I have decided to resign: PM

PM Ranil Wickremesinghe in a statement said that as a person who respects democracy, he has decided to step down and to allow the new President to form a new government.

Malinga wants to play T20Is for two more years

Sri Lanka captain and veteran pacer Lasith Malinga has had a rethink on his decision to retire after next year’s Twenty20 World Cup, saying he can carry on for another two years.

Governors asked to resign

The Presidential Secretariat has informed governors of the nine provinces to resign, sources said.

Prison dept. denies social media report

The Prisons Department today categorically denied the post which was circulating in social media platform claiming that former Army Staff Sergeant R.M. Sunil Ratnayake who was sentenced to death was granted Presidential pardon, a senior official of the Prisons Department said.

Youth arrested with 52 Kg of explosives

A 21-year-old youth was arrested at Udayarkattu by the Special Task Force (STF) personnel on charges of having in his possession explosives weighing more than 52 kilograms, police said.

Bread price up by Rs.5 from tonight: Bakery Owners

Following the increase in the price of wheat flour, the All Ceylon Bakery Owner’s Association (ACBOA) had decided to increase the price of a loaf of bread by Rs.5 from midnight today.

Prime Minister to resign today

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will step down today making the way for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to appoint a new Cabinet, Daily Mirror learns.

Sajith to meet the public tomorrow

UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa is to meet the public tomorrow, according to a Twitter message by UNP MP Harin Fernando.

SLPP considering interim Govt. if PM steps down

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and its alliance partners are reportedly considering an interim government to be formed under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa should Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe step down from office.

Madduma Bandara opposes dissolution of Parliament

Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara, known to be a Sajith Premadasa loyalist, was critical of a move by the United National Party (UNP) to support a resolution to dissolve parliament saying the government should step down as soon as possible to pave the way for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to form a new administration.

An individual in pursuit of a porcupine found dead in a burrow

Ganemulla police said that the body of an individual who got stuck in a burrow while in pursuit of a porcupine at Kossinna in Ganemulla was taken out with much effort.

Transfer of Govt : PM to discuss with party leaders and UNP MPs

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today and said he would discuss with party leaders and ruling party members what the next move would be regarding the handing over of government and brief him about the final decision.

Revamp the UNP to face the future: Nalin Bandara

In a letter addressed to United National Party (UNP) Leader, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara Jayamaha said today he would step down from the post of UNP organiser in Bingiriya if there was no immediate shakeup of the party including a leadership change.

PM should step down immediately: Ven. Dhammananda Thera

Chief Lekakadikari of the Asgiri Chapter, Ven. Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera, said today it was most suited for Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to step down immediately giving the opportunity to President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to govern the country according to his policies.

C’wealth polls monitors urge more inclusivity at future elections

At the conclusion of its presidential election monitoring programme in Sri Lanka, election observers from Commonwealth countries urged all Sri Lankans and their newly-elected leaders to be more inclusive at future elections.

President to make maiden foreign visit to India

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to visit India on November 29, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said in a tweet.

D.M Jayaratne passes away

Veteran Sri Lankan politician and former Prime Minister D.M Jayaratne passed away at the age of 92 at a private hospital in Kandy today.

Ravinatha Aryasinha appointed Foreign Secretary

Ravinatha Aryasinha has been appointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the President with effect from today, Foreign Ministry said.

Harsha resigns, wants Suwa Seriya under President

Non-Cabinet Minister Dr. Harsha De Silva resigned from his ministerial portfolio today and requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to place the 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation under his purview.

BBS to be dissolved after general elections: Gnanasara Thera

A decision has been taken to dissolve the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organisation after the general election, BBS General Secretary the Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera said.

India’s External Affairs Minister in SL

Hours after the new President assumed duties today, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar accompanied by two officials arrived in Sri Lanka this evening on a short visit, informed sources said.

Maithripala to function as SLFP chairman

Former president Maithripala Sirisena will resume his duties as the chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), party’s senior vice president Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa said today.

Speaker, party leaders to decide next course of action

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said today he was prepared to call a meeting of all political party leaders in parliament to decide on the next course of action on conceding the government to the newly-elected President this week.

Former cricketers congratulate President

A number of former star cricketers including Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena extended their wishes to newly elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Attygalle appointed Fin Min Secretary

Former Central Bank Deputy Governor S.R. Attygalle has been appointed as the Secretary to the Treasury and the Finance Ministry by the President today.

Kamal Gunaratne Defence Secretary

Major General (retired) Kamal Gunaratne was appointed as the Secretary to the Defence Ministry by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today.

P.B. Jayasundara appointed President’s Secretary

Former Treasury Secretary Dr. P. B Jayasundara has been appointed as the Secretary to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

President assumes duties

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa assumed duties at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo a short while ago. The President assumed duties following religious observances and the event was attended by former President Maithripala Sirisena as well.

Case against Pujith, Hemasiri postponed till Dec.3

Inspector-General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara and former defense secretary Hemasiri Fernando were further remanded till December 3 by Colombo Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage in connection with the April 21 suicide attacks.

Iran stresses broadening ties with Sri Lanka

The Iranian foreign ministry in a statement on Monday congratulated Gotabaya Rajapaksa for winning the presidential election in Sri Lanka and hoped for the further expansion of relations between the two countries.