Following a Right to Information request filed to the Elections Commission, the Daily Mirror learnt that the estimated budget to conduct a Presidential Election in 2024 would be around Rs. 9,750,000,000.

Elections Commissioner Saman Ratnayake said that they made a request for Rs. 10 billion in August 2023 to conduct a Presidential Election and that it was approved from the 2024 budget. “A similar budget is required to conduct a General Election as well,” he added.

However, at a recent cabinet briefing, Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena said that a sum of Rs. 10 billion had been allocated to conduct the Presidential Election and the General Elections in 2024.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Minister Gunawardena confirmed that a Presidential Election will definitely be held this year. “But the government doesn’t have adequate funds to conduct two elections,” he added.

United National Party (UNP) headed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe today suggested holding a referendum to extend the term of the President and Parliament for two more years. The proposal was made by UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara today.

The Criminal Investigation Department arrested a 36-year-old suspect in connection with the incident of setting fire to President Ranil Wickremesinghe's private residence on 09 July 2022. The suspect, a resident of Kiranthidiya, was identified as a teacher. The suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Court.

If the Parliamentary Election is held within 52 days after the dissolution of the Parliament within the course of this week, there will be no legal impediment to proceed with the actions related to the Presidential Election, claimed Opposition Parliamentarian Prof. G.L. Peiris.

A tense situation arose at the Nelum Mawatha premises near Parliament a short while ago when Minister Prasanna Ranatunga attempted to pass the area.

The Examinations Department said today that all arrangements are being made to release the results of the 2023 GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examinations by this week.

An individual who had entered the Jaffna Hospital lobby on a motorcycle and had behaved in an unruly manner has been arrested by the Police, it was reported. The man had behaved in an unruly manner after having brought an injured person to the hospital.

While expressing deepest condolences on the passing away of Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Jean-François Pactet, the Foreign Ministry said all assistance will be extended to the French authorities and the family of the late Ambassador.

Several political parties including the National Freedom Front (NFF) led by MP Wimal Weerawansa, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) led by MP Udaya Gammanpila and several civil oraganisations formed a new political movement named ‘Sarvajana Balaya’ this morning. They signed the agreement to form the movement in Colombo this morning.

In another example of the global spotlight on Sri Lanka’s strategic assets and resources, China, India, the United States and France are in a competition to secure investments in the country’s graphite sector, the Daily Mirror learns.

A decision has been taken not to allow vehicles without drivers to be parked in the arrivals lounge premises at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) announced today.

The retail price of a kilogram of ginger has reached Rs. 5,000 at the Narahenpita Economic Centre today, the National Consumer Front said. Accordingly, the retail price of a kilogram of ginger has reached Rs. 4,800, a kilogram of beans Rs. 700 and a kilogram of lime Rs. 1,800 at the Economic Centre.

National People’s Power (NPP) member K.D. Lalkantha trying to prevent his party from coming into power, SJB MP S.M. Marikar said today. "Lalkantha is trying to prevent his leader leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake as he is aware that Dissanayake is unable to run a government effectively," Marikar told a media conference.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe engaged in discussions with Member of Parliament and Former Chief Minister, C.V. Wigneswaran at his private residence in Jaffna yesterday. It was reported that the meeting centered on the ongoing development initiatives in the North and the strategies being implemented to address the concerns of the people in the area.

The UK court has ordered the extradition of a Sri Lankan man accused of running a people-trafficking ring while employed at a chicken shop to France. Sathasivam Sivagankan, 58, a refugee granted asylum in Britain, allegedly organized clandestine Channel crossings from his rented home, as revealed in court documents.

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Geneva, Himalee Arunatilaka, wrote to the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner, Volker Turk, rejecting what she called an “unwarranted and unilateral initiative” by his office (OHCHR) to release a report on Sri Lanka’s human rights record in the absence of any mandate from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has recorded over 61,000 electricity breakdown complaints by 2 p.m today. They said the complaints were received following power outages for over 467,500 consumers during the last six days, during the period between May 21 and 26.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has recommended the extension of the tenure of Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, by six months. The recommendation to give a six-month service extension to Mr Rajaratnam has already been submitted to the Constitutional Council (CC), the Sunday Times learns. The CC is expected to consider the request when Parliament meets in the first week of June. Mr Rajaratnam is due to retire on June 27 upon reaching 60 years of age, unless he receives the extension.

The National People's Power (NPP) today refuted claims that a JVP member has joined the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) during a meeting in Polonnaruwa. NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the particular person was not a JVP member but an SLFP member.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the Jaffna Hospital would be upgraded as a national hospital in the near future to enhance and ensure excellent healthcare standards in the Northern Province.

State Defence Minister Pramith Bandara Tennakoon yesterday said six deaths and 11 injuries have been reported as a result of tree from May 19 and the adverse weather condition has affected 34,880 people of 9,616 families in 18 districts.