He reaffirmed his desire to reduce the American troop presence in Afghanistan to 8,600 down from about 13,000.
Rajapaksa served as two-term President between 2005 and 2015 and is the elder brother of the new President Gotabaya Rajapksa.
Industrial production grew by 4.7 per cent in October, down from 5.8 per cent in September.
The Israeli military said more 360 launches from Gaza into Israeli territory had been detected.
Sustained insecurity and violence continue to have a tremendous impact on health care in the country.
The field covers 2,400 square kilometres and is located in Iran's southwestern province of Khuzestan.
India condemns Pakistan's attempt to undermine the spirit under which the pilgrimage is supposed to be undertaken.
