Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said there is no legal barrier in bringing a motion to remove suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon from the office of IGP as claimed by former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.

He told a television interview that the Supreme Court has issued an interim order restraining Deshabandu Tennakoon from functioning as the Inspector General of Police and pointed out that the Supreme Court has given such a ruling as Tennakoon is still the IGP.

The Minister said therefore, the argument of Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe that Tennakoon is not the IGP is proved wrong.

He said Fundamental Rights petitions have been filed challenging the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon as the IGP and that the motion was submitted against his misconduct.

The Minister said the motion is not subjudice as the interim order is regarding the appointment of the IGP and that the NPP's motion is regarding the misconduct of the IGP.

He said the NPP's decision is 100 percent correct and that the Speaker has not undermined the powers of Parliament as claimed by Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.

The Food Policy and Security Committee has recommended the importation of rice in the near future to ensure an uninterrupted supply for consumers.

The Court of Appeal today directed the relevant returning officers to further suspend election activities until tomorrow (03) in local government institutions where political parties and independent groups have filed petitions challenging the rejection of nomination papers.

Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendi today sentenced former North Central Province Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith and his private secretary Shanthi Chandrasena — the spouse of former Minister S.M. Chandrasena — to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment after being found guilty of corruption charges.

Cabinet approval has been granted to establish a regional office of the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Vavuniya, Northern Province, where several districts of Sri Lanka are located.

Leader of Sarvajana Balaya and Member of Parliament Dilith Jayaweera accused the government of using loopholes in the law to deceive the public.

Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said Provincial Council council election will not be held this year as three elections were held within six months with the upcoming Local Government elections.

The Court of Appeal today directed the relevant Returning Officers to suspend the election activities until tomorrow (02), in relation to Local Government institutions where political parties and independent groups have filed petitions challenging the rejection of nomination papers.

The Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) has been made compulsory for obtaining all services from the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT). In an official notice, DMT Commissioner General Nishantha Anurudda Weerasinghe announced that the requirement to provide a TIN will be enforced from April 15.

Former State Minister Sathasivam Viyalendran, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has been further remanded until April 8.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today ordered that former Uva Provincial Councillor and former Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayake be further remanded till April 8 over the alleged withdrawal of six fixed deposits maintained by the Uva Provincial Council in a State bank at Badulla in 2016.