Asian Development Bank Chairman Takehiko Nakao yesterday pledged more financial and technological support to Sri Lanka as the country has made tremendous achievements in the field democracy, Human rights and freedom of people. The ADB Chairman made these remarks when he called on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on the sidelines of World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Their meeting focused on how the ADB can provide further assistance for the development of Sri Lanka.

ADB Chairman Nakao said that he will be in Sri Lanka to extensively discuss on how ADB can provide assistance to Sri Lanka next month. He said that the Asian Development Bank is ready to assist Sri Lanka to restore its earlier place on the world map as a democratic, and free country. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe outlined the reforms to be made in the country's health and education sector.

The ADB Chairman in return said that social develop index in terms of health and education is in a commendable place and expected that Sri Lanka can elevate these index further through these reforms. They also expressed views on how Sri Lanka has obtained loans from donor agencies extensively in the past few years. Both Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and ADB chairman agreed to explore the ways from the Asian Development Bank to alleviate the debt burden.

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.