Two higher ranking Army officials who were assigned for the security detail of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa have been questioned and their statements recorded in connection with the murder of former Havelocks rugby captain Wasim Thajudeen, the Attorney General informed Court yesterday.

Former Parliamentarian Sajin de Vass Gunawardena has been appointed as the Chief Organiser for the Ambalangoda Electorate and District Leader by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs and Former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the US and to the UN Office in Geneva, Jayantha Dhanapala passed away at the age of 85, while receiving treatment at the Kandy National Hospital. The Director of the Kandy National Hospital confirmed that the former diplomat had passed away after suffering a heart attack

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Vadivel Suresh who is on a collision course with the party is to decide on his political fate tomorrow after meeting a representative of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and also Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa. Mr. Suresh told the Daily Mirror he will be attending two meetings tomorrow, one with a representative of the President and the other with Mr. Premadasa.

Marcia V. J. Kran, Canadian lawyer and expert member of the UN Human Rights Committee, pressed Sri Lanka delegate Major General Kulatunga about his role in overseeing the Joseph Camp in Vavuniya, plagued with allegations of torture, and the Army Court’s denial of war crimes. Kulatunga served as Commander of the notorious Wanni Security Force Headquarters in Vavuniya, commonly referred to as the Joseph Camp, from 2016-2017. The camp has been marked by repeated accounts of torture and sexual violence throughout the armed conflict, with more recent accounts of torture dated as late as 2017.

Chief Prelate of the Asgiri Chapter, Most Ven. Warakagoda Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thera said every time an election approaches, the Government brings up an unnecessary issue and this time around it was the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. This was at a time when the majority of citizens were going hungry. He said no politician in this country truly serves the country or the people.

The body of a female, suspected to be murdered was found at the Race Course Ground in Colombo 7 a short while ago. Police said the body was found near the scoreboard at the Ground. The cinnamon garden Police has commenced the investigation. Police said the victim was aged 23 years and was a resident of Homagama.

Sri Lanka President and the finance Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe said military personnel will be given the opportunity to retire early after completing 18 years of service.

Sri Lanka is unikely to get an International Monetary Fund deal in December as originally expected with delays in dealing with China and India which are out of the Paris Club as well as ‘bilateral issues’, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said. Sri Lanka has to get ‘creditor assurances’ on debt restructuring from bilateral lenders before the IMF’s executive board endorses a reform program formally.

All banks and the Colombo Stock Exchange will be closed next Monday (Oct 10). The Central Bank of Sri Lanka today (08) announced that the holiday has been declared in lieu of tomorrow’s public and bank holiday. Tomorrow has been declared a public, mercantile and bank holiday for Milad Un-Nabi celebrations as well as owing to the Vap Full Moon Poya.

There is no force behind appointing former premier Mahinda Rajapaksa again. The Rajapaksa tide has already died down, Kalutara district Samagi Jana Bala (SJB) MP Kumara Welgama said. He responded to a journalist's question about Mahindananda Aluthgamage's statement that a force is being formed to re-appoint MR as premier.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa says the Government has now declared several high-security zones as a new form of illegal repression against the people.

A boat and its 46 passengers arrive at the Grand Port Maritime in the city of Le Port, Ouest of the French island La Reunion, on 17 September 2022, before being taken in charge by local authorities and getting a health check.

Environment Minister Naseer Ahamed, in his capacity of the president’s envoy to Saudi Arabia, has initiated discussions with the Saudi government last week seeking for a five year credit line of US $ 6 billion for the supply of fuel on a government to government basis, as a long-term solution to Sri Lanka’s current economic crisis, Daily Mirror learns.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s statement on the appointing of a new Cabinet of Ministers will be broadcasted tonight. According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the President’s statement will be broadcasted at 07.30 pm on all television and radio channels.

Former minister Wimal Weerawansa has said that their independent group of MPs are ready for discussions only if the state ministerial portfolio given to MP Shantha Bandara is revoked. Speaking at a media briefing today (13), he said that a group including former Finance minister - Basil Rajapaksa is in an attempt to fish MPs in their group.

Estate, Housing and Community Infrastructure State Minister Jeevan Thondaman has stepped down from the post. The decision was taken following a meeting with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the CWC team. The meeting was held yesterday.

Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera ruled out the possibility to call for a presidential election in terms of the Constitution, in the event of the current President stepping down . He was apparently responding to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa asking for the declaration of a presidential election .

The thermal power plants of the Kelanitissa Power Station has come to a complete halt due to not receiving fuel for its electricity generation, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Additional General Manager and media spokesman Andrew Navamani said. He said the power station was shut down after 12.30 p.m today.

State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi will arrive in Sri Lanka on a two day official visit today and he will call on his Sri Lankan counterpart Prof.G L.Peiris, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during his stay in Colombo. Chinese Embassy spokesman Luo Chong said the signing of an agreement promoting relations between the two nations will also take place on Sunday (9).

Human remains have been found washed ashore in Maruthamunai. The remains, mostly skeletal, were found washed ashore on the beach this morning. The Police said that it is still not clear if the body was that of an individual who was murdered or committed suicide. A Police cordon has been placed around the area where the human remains were found. Further investigations are underway.

The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) has arrested a man who has given a note on a piece of paper to the security deployed at the Opposition Leader’s office mentioning about a bomb attack on Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) rally in Colombo.

Fishermen in the Northern Province today staged a protest against the Indian fishermen poaching in the Sri Lankan waters. The protesting fishermen were on board around 100 fishing craft sailed from Mullaitivu to Point Pedro urging authorities to intervene to stop Indian fishermen using bottom trawling and damaging to their fishing nets. The fishermen said they were facing a severe crisis due to the lack of permanent solution to this issue that had existed many years.

The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) wrote to Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday (20), raising concerns over allowing alcohol sales during the quarantine curfew and proposals to allow the sale of alcohol over the internet.

Former Minister Mangala Samaraweera has passed away from COVID-19, his family confirmed a short while ago. He was 65 years of age and was receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo. According to hospital sources, Mangala was receiving care in the intensive care unit for several days but was unresponsive for the past two days. He was put on the ventilator today morning but succumbed to the virus.

The Government today insisted that there is no move to push for a cut in the salaries of State sector employees. Cabinet co-spokesman, Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said that the decision by the Cabinet to donate its August salary to the Covid fund is not an attempt to push for a pay cut in the State sector. He said this in response to a question posed at the weekly post Cabinet press conference today.

Action should be taken against former President Maithirpala Sirisena without delay as he has been held responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said today. Cardinal Ranjith who was speaking to the media after Easter Sunday services said a question arises whether some politicians who are held responsible are shameless to go before the people once again.

The Scarborough COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic website Scarborough COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic website is now accepting pre-registration for residents of Scarborough who are 80 years of age or older. I encourage you to share this information widely with your family, friends, and network.

Steps are being taken to provide COVID-19 vaccine to all citizens from 30 to 60 years from March 1, State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and COVID Disease Control Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle said. She said that 4,000 centres have been prepared for this purpose.