(REUTERS) The Kremlin on Tuesday shrugged off a Fox News host's refusal to apologize for comments he made about Russian President Vladimir Putin, but said his remarks reflected badly on the U.S. channel.
In an interview with U.S. President Donald Trump which aired at the weekend, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly described Putin as "a killer" as he tried to press Trump to explain more fully why he respected his Russian counterpart.
The Kremlin said on Monday it wanted an apology for what it said were "unacceptable and insulting" comments, but O'Reilly dismissed the call for an apology.
"I'm working on that apology but it may take a little time," O'Reilly said on Fox News late on Monday. "You might want to check in with me around ... 2023."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday the episode showed that it and O'Reilly had a different understanding of what common courtesy meant and quipped that the Kremlin would return to the matter in 2023.
"This is a very unfortunate incident for the Fox company at least in our eyes," said Peskov, who said O'Reilly's behavior had reflected badly on the broadcaster, a top-rated U.S. cable news network.
Peskov suggested the Kremlin would not pursue the matter further however.
"We are not inclined to exaggerate this or to blow this out of proportion," said Peskov.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today that the suspect in the rape of a lady doctor at the Anuradhapura teaching hospital has been identified as an army deserter and he will be apprehended shortly.
Police have arrested the suspect connected to the sexual assault on a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital today morning in Galnewa.
The Dutch Public Prosecutor suspects two companies of paying bribes in the construction of hospitals in Sri Lanka, according to an investigation by FD, the Dutch financial newspaper.
The Government today tabled in the House the Report of the Commission to Inquiry into the Establishment and Maintenance of Unlawful Places of Detention and Torture Chambers in the Batalanda Housing Scheme.
The Minister of Power, Kumara Jayakody, stated that in the future, internationally funded projects, such as power projects, will only be carried out through government-to-government (G2G) agreements and competitive procurement.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe said today he wholly rejects the Batalanda Commission report and that it was appointed wholly with the intention slinging political mud at him.
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