The Tamil People's Council (TPC) formed its first subcommittee to draft proposals to the proposed new Constitution. The TPC's second meeting since its inception on 19 December was held at the Jaffna Public Library Auditorium yesterday. Northern Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran chaired yesterday's meeting accompanied by cochair members Dr. P. Lakshman and T.Vasantharaja of Batticaloa Civil Society. People's Liberation Organization Tamil Eelam leader and the TNA Parliamentarian D. Sidarthan also participated at the TPC meeting along with the EPRLF Leader and former TNA Parliamentarian Suresh K. Premachandran.

Soon after the meeting Chief Minister Wigneswaran and his two other cochair members held the TPC's first press briefing at the Library Auditorium where Wigneswaran reiterated that the TPC was not a political party and it was an organization formed to voice for the political aspirations and to address the humanitarian issues of the people in the North and East. Forming of the first subcommittee at the yesterday's meeting Wigneswaran said that the committee would comprise fifteen members.

"The subcommittee will commence making its preliminary draft proposals to the proposed new Constitution on 2 January 2016 and it is expected to complete the final draft by end of March 2016. The second Committee is expected to be formed shortly which would look into the issues related to alleged war crimes," Wigneswaran said. Meanwhile the Opposition and the TNA Leader R. Sampanthan and Chief Minister held a special meeting with regard to the formation of the TPC at the residence of Kanaga Eswaran PC last week.

Both leaders agreed that they were able to discuss on the misunderstandings between them and the meeting was cordial. The efforts are also mooted to narrow the differences between the TNA and the TPC by several prominent civil society figures in the North and East.

For the first time in Sri Lanka, the government is to establish a mechanism to supervise and advice ministries in the implementation of policies, a source said.

A tense situation was reported at the UNP party headquarters in Sirikotha when a group of UNP supporters arrived to hand over a document on reviving the party.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harsha de Silva said today that an NPP MP has told him that the Parliament canteen will not be closed but the government will see that no one will abuse the facility.

Two fishermen were seriously injured and hospitalised after a parcel floating on the sea exploded while they were checking it off the coast of Mannar.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Examinations Department have initiated a joint programme to mitigate potential disasters during the 2024 Advanced Level examinations.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka today. Following are 11 key points from the President’s Government Policy Statement;

Speaker Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala informed Parliament that nomination of Sajith Premadasa, leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has been accepted as the Opposition Leader of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Jaffna District Independent MP Archuuna Ramanathan refused to move away after he sat on the Opposition Leader's seat inside the chambers despite requests by Parliament staff to move.

National People's Power (NPP) Gampaha MP Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala was elected as the Speaker of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka a short while ago. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya proposed his name, and the nomination was confirmed by Vijitha Herath.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake adjourned the Sri Lankan Parliament until 9:30 a.m. on December 3. The adjournment followed the President’s delivery of the government’s policy statement during the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament earlier today.