Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today denied reports that -- at an interview with Channel Four -- he had said the Sri Lankan Government had not ruled out a foreign judicial inquiry on alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka. Mr. Wickremesinghe said in Parliament he had never told such a thing during the interview he gave to Channel Four. Mr. Wickremesinghe said some media including Daily Mirror and Island are unnecessarily concerned about the probe on alleged human rights."What is the pain Daily Mirror and Island have on an international probe," he asked.

He said the government would never allow an international war crimes probe and clarified the recent statement made by President Maithripala Sirisena that foreign judges are not needed for the probe saying the president only meant that most of the activities with regard to a probe will be done by local experts. "Myself, the President and the others in the government are of the same view," he said. However, he said assistance of experts such as Desmond De Silva will be sought.

The media came under heavy criticism by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe who said the local media and TV channels in the country are engaged in hunting for some people. "Samahara madya dadayamaka yedila," (Some media are on a hunt for certain people) he said. Responding to the news item published in the Daily mirror on Thursday under the heading.

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.