Austrian President Heinz Fischer and President Maithripala Sirisena agreed to increase the cooperation in the economic development between the two countries as friendly nations. The two leaders came into this agreement when they held an official discussion at the President's Office of Austria yesterday. President Sirisena who arrived at the President's Office of Austria was welcomed by President Fischer. A Guard of Honour was held to welcome President Sirisena, who is on a two day state visit to Austria. After the Guard of Honour, two national anthems were played.

Subsequently, the two leaders started bilateral discussions. The discussion was focused on expanding of the friendly relations of the two countries. "The new government of Sri Lanka is now carrying out the programme to build the coexistence and reconciliation in the country by fulfilling the responsibilities of a post-war period, after ending the 26 years long terrorism in Sri Lanka," President Sirisena said. He added that Sri Lanka is expecting the assistance of every friendly country to re-build the fallen economy of Sri Lanka due to terrorist activities.

The aim of the new government is to uplift the living standards of the people while developing the economy of this country, the President said, adding that the government has already initiated programmes to develop the infrastructure facilities in the country to promote the manufacturing sector of the country to find solutions for the problem of unemployment among the youth. The Austrian President pledged to provide every possible assistance to Sri Lanka to get the EU ban on fish exports lifted as well as to get the GSP plus facility.

President Sirisena requested the Austrian President to provide assistance to promote the tourism industry of Sri Lanka. The Austrian President expressed his consent regarding this. The Austrian President commended the government's commitment in protecting Theravada Buddhism and said that Sri Lanka can be named as a country, which strongly practices the Theravada Buddhism. Following the bilateral discussions, both leaders held a joint press conference.

Addressing the joint press conference, leaders of both countries stated that their hope is to further enhance the existing bilateral ties between the two countries. President Maithripala Sirisena thanked for the warm hospitality accorded to him by the government of Austria.

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.