Three People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) ships, "Liuzhohu", "Sanya" and "Qinghaihu", arrived at the Port of Colombo on a goodwill visit yesterday. They were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy. The Commander of the Task Force and Deputy Chief of Staff of the South Sea Fleet of the PLA Navy, Rear Admiral Yu Manjiang and the ships' Commanding Officers are due to pay a courtesy call on Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne at the Naval Headquarters in Colombo today. As a gesture of goodwill and friendship, the ships' crews' will participate in a friendly soccer and basketball match with the SLN teams at the Welisara Navy base.

Prior to their departure on January 21, the visiting Chinese ships are due to conduct a Passage Exercise with Sri Lanka Navy craft to share professional expertise between the two navies.

Individuals over the age of 40 who have not obtained their National Identity Cards (NIC) due to the lack of their birth certificates can still apply for their NICs, Commissioner General of the Department for Registration of Persons, Pradeep Saputantri said.

The Constitutional Council has rejected President Ranil Wickremesinghe's proposal to extend the term of office for Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam (PC) by another six months.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe officially inaugurated the long-awaited Clinical Training and Research Block at the Jaffna University Faculty of Medicine this morning.

Former Parliamentarian Sajin de Vass Gunawardena has been appointed as the Chief Organiser for the Ambalangoda Electorate and District Leader by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs and Former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the US and to the UN Office in Geneva, Jayantha Dhanapala passed away at the age of 85, while receiving treatment at the Kandy National Hospital. The Director of the Kandy National Hospital confirmed that the former diplomat had passed away after suffering a heart attack

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Vadivel Suresh who is on a collision course with the party is to decide on his political fate tomorrow after meeting a representative of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and also Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa. Mr. Suresh told the Daily Mirror he will be attending two meetings tomorrow, one with a representative of the President and the other with Mr. Premadasa.

Marcia V. J. Kran, Canadian lawyer and expert member of the UN Human Rights Committee, pressed Sri Lanka delegate Major General Kulatunga about his role in overseeing the Joseph Camp in Vavuniya, plagued with allegations of torture, and the Army Court’s denial of war crimes. Kulatunga served as Commander of the notorious Wanni Security Force Headquarters in Vavuniya, commonly referred to as the Joseph Camp, from 2016-2017. The camp has been marked by repeated accounts of torture and sexual violence throughout the armed conflict, with more recent accounts of torture dated as late as 2017.

Chief Prelate of the Asgiri Chapter, Most Ven. Warakagoda Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thera said every time an election approaches, the Government brings up an unnecessary issue and this time around it was the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. This was at a time when the majority of citizens were going hungry. He said no politician in this country truly serves the country or the people.

The body of a female, suspected to be murdered was found at the Race Course Ground in Colombo 7 a short while ago. Police said the body was found near the scoreboard at the Ground. The cinnamon garden Police has commenced the investigation. Police said the victim was aged 23 years and was a resident of Homagama.

Sri Lanka President and the finance Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe said military personnel will be given the opportunity to retire early after completing 18 years of service.