Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his wife Maithree offered prayers at the Kollur Sri Mookambika temple in India on Friday, Deccan Chronicle reported. The Prime Minister, his wife and others, who arrived at the Mangaluru airport were scheduled to take a chopper from the airport to the Areshiroor helipad near Kollur but due to bad weather the entourage had to reach the temple by road.

It was reported that security was beefed up along the entire stretch of the journey and around the temple town following the recent bomb blasts in Sri Lanka. Only the select archaks, members of the temple committee and temple staff were allowed entry into the temple, according to the report. Mr. Wickremesinghe and his wife arrived were given a grand welcome by the temple authorities, Udupi deputy commissioner and superintendent of police.

The Premier and his wife offered prayers to Goddess Mookambika and then headed to offer Poornahuthi at the Nava Chandika Yaga that was being held at the temple's Yaga Shala. The rituals of the Yaga had started on Thursday and were completed on Friday.

Temple Management Committee member Jayaram Shetty said that the Sri Lankan Prime Minister had offered Nava Chandika Yaga for the people of Sri Lanka and his family. Mr Wickremesinghe visited the famous temple last time on November 21, 2017.

Chaos broke out at the BIA last night following the controversial takeover of the on-arrival visa issuance process at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by an Indian company.

Norwegian Ambassador in New Delhi May-Elin Stener met National People's Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the JVP head office this afternoon. Second Secretary of the Norwegian Embassy John Bjerkem and NPP MP Vijitha Herath and Harini Amarasuriya attended the meeting.

Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena took oath as the Governor of the Southern Province before President Ranil Wickremesinghe a short while ago. The President's Media Division said Nazeer Ahamed was also sworn in as the Governor of the North Western Province.

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka did not play any role in organizing the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) May Day rally and therefore, he did not deserve any prominence, its Vice Chairman Sujeewa Senasinghe said today.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today criticized SJB leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, stating that when they were invited to lead the country following the aragalaya, they both refused, fearing their future in politics.

Director of the Uma Oya Multi Purpose Development Project – D.C.S. Alakanda has said that the Ceylon Electricity Board is saving around Rs. 80 million per day following the opening of the project.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will lead a second Aragalaya if this year's Presidential election is postponed, SJB Former MP Mujibur Rahman said as the party's May Day rally kicked off in Fort.

Apart from organizing a debate between Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, let us publicly reassure the Sinhalese people, perhaps in a solemn ceremony, that they will not allow the Northern and Eastern regions to gain the right to self-determination, Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) Chairman Gemunu Wijerathne urged today.

SJB Chairman Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka made an early exit from the party's May Day Rally in Fort, a shortwhile ago. Fonseka was seen greeting MPs and Buddhist clergy before he left the rally.

As the Lok Shaba elections campaign heats up in India, the ruling Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) has invited representatives from Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the United National Party (UNP) to gain awareness on the electoral process there, The Hindu newspaper reported.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena said today that Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe will be the Presidential candidate representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). He made this revelation during the commemoration ceremony of the late T.B. Ilangaratne.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs Rajitha Senaratne and Tatha Athukorala were notable abesentees at party's May Day Rally in Fort today. All Ceylon Makalal Kachchi Leader SJB alley Rishath Bathiudeen, was another abesentee. Another feature is the prominence given to MPs G. L Peiris and Dilan Perera. They were given front seats.

Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has been acquitted from the case filed against him over allegations of money laundering related to the purchase of a house in Colombo.

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has filed a revision application in the Court of Appeal challenging the legality of the enjoining order issued by Colombo District Court preventing him from functioning as the Acting Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said today President Ranil Wickremesinghe invited her on several occasions to take up a position and support the government. Ms Kumaratunga told reporters that she refused the invitation, claiming that she could not take up any position until thieves were there in politics.

Conducting coaching or tuition classes aimed at the 2023 (2024) G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination aspirants will be prohibited from tonight till the exams are concluded, the Department of Examinations said.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara today hit out at the party's Organizer Gamini Vijith Vijithamuni Soysa who has been critical of the party leadership lately. Former MP Soysa was reported to have complained that he has been sidelined by the SJB leadership.

State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe expressed confidence in exceeding the $ 5 billion mark by year-end, driven by the strong growth in the tourism sector.

A man in Mullaitivu District claimed to be the tallest person in Sri Lanka. According to BBC Sinhala Service, Gunasingham Kasenthiran, a former cadre of the proscribed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who lives in Kaiveli, Puthukudiruppu is seven feet two inches tall.

In an effort to nip any discord with India in the bud, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) faction led by Nimal Siripala de Silva as acting chairman called on Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and disassociated itself from remarks by its former Chairman Maithripala Sirisena implicating alleged Indian involvement in orchestrating the Easter Sunday attacks, an informed source said.