Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena today ordered that the decision on the request to lift the overseas travel ban imposed on former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in connection with the investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks be delivered on November 25.

Making submissions before court, the Criminal Investigation Department stated that there were concerns as to whether former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would return to Sri Lanka after travelling overseas.

However, the CID informed court that it would not object to lifting the travel ban if proper legal measures were in place to ensure his return to Sri Lanka after travelling abroad. It further stated that, in the absence of such measures, it would oppose his overseas travel.

Thereafter, the Magistrate observed that since the former President had not been named as a suspect in the case, the court had no authority to issue an order to secure his return to Sri Lanka after lifting the overseas travel ban.

The government should learn a lesson from the US midterm elections, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament today.

A protest organised by the People’s Struggle Movement against the government’s proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTA) and Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill has commenced at Polduwa Junction today (04).

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) is fleecing consumers by charging a profit margin of Rs.100-120 per litre on petrol and diesel sold by it while denying the three private players a level playing field, former Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

A total of 208 police officers have been arrested in connection with various offences, including drug-related crimes, Police Media Spokesperson Assistant Superintendent of Police F. U. Wootler has revealed.

SLPP National Organiser and MP Namal Rajapaksa has accused the Government of failing to fulfil its election promises, saying the public is now waiting to see what assurances the President will make in his third Budget.

Tensions escalated in Parliament earlier today (03) as Opposition MPs attempted to seize the ceremonial mace during a protest over the rejection of a no-confidence motion against Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne.

A proposal has been submitted to Parliament seeking the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the 1983 Black July riots and their impact. The proposal was presented by National People’s Power (NPP) MP Thanura Dissanayake and seconded by fellow NPP MP Bhagya Sri Herath.

Deputy Minister of Economic Development Nishantha Jayaweera has urged the public not to queue at Inland Revenue Department (IRD) offices to obtain Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN), stating that alternative arrangements are being introduced to facilitate the process.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the awarding of a contract worth Rs. 1,318.3 million for the construction and improvement of three road sections along the Kandy–Jaffna (A9) road.

The Department of Meteorology has issued an amber-level advisory warning of severe lightning in several areas across Sri Lanka, effective from 1.00 p.m. today (03).

A protest was held outside the Batticaloa District Secretariat today (03), demanding that authorities take immediate action to resolve the longstanding dispute over cattle grazing lands in the Mayilathamadu area.

The Federation of Global Tamils (FGT) invites Eelam Tamils in the homeland and diaspora, and individuals committed to its objectives, to become members and participate in shaping the Federation’s future.

Naval and fishing communities have been warned not to venture into several deep-sea areas around Sri Lanka following the intensification of Cyclonic Storm Murasu into a Severe Cyclonic Storm, the Department of Meteorology said yesterday.

A large number of people have visited the Inland Revenue Department’s (IRD) head office to obtain Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN), resulting in severe congestion.

SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa has questioned the protection afforded to people in State custody, alleging that individuals are being beaten, tortured and dying while under State custody.

SriLankan Airlines flight UL605 from Melbourne to Colombo declared an emergency shortly before landing at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) following the activation of a smoke warning in the aircraft's cargo hold.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has arrested former Secretary to the Ministry of Cooperatives and Internal Trade, Gamini Kitsiri Dias Amarawardhana, over an alleged corruption case involving the procurement of chairs for the Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre in Polgolla.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) for the Jaffna District has written to the Jaffna Municipal Council, instructing it to immediately remove the unauthorised structures at the Thileepan Memorial, located in the Nallur area of Jaffna.

Senior lawyer and veteran left-wing political figure Lal Wijenayake, a member of the National People’s Power (NPP) National Operations Committee and Executive Council, passed away on Saturday evening.

A depression over the Southeast Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm tomorrow (2), the Department of Meteorology warned.