Tempers flared at yesterday's Cabinet meeting when Trade Minister Rishad Bathiudeen vehemently shot down a proposal by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera to close down the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission in Baghdad. Tension flared as arguments were flung to and fro by the two ministers for almost an entire hour as Bathiudeen told President Sirisena, who chaired the proceedings, to place on record his opposition to the Foreign Minister's proposal to close down our mission in Baghdad. Bathiudeen argued that Iraq had been supportive of Sri Lanka throughout the secessionist war and also continued to buy Sri Lanka tea in support of the Government of Sri Lanka.

He added instead of considering this step it would be more beneficial in every way to expand trade ties with Iraq because many markets in the Middle Eastern region were collapsing. Cabinet Ministers Thalatha Athukorale, Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Anura Yapa Abeywardana, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Faizer Musthapa and Anura Priyadharshana Yapa also opposed the closure of the embassy in Iraq.According to Trade Ministry reports total trade between the two countries in 2013 stood at 90mn USD of which 89.9% was in exports to Iraq. Sri Lanka had been benefiting from Iraq consistently, the minister told the President.The opposition mounted by Bathiudeen resulted in the Cabinet Paper being tabled but subject to further review Ceylon Today learns.

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.