The free distribution of 20 kilos of rice per person by the previous government before the Presidential election has resulted in the shortage of red rice in the market, Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said today.

The Minister told Parliament that the previous government had distributed red rice even to the people who never eat red rice.

"There is a shortage of red rice in the market. The reason for the shortage is that the previous government distributed 20 kilos of rice to the people before the Presidential election.The red rice was distributed among the people who do not eat red rice as well," he said responding to a question raised by MP Namal Rajapaksa.

A two day debate on the 'Clean Sri Lanka' programme will be held in Parliament on January 21 and 22, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya told the House today. She said more information on the 'Clean Sri Lanka' programme will be communicated to MPs during this debate.

According to the Examinations Department, the evaluation of the answer scrips of the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination is scheduled to begin today (08).

The government will formulate a mechanism to stop foreigners who engage in business activities while on tourist visas, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said today.

The family of assassinated Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge has expressed hope that the Anura Kumara Dissanayake-led government will find the truth behind the incident and provide justice.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is increasingly likely to announce he intends to step down, though he has not made a final decision, a source familiar with Trudeau's thinking said on Sunday.

An eight-month-old baby in Bengaluru is suspected to have tested positive for Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), marking the first suspected case in India.

The Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith specifically urged the government to introduce a new Constitution which brings in national unity.

The expenses for the tea party hosted during the inauguration of the 10th Parliament was higher as the cost of the goods and services had gone up in the market, Parliament said while clarifying reports on expenses for the tea party hosted during the inauguration.

The Sri Lanka Navy has reported significant achievements in its 2024 operations, seizing over 622kg of heroin, valued at Rs. 15.55 billion and more than 1,211kg of Crystal Methamphetamine (ICE), worth Rs. 11.5 billion.

The government is aiming to increase the quality in the tourism sector just as quantity in order to attract high-end tourists to the country, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath said.