President confirms his resignation today - Speaker

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has informed him that he will handover the resignation letter today as announced earlier.

Avoid violence and act with restraint: Religious leaders

The religious leaders appealed to the nation today not to resort to violence and act with restraint.

Govt. exerting suppression instead of listening to people : JVP

While saying that the government has unleashed suppression on people instead of paying heed to the voice and demands of the people and resolve the present crisis peacefully and democratically, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today this situation would push the country into further disaster.

Trains from distant places to Colombo halted indefinitely

As curfew has been imposed in the Western Province at the moment and following instructions from the Prime Minister’s Office, trains reaching Colombo Fort from distant places, have been halted until further notice, the Railway General Manager (GMR) Dhammika Jayasundara said.

Update: SLRC, ITN telecasting goes off air

The Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) and Independent Television Network (ITN) have suspended their live and recorded telecasts as the corporation premises is being surrounded by protesters.

PM appointed Acting President: Speaker

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Acting President in accordance with the Article 37.1 of the Constitution, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardhane said today.

Trains services as usual today

The train services will operate today according to the normal schedule despite the curfew to be imposed, the Railways Department said.

Speaker to make a special statement shortly

Speaker of Parliament, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena will make a special statement in a short while, parliamentary sources told the Daily Mirror.

PM orders to impose curfew in WP

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered to impose Curfew in the Western Province with immediate effect and to impose emergency law island-wide.

Four hospitalised following clash at ’GotaGoGama’

Four persons were hospitalized with cut injuries following a clash at GotaGoGama protest site at Galle Face Green early this morning.

LITRO gas distributed across the country from today

At least 120,000 LITRO gas cylinders will be distributed across the country starting from today, the LITRO Gas Lanka Limited said.

Protesters tear gassed near PM office

Police used tear gas to disperse a group of protesters protesting near the Prime Minister’s office in Flower Road Colombo a short while ago.

Protest near Maldives President’s house urging to send GR back

Maldivians and Sri Lankan expatriates are protesting near Maldives President’s house urging the authorities to send ousted Sri Lankan President expel from that country, the head of the Maldivian TV Channel told Daily Mirror.

SriLankan Airlines January-April losses at thumping Rs.248bn

The losses at SriLankan Airlines for the first four months to April topped Rs.248.4 billion in 2022, including one-time exchange loss of Rs.145 billion that came in March due to the collapse of the rupee against the dollar,

Oil slides as renewed China COVID curbs temper fuel demand outlook

Oil prices fell yesterday as fresh COVID-19 curbs in China, the world’s biggest crude importer, and fears of a global economic slowdown weighed on the outlook for fuel demand.

CB reiterates warning against usage of virtual currencies

The Central Bank yesterday renewed its warnings issued against the usage of virtual currencies stressing that it hasn’t issued any license or authorisation to any entity or company to operate schemes involving virtual currencies, including cryptocurrencies, and has not authorised any initial coin offerings (ICO), mining operations or virtual currency exchanges.

SLAF confirms provided facilities to President, party leave for Maldives

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) confirmed that it has given an Air Force flight early morning for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the First Lady along with two security officials at the Katunayake International Airport to fly to the Maldives.

Three-pronged battle for presidency

A three-pronged battle is set to take place for the selection of the next president by approval of Parliament on July 20, Daily Mirror learns.

Dial 1971 for railways inquiries

The Sri Lanka Railway Department has taken steps to introduce an emergency number for commuters for contacting the department easily.

President flees the country on a military jet

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country for the Maldives early on Wednesday morning, along with his wife and two security officers amid mass scale protests against him.

JVP urges PM to resign or Prez to remove him to avert his moves to become Act. Prez

Claiming that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was tactfully attempting to become the President going against the people’s demand, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today urged Prime Minister Wickremesibnghe to resign before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa submits his resignation, without putting the country into further unrest.

Basil paid Rs. 5.3mn in cash to leave for Washington

After the attempt by former Minister Basil Rajapaksa to leave the country through the Silk Route Passenger Clearance Terminal was foiled, several details of his immediate airline ticket purchase were also brought to light.

Immigration officials have no legal power to prevent President: SLIEOA

The Sri Lanka Immigration and Emigration Officers’ Association (SLIEOA) today denied the media and social media reports circulating claiming that the immigration officers did not permit President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to leave the country yesterday.

Hand over President’s House, Secretariat & Temple Trees to authorities - BASL

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) said it is extremely concerned of reports of acts of vandalism at Temple Trees and the President’s House and called upon those occupying these premises to ensure that the proper authorities are given custody of these buildings.

U.S. ‘rejects’ GR’s visa request after recent ousting by mass protests

The United States rejected Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s recent request for a visa, The Hindu learns from a top official, amid growing speculation over the besieged leader’s “attempts to flee” the country after promising to quit office.

Soldiers moved in to protect Rupavahanini, ITN

Hundreds of army and air force troops have been deployed at the Sri Lanka Rupavahanini Corporation and ITN, following information received that some groups from the Aragalaya were requesting for live coverage to deliver a statement to the nation tomorrow following Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation.

Religious leaders ready to nominate civil activists for Presidency; if no consensus by political parties: Ven. Sobitha Thera

In his comments, Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera said that if the political parties were not able to reach a consensus on appointing a new President, the clergy are ready to nominate five civil society activists suitable for the position and requested the party leaders to allow them to be appointed through the national list to Parliament.

DMT will not function on Fridays until further notice

The Motor Traffic Department will be closed on Fridays until further notice, unless a public holiday falls on any other working day except Friday.

Archeology Dept officials visit President’s House to assess damage

A group of officials from the Archeology Department arrived at the President’s House this morning to ascertain whether there have been any damage caused to the properties which have archeological value.

SLAF denies reports that President staying at Air Chief’s private residence

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) today denied social media reports that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is currently staying in a private house belonging to Air Force Chief Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana.