'Speculation' is rife that Lieutenant Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa would be summoned before a military court in connection with the abuse of his position in violation of the Navy Act, authoritative defence sources said. The Navy conducted a full scale investigation into the charges leveled against Rajapaksa and the investigation report has already been referred to the President. Navy sources added that further action would be taken against Rajapaksa based on the President's decision.

"However, according to the findings of the inquiry, there is enough room to believe that the President will decide in favour of a Court Martial. Multiple allegations against the Navy officer and alleged violations of the Navy Act were examined during the inquiry," a senior Navy officer involved in the investigation told the Daily News. Yoshitha Rajapaksa was accused of having held the position of Chairman of a private company, Carlton Sports Network (CSN), while being a military officer.

According to legal opinion holding such a position while being a military officer is against military law. "Another allegation leveled against him is that he had allegedly undertaken many foreign tours, without obtaining written permission from the Navy. Not even a Navy Commander has enjoyed such privileges," sources said.

An investigation is to be carried out as to how Lieutenant Yoshitha had allegedly gone overseas nearly 30 times. At that period not even top officers had undertaken foreign trips without written permission. Sources said that the findings of the internal investigations carried out by the Navy have proved that a large amount of money had allegedly been spent by the previous government for the foreign tours and training programmes of Yoshitha Rajapaksa. "If found guilty before a military court, Yoshitha will be punished," the 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.