The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, who is on a four-day official visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of the government, called on the Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today.The High Commissioner also called on the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees this morning. During the meeting, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and High Commissioner Zeid focused attention on current challenges and opportunities for strengthening the rule of law and protection of human rights in Sri Lanka.

The UN rights chief yesterday met with the Chief Prelates of the Malwathu and Asgiri chapters in Kandy and paid homage to the Temple of the Tooth. During the meeting, the Chief Prelates had emphasized that any matter among communities should be solved through a domestic mechanism and the present government led by the President and the Prime Minister has the ability to carry out that process. They have also pointed out that the current issues of the country should be addressed based on Buddhism.

The UN official said the visit to the Temple of the Tooth was a moving experience and a very rare privilege for anyone and he is extremely grateful that he had the opportunity to do so and listen very carefully to the guidance and the wisdom and the opinions of the chief prelates.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has awarded Sri Lanka a $17 million grant for its proposal, “One Vision, One Shield,” aimed at strengthening pandemic preparedness and response.

In response to Daily Mirror story headlined ‘AKD, Harini clashes over UGC Chairman appointment?’ in yesterday’s edition, the Prime Minister’s Office sent the following clarification.

The latest financial disclosures from the Election Commission reveal that Sajith Premadasa and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), lead in campaign spending for the 2024 Presidential Election, with a total expenditure of Rs. 1.13 billion.

Chanu Nimesha, the Secretary of Women's Affairs of the Sri Lanka Socialist party, has created history by becoming the first transgender individual to contest an election in Sri Lanka. Nimesha will contest from the Kegalle District.

The Department of Immigration and Emigration will visit the southern coastal belt in early November to look for any overstaying tourists from countries like Russia and Israel, where an influx of tourists are expected in the emerging South season for Christmas, the Daily Mirror learns.

The elite Special Task Force (STF) have heightened security in Colombo, Weligama and Ella as well, a day after the US Embassy in Colombo gave a warning of a possible terror threat in Arugam Bay, a senior defence source told Daily Mirror last evening.

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.