Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has categorically said that fishing activities or building a fishing harbour in close proximity to the Palaly Airport would be prohibited. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe participated at a high level meeting at the Security Forces Head Quarters - Jaffna in Palaly last Saturday, where land issues in the North were taken up. Deputy Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran pointed out to the Prime Minister that the fishing activities of the Myliddy fishermen were affected as a result of the fishing harbour in the area that still remain within the High Security Zone.

The army officers pointed out to the Prime Minister that the harbour was no longer operational and that it was located within the area closer to the Palaly Airport. They also said that if the fishing activities are allowed to continue in the fishing harbour area it would endanger the Palaly Airbase.

Following the briefing of the army, Prime Minister responded to Deputy Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran that the Palaly Airport would be expanded as a regional airbase in the future. So the fishing activities should not hamper the expansion plans for the airbase. Responding to the Prime Minister, Vijayakala Maheswaran said that if the land areas in Myliddy were taken over for the expansion of the airport, compensation should be paid to those who lose their land. Prime Minister agreeing to the request of the deputy minister said that he would work out a modality for compensation, sources said.

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.