to control large parts of the devastated territory.

The announcement was made on Monday, with Hamas saying the body overseeing ministries in Gaza would be dissolved and that governmental responsibilities would be transferred to the National Committee for

Prison officers responding to the deadly unrest at Negombo Prison were attacked by inmates who allegedly dropped large stones onto their heads, according to Sri Lankan prison authorities, as investigations continue into one of the countrys deadliest prison incidents in recent years/

The death toll from the unrest has risen to 29, including eight prison officers and 21 inmates, as Sri Lankan prison authorities claimed inmates attacked officers during clashes linked to drug trafficking and organised crime.

Authorities said t

Amnesty International has called for an urgent and independent investigation into the deaths of two prisoners transferred from Negombo Prison following deadly violence earlier this week, as allegations grow that other transferred inmates have been subjected to torture and ill-treatment.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia, Babu Ram Pant, said reports surrounding the deaths and allegations of abuse were "deeply alarming".