Not necessary for instructions for seating arrangements: Dinesh

It is not necessary to take instructions from anyone, when allocating seats for the new Prime Minister and the Cabinet, the Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardene said.

Allocating seats according to the gazette and Speaker's instructions: Sergeant-at-arms

The allocation of seats for the new Prime Minister and the Cabinet would take place on Monday (12), Sergeant-at-arms Narendra Fernando said.

We would not protect politicians, but the Constitution - JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has taken a firm decision to vote against the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaka as the Prime Minister and the prorogation of Parliament by President Maithripala Sirisena in Parliament, the Politburo member of the JVP, Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath said yesterday.

Sivasakthi Ananthan not bound by TNA stance: EPRLF

Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) MP Sivasakthi Ananthan is not bound by the stand taken by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on the current political crisis though it was an ally of it, a party official said today.

I am not an item that could be auctioned: Ravi

UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake today scoffed rumours that he was originally planning to shift sides and had later changed his mind.

Manusha leaves for Singapore

Deputy Minister of Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara, who resigned from his portfolio today, has left for Singapore early this morning, an official of the Immigration and Emigration department at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) said.

UNP has failed the Tamil people: Viyalendiran

United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe failed to serve the Tamil people though the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) stood by him for more than three years, Deputy Minister of Regional Development (Eastern) S. Viyalendiran said today.

SL's Political crisis - Lord Naseby unhappy over Sir Hugo Swire’s statement

Commenting on the political situation in Sri Lanka, British Parliamentarian Lord Naseby has said he was unhappy that former British junior minister put down a question suggesting what happened in Sri Lanka was unconstitutional.

LGBTQI+ community condemns Prez's remarks on “butterfly life”

Members of the Sri Lankan LGBTQI+ community today categorically condemned President Maithripala Sirisena’s statement made at Government’s rally in Colombo saying he was promoting homophobia and public incitement of homophobic hatred.

CW Sec.-Gen. hopes SL House meets soon

Expressing note on the decision by the President to reconvene Parliament on November 14, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said she hoped that Sri Lanka’s Parliament would meet as soon as possible to resolve the current crisis in the country.

Ex-UNP ministers request ministerial security: Nalin Bandara

UNP MP and former deputy minister of law and order, Nalin Bandara said today they would hand over a letter to the Police Chief requesting him to provide them with ministerial security as they were still ministers of the government.

Crossovers to the govt. will return soon: Harin

Those who crossed over to the new Government from the United National Front (UNF) would return soon, UNP Spokesman Harin Fernando said today. 

‘Let the elected representatives have their say’: US Ambassador to Speaker

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz has met Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and discussed the importance of reconvening Parliament to put an end to the political crisis.

3,000 quack dentists in the country: Dental Association

There were about 3,000 quack dentists operating in the country other than registered dentists, Former President General Dental Practitioners Association, Dr Hilary Cooray said.

Manusha resigns as Dy. Minister

Deputy Minister of Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara has resigned from his portfolio a short while ago, sources said.

I would rather be a butterfly than a leech: Mangala

Responding to President Maithripala Sirisena’s remarks yesterday, UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera said in a twitter message that he would rather be a butterfly than a leech.

Whatever personal issues with me, don’t plunge country into chaos: Ranil to MS

Responding to President Maithripala Sirisena’s remarks at yesterday’s government rally in Colombo, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said today whatever the President’s personal issues with him may be, the President should not plunge the country into constitutional chaos through his illegal and immoral actions.

RW & Co. tried to drive a wedge between India and me: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and his associates tried to drive a wedge between him and India. Addressing the people gathered at the Jana Mahimaya rally at Battaramulla, the President said Mr. Wickremesinghe’s team spread misinformation to distance him and India.

Train compartment detaches along Kelani Valley line

A train travelling from Kosgama to Colombo Fort along the Kelani Valley railway line had suddenly stalled near the Malapalla Railway Station when the last compartment had detached from the train, the Railway Department said.  

Speaker's statement shows new Govt. is illegal: UNP

The United National Party (UNP) said yesterday, the statement made by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya that he would only recognise the status quo that prevailed in Parliament before the appointment of the new prime minister was an indication that the new government was illegal.

New Tourism Minister rushes to London

In the wake of travel advisories issued by some countries because of the current political unrest in the country, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed newly-appointed Tourism Minister Vasantha Senanayake to visit London to mitigate the damage, an official said yesterday.

Tree falls on three-wheeler: Two killed and five injured

Two individuals were killed and five others critically injured when a tree fell on a three-wheeler in Udupussellawa last night, Police said.

No one can separate us now: MR

In their first ever major public rally after the new government was formed, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said no one could separate his alliance with President Maithripala Sirisena.

Antonov An-124 landed at MRIA for the eighth time

The world’s second largest cargo aircraft, Antonov An-124-100-150 Russian Long-Range Heavy Transport Aircraft was landed at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) for the eighth time this afternoon, Airport Manager Upali Kalansuriya said.

Up Country train service disrupted

The train services on up-country railway track had been disrupted last evening due to the earth slip between Bandarawela  and Ella, the Railway Control Room said.  

Heavy rains expected due to low pressure area

Heavy showers exceeding 100mm are forecasted in the coming days as a result of a low pressure area which is likely to develop over Bay of Bengal, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today.

Rajitha conveys President’s message to Ranil

UNP MP Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said today he met with President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday on an invitation extended by him.

Anura Kumara meets Sampanthan

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake today met Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader and Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan at his office in Colombo and discussed how they could work in tandem to defeat the current political coup.

Kamer who faced terrorism charges arrives

Kamer Nizamdeen, the Sydney university student who faced terrorism charges over an alleged plot to kill several Australian Government members arrived at the Katunayake International Airport this afternoon.

I appointed MR as Premier after Karu and Sajith refused: MS

President Maithripala Sirisena said today that he offered the premiership to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya first and then to UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa before considering former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the post of Prime Minister.