Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has strongly turned down requests made by party seniors to work with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to ensure the party's victory at the forthcoming Local Government election. Kumaratunga has made it clear that the Rajapaksas should stay out of the party's election campaign as they were responsible for the SLFP's defeat at two successive national level elections. A group of party seniors, including Minister S.B. Dissanayake, are currently holding discussions to bring the two former Presidents together in the run up to the Local Government election.

Informed political sources told Asian Mirror that they would hold discussions with President Maithripala Sirisena, former President Rajapaksa and former President Kumaratunga separately to iron out differences between the three leaders. Speaking to Asian Mirror, a senior Parliamentarian involved in the discussions expressed hopes that Kumaratunga would 'soften' her stance in the future, considering the gravity of the matter.

However, during their discussions with party seniors. members of the Rajapaksa family had stated that they were ready to work with anyone to ensure the party's victory at the Local Government election.The SLFP seniors are of the view that if the former President fail to reach an understanding, the party will face a serious division ahead of the Local Government election. Such a scenario, they said, would facilitate an easy victory for the UNP.

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.