SJB asks Harin to resign from Parliament

MP Harin Fernando should hand over the national list slot through which he came into Parliament back to Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) so that former MP Ranjan Ramanayake could be nominated to Parliament once he is out of prison, an SJB MP suggested today.

Gazette issued nominating Vajira Abeywardena as National List MP

The elections commission today issued an Extraordinary gazette notification announcing Vajira Abeywardena as a national list MP of United National Party (UNP).

Chinese President offers Sri Lanka’s new president support amid crisis

Chinese President Xi Jinping offered Sri Lanka’s new president his support on Friday (Jul 22), state broadcaster CCTV reported, as the Indian Ocean island grapples with its worst economic crisis in decades.

Cannot stop struggle through suppression: NPP

While condemning the attack on Galle Face protesters, the National People’s Power (NPP) said today the struggle which is prevalent throughout the country cannot be ended through suppression and urged everyone to come foward to expel President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the entire Parliament.

’’This is not the time to crack down on citizens’’; Julie Chung tells Ranil

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung said she met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe to express her grave concern over the unnecessary and deeply troubling escalation of violence against protesters overnight.

India extended Line of Credit worth USD 1.85 bn to SL in 10 years: Jaishankar

India has extended 8 Lines of Credit (LOCs) to Sri Lanka amounting to USD 1850.64 million in the past 10 years, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said on Friday.

Nine protesters released on bail

Nine protesters including Attorney-at-law Nuwan Bopage arrested at the Galle Face were granted bail after being produced before Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.

New COVID Omicron variant deadlier than Delta, wear facemasks: Medical Specialists warn

Medical specialists warned people to wear facemasks as the new COVID-Omicron variant which is spreading now was deadly and not easy to detect correctly either.

Karu Jayasuriya condemns attack on Galle Face protesters

While condemning the attack on Galle Face protesters, National Movement for Social Justice Chairman Karu Jayasuriya said the right to dissent and to express one’s opinions as well as to protest peacefully must be protected.

New cabinet sworn-in ; Ali Sabry appointed Foreign Affairs Minister

The new Cabinet of Ministers were sworn in today before President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Kamal Gunaratne re-appointed as Defence Secretary

General (Rtd) Kamal Gunaratne has been re-appointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Droupadi Murmu elected 15th President of India

NDA’s presidential nominee Droupadi Murmu on Thursday became the first tribal woman to be elected as President of India by defeating her rival, opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha, by a margin of 947 votes, bagging 64.03% of the electoral college votes against Sinha’s share of 35.97%.

Dinesh Gunawardena sworn in as PM

Dinesh Gunawardena was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka before President Ranil Wickremesinghe a short while ago.

Kelani Valley trains delayed due to sheer negligence of Train guard, driver

As the locomotive operator was not woken up by anyone from deep slumber, many trains on the Kelani Valley (KV) Railway line have been delayed this morning, Railway sources said.

Seven-hour water cut in some areas of Colombo

Water supply has been interrupted for seven hours in order to carry out repairs to essential distribution improvement to the water supply network, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said.

Police says protesters removed from Presidential Secretariat: Nine arrested

At least nine persons had been arrested and several others were injured during a tense situation that prevailed early this morning at the Galle Face protest site when the security forces removed the protesters near Presidential Secretariat, police said.

National inflation flirts with 60% in June

Sri Lanka’s red-hot inflation firmed up in June as the country’s broader measure of consumer prices climbed 58.9 percent from a year ago, accelerating from 45.3 percent in May.

Dinesh to be sworn in today

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardena will take oaths as the Prime Minister today morning along with the previous cabinet of ministers, a senior SLPP source told Daily Mirror last night.

BASL strongly condemns attack on Galle Face protesters

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has strongly condemned the use of force and violence last night by the armed forces in attacking protestors at Galle Face in the vicinity of the Presidential Secretariat.

US concerned about actions taken against protesters

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung today said that they are deeply concerned about actions taken against protesters at Galle Face in the middle of the night.

Tense situation at Galle Face protest site as security forces move in

A tense situation was reported at Galle Face protest site near Presidential Secretariat as Police and troops moved in and remove protesters from the area.

Public urged to register through official website only

The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) today urged the public to register only through http://fuelpass.gov.lk to obtain the QR code for the National Fuel Pass portal.

Spike in COVID cases; current Pfizer batch to expire soon

The number of COVID cases is on the rise these days, and the current batch of Pfizer vaccines will soon expire, the Colombo Regional Epidemiologist said.

US President Joe Biden tests positive for COVID

US President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing ’’very mild symptoms’’, the White House says.

National Fuel Pass QR code successfully experimented: Minister

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijeskera today said that the QR code system under the National Fuel Pass portal was successfully experimented after the initial technical flaws.

Election of Ranil as Prez revives Rajapaksa camp: AKD

Stating that the election of Ranil Wickremesinghe was a revival of the Rajapaksa camp, National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today the corrupt Rajapaksa camp could completely be defeated only through an election.

Train fare increase, will transport people without issuing tickets: Station Masters’ Union

Despite the gazette notification issued by the government to increase train fares from midnight tomorrow, the Sri Lanka Railways Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) threatened the Railway’s Department that they will take action to transport people without issuing tickets if ticket prices increase.

Arrest warrant issued on IUSF Convener

Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage today issued warrants for the arrest of Convener of Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) Wasantha Mudalige and Ven. Rathkarawwe Jinarathana Thera in connection with a case filed against them in 2021.

Withdraw from services, if sufficient fuel supplies not given: Gemunu

The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) today said that they will withdraw from services in the next few days if they did not get sufficient fuel and if suitable arrangements were not made.

Previous cabinet to be sworn in tomorrow, Dinesh to be PM

The previous cabinet of ministers will be sworn in before President Ranil Wickremesinghe tomorrow morning and Dinesh Gunawardena will be sworn in as the new Prime Minister, the Daily Mirror learns.