A multi-day trawler carrying more than 100 suspected illegal emigrants lost its course and drifted towards the sea off the Mullivaikkal coast in Mullaitivu.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today issued a warrant for the arrest of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thera for failing to appear before court on the day the judgment was to be delivered over a case filed against him.

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa has not submitted his educational certificates to Parliament as yet, despite his claims of tabling them in Parliament yesterday, Cabinet spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said today.

The crisis involving the issuing of passports brews further with the available number of copies being sufficient only till July next year. The situation has prompted the government to take steps to appoint a special committee to make recommendations to resolve this issue before it snowballs into a social problem.

The Examinations Department today announced the date for the 2024 (2025) GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) examinations. Accordingly, the examinations will begin on March 17, 2025 and will be held till March 26, 2025."

The Sri Lankan Cabinet has approved the import of up to 30,000 metric tons of unprocessed salt through the Sri Lanka State Trading Corporation. According to the Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, the import must be completed by January 31, 2025.

Import of motor vehicles for personal use will be allowed from February 1, 2025, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. The President informed Parliament that vehicle imports would be allowed in three stages, as previously planned. He said that the import of passenger buses and special-purpose motor vehicles commenced on December 14, 2024."

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa claimed today that he is a degree holder and tabled all his certificates in Parliament.

SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa today (18) challenged Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe to step down from his ministerial portfolio if "he (Wasantha) fails to prove that I (Namal) took the law exam alone in an A/C room,"

SJB MP Harsha de Silva has been appointed as Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne announced today. MPs Harshana Suriyapperuma, Ravi Karunanayake, Harshana Rajakaruna, Nimal Palihena, Wijesiri Basnayake, Tilina Samarakoon and Lakmali Hemachandra have been appointed as members of the committee.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said his government is not concerned with Adani Group’s dealings with other countries but is instead focused only on what the conglomerate does in Sri Lanka.

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ordered the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to submit a detailed report on the investigation into the leaking of questions from the 2024 Grade 05 Scholarship Examination. The CID has been ordered by the court to submit a detailed report on the investigation by 09.00 am tomorrow (Dec 19).

National People's Power (NPP) MP Jagath Wickramaratne was elected as the Speaker of the 10th Parliament.

A writ petition has been filed before the Court of Appeal seeking an order declaring that Jaffna District Parliamentarian Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna is disqualified to be a Member of Parliament and is thus not entitled to hold office as a MP.

The government has decided to remove the security provided by the tri-forces to former Presidents from next week, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said today. He told Parliament that only police security will be provided to the former Presidents.

The Director's Office of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital has notified MP Ramanathan Archchuna that he will only be allowed entry to the hospital as a patient, and for no other reason.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakara today called for the suspension of the Parliament website until erroneous data with regard to MPs are corrected.

Former Ministers and MPs have disproportionately benefited from the President's Fund, receiving financial assistance for medical treatment that goes beyond the fund's original purpose, Parliament was informed today.

resident Anura Kumara Dissanayake met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House this afternoon. A joint media briefing by Sri Lanka and India is scheduled for this afternoon.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was ceremonially welcomed by Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning.