The National People's Power (NPP) is confident of winning a majority seats in Thursday's Parliamentary Election but will look at forming a national unity government with Parliamentarians representing the Tamil and Muslim communities, in order to achieve national unity, Minister Vijitha Herath told Daily Mirror last evening.

Just days ahead of the November 14th Parliamentary Poll, Herath said the NPP was 'very confident' of winning the most number of seats in the new Parliament but in order to strengthen the political environment, his party would be open to invite parliamentarians representing the Muslims and Tamils as well.

However, this invitation of a national unity government would be restricted to only these MPs representing these communities and not the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and United National Party (UNP), he said.

"We are open to discuss forming a national unity government with these MPs representing the Tamil and Muslim communities because this way we can truly achieve national unity which we have been aiming for in this country. However, I must state that even without a unity government the NPP will be able to successfully run the government and work for all communities," Herath said.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has in recent weeks, in his campaign speeches for his Parliamentary candidates already mentioned that he is confident the NPP will secure a two thirds majority in the Parliamentary Election and said it was time for a strong, powerful government but not an opposition.

However, the opposition SJB claims that the NPP popularity has dropped since the Presidential Election and the public response towards the SJB has been very good. Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe had also last week called for experienced persons to be elected in the new Parliament to resolve the economic crisis adding that those who had worked with him within the past two years should be re-elected as they had that experience to handle the economy.

Campaigning for Thursday's Parliamentary Election will end at midnight tonight after which a two day silent period has been declared by the Elections Commission. The new Parliament will convene on November 21.

For the first time in Sri Lanka, the government is to establish a mechanism to supervise and advice ministries in the implementation of policies, a source said.

A tense situation was reported at the UNP party headquarters in Sirikotha when a group of UNP supporters arrived to hand over a document on reviving the party.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harsha de Silva said today that an NPP MP has told him that the Parliament canteen will not be closed but the government will see that no one will abuse the facility.

Two fishermen were seriously injured and hospitalised after a parcel floating on the sea exploded while they were checking it off the coast of Mannar.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Examinations Department have initiated a joint programme to mitigate potential disasters during the 2024 Advanced Level examinations.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka today. Following are 11 key points from the President’s Government Policy Statement;

Speaker Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala informed Parliament that nomination of Sajith Premadasa, leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has been accepted as the Opposition Leader of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Jaffna District Independent MP Archuuna Ramanathan refused to move away after he sat on the Opposition Leader's seat inside the chambers despite requests by Parliament staff to move.

National People's Power (NPP) Gampaha MP Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala was elected as the Speaker of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka a short while ago. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya proposed his name, and the nomination was confirmed by Vijitha Herath.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake adjourned the Sri Lankan Parliament until 9:30 a.m. on December 3. The adjournment followed the President’s delivery of the government’s policy statement during the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament earlier today.