Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan slammed at his party stalwart, Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran stating that the latter's conduct was being "carefully watched". "The unique opportunity the country has been given to solve the national issue should not be spoilt by taking rigid and strident postures," the Opposition Leader said, in an interview with the Daily News, lashing out at the conduct of the Northern Province Chief Minister.

"Unduly, rigid and strident postures are not helpful. Any resolution has to be adopted by a two thirds majority in Parliament; it must be approved by the people at a referendum, which means in a constitutional resolution of the national question we should be able to carry along the majority of the people with us," Sampanthan said. Critical of the conduct of Wigneswaran, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader highlighted that the people should be careful not to ruin the opportunity before the country by adopting hard line stances.

He added that Wigneswaran, who was elected the Chief Minister of the Northern Province as the nominee of the TNA and as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the ITAK is bound by the policies of the party."Policies of the TNA is enunciated in the TNA manifesto. It has been the same policy enunciated to the people at all elections; at national or provincial or local authority elections. It was on the basis of these policies that Mr. Wigneswaran became the Chief Minister."

Speaking of the Tamil People's Alliance, the new group formed under Wigneswaran's leadership, Samapanthan highlighted that the politics presented by the individuals in the alliance have been rejected by the people at the last parliamentary election. "But unfortunately Mr. Wigneswaran seems to be entangled with political parties and policies which had been rejected by the people," he said.

"We are prepared to listen to any one's views on a political solution. But unfortunately Mr. Wigneswaran seems to be entangled with political parties and policies which had been rejected by the people. This is not acceptable. Developments are being kept under observation. But we are strongly of the view that the people are sensible, and are solidly behind the Tamil National Alliance."

While refuting claims by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe that his government had allocated funds required to increase public sector salaries, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that no such funds had been allocated.

A Fundamental Rights petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking an order preventing Ranjan Ramanayake from contesting the parliamentary election scheduled for November 14.

Claiming that Sri Lanka has come a long way in terms of undertaking reforms which have led to some hard won gains, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)said they could move fast towards the third review which will come up soon.

The Election Commission has decided to mark the voters' index fingers for this year's general elections, Commissioner General Saman Ratnayake announced. He said the elections are scheduled for November 14, 2024.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to hold a series of meetings with the High Commissioners of South Africa and New Zealand, along with the Ambassadors of Iran and Myanmar, as well as a delegation from the European Union today (25) at the Presidential Secretariat.

Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the security threats to Israeli nationals in the Arugam Bay area, Public Security Minister Vijitha Herath said.

Sri Lanka should get its foreign policy right in the wake of the escalating Middle East crisis, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahman said today.

The Canadian government has issued a travel advisory urging travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in Sri Lanka due to demonstrations, the threat of terrorist attacks and crime, particularly in the Arugam Bay area.

Sri Lankan security forces have been alerted to a potential attack on Israelis in the Arugam Bay area by Indian intelligence agencies. According to intelligence information, the threat is believed to be targeted at foreign nationals.

Former Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara asked why the government did not take action to beef up security for foreign tourists in advance if it had received information on a possible threat on October 7, according to the statement made by Acting Chief of Police.