In response to a remark made by incumbent President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that his predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe has asked for extensive privileges, Advisor to the former President Sagala Ratnayake yesterday said it is the security unit of Mr. Wickremesinghe which has asked for privileges.

“The security unit of the former President has requested the vehicles, chefs and umbrellas. These officers need various items to carry out their duties. They make these requests after assessing what they need and they do it unilaterally. They don’t consult Mr. Wickremesinghe in this regard,” Mr. Ratnayake said in response to a question raised by journalists at a media briefing.

“Former Presidents are given various privileges as per the constitution,” he added.

President Dissanayake over the weekend said he has denied a request from former President Ranil Wickremesinghe for extensive privileges, which included 16 chefs, 163 security personnel, 30 umbrellas and over 20 vehicles.

The President said at a public rally that moving forward, Wickremesinghe will be entitled to only three vehicles, in line with current government regulations.

He said the government will introduce new legislation to prevent former Presidents from being supported through public funds.

Also, Dissanayake said that he had recalled two ambulances that were previously kept at the residences of Wickremesinghe and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, stating that these amenities should not be treated as personal property.

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.