I’ll support if UNP wants to defeat Budget: MR

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that one of the main objectives of his Government was to go for General Elections and therefore, he would support the United National Party (UNP) if it wanted to defeat the Vote on Account.

Vote on Account on November

The Government would present a Vote on Account as its second item when Parliament meets, seeking approval to financial allocations to run the country for an interim period, it is learnt.  

Gota meets Ranil over deadlock

Former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe held discussions yesterday evening on how to overcome the present deadlock, informed sources told the Daily Mirror last night.

Swamy wants SL Tamil leaders to work with MR

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Subramanian Swamy today urged Sri Lankan Tamil Community as well as its senior respected leaders like Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan to try for a working arrangement with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse for the sake of Tamil issues.

Several initiatives to revive economy: Finance Ministry

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Mahinda Rajapaksa has given direction to implement several initiatives to revive the economy as the consumers are saddled with high cost of living, Finance ministry said today.

Telecommunication Levy reduced from 25% to 15%

The Finance ministry said today telecommunication Levy of 25% will be reduced to 15% from midnight today.  

Prices of Dhal, Chickpeas and black gram reduced

Special Commodity Levy on a kilo of Dhal was reduced by Rs.5, Chickpeas by Rs. 5 and black gram by Rs.25 per kilo from midnight today, Finance Ministry said.  

I told you so: SF

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who was highly critical on the newly appointed Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said what he said about him in the recent past had come true today.

Fuel price reduced

The price of a litre of Petrol had been reduced by Rs.10 while a liter of Auto Diesel was reduced by Rs.7 with effect from midnight  today, the Ministry of Finance said.

Grero, Hizbullah, Sriyani appointed state ministers

MP Mohan Lal Grero was sworn in as the State Minister of Education and Higher Education and MP M. L. A. M. Hizbullah was sworn in as the State Minister of Highways and Road Development a short while ago.

Piyasena Gamage, State Minister of Youth, Lakshman Senewiratne Defence

Piyasena Gamage was sworn in as State Minister of Youth, Women and Child Affairs while Lakshman Senewiratne was sworn in as State Minister of Defence.

Dayasiri gets Skills Development Ministry

UPFA MP Dayasiri Jayasekara was appointed as the Skills Development and Vocational Training Minister of the new Cabinet.

Duminda appointed Irrigation Minister

UPFA MP Duminda Dissanayake was appointed as the Irrigation, Water Resources and Disaster Management Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena a short while ago.

SLC CFO re-remanded over alleged financial fraud

Sri Lanka Cricket’s Chief Financial Officer Piyal Dissanayake who was arrested by the CID over an alleged financial fraud of US$ 187,084 has been re-remanded until November 15 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate.

Our numbers are solid: Harsha

UNP MP Dr.Harsha De Silva today said their UNP numbers are solid albeit one or two ‘beggars’ who might still fall prey. “All our constituent parties are also fully with us. We all know that neither the TNA nor the JVP will support the fake Prime Minister. We are absolutely certain of the majority on the 5th,” he said in a tweet.

No change in Parliament date: Susil

Parliament would reconvene on November 16 as per the Gazette issued by President Maithripala Sirisena and not on Monday, November 5, UPFA MP Susil Premajayantha said today.

No trains on Northern line from Monday: Railway TUs

Railway trade unions today said that the train services on the northern railway line would be disrupted from this Sunday night if the Police failed to arrest those who were involved with Pothuhera blockade incident last evening, within 48 hrs.

Complaint against MPs Thewarapperuma, Hesha

Mawbima Wenuwen Ranawiruwo Convener Major (Rtd.) Ajith Prasanna has lodged a complaint with the Kollupitiya Police stating that he was allegedly assaulted by a group led by UNP MPs Palitha Thwewarapperuma and Hesha Vithana outside Temple Trees premises today.

Speaker not accepted MR as new PM: Ajith P Perera

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had not accepted Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister, UNP MP Ajith P Perera said today.

Tax concessions on several consumer goods: MR

Tax concessions on several consumer goods would be gazetted tomorrow, Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

Increased import tax on big onions, potatoes extended

The special commodity levy on imported big onions and potatoes would be extended for a period of one month with effect from today, the Finance Ministry announced.

SL rupee hits Rs.177 against US Dollar

The Sri Lankan Rupee further depreciated against the US Dollar today. According to the exchange rates of the Central Bank, the Rupee was selling at Rs.177.32 against the US Dollar. 

Parliament likely to meet on Nov.5

President Maithripala Sirisena had said that Parliament likely to be re-convened on Monday, November 5, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

Drug trafficker nabbed in Negombo with heroin worth Rs. 10mn

The officials of the Narcotics Unit of the Excise Department arrested a man on the charges of possessing 700 g of heroin valued at Rs. 10 million at Kurana in Negombo this morning.

Speaker agrees to allocate PM’s chair to MR

The Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had agreed to provide parliamentary privileges to newly appointed Prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa including the Premier’s chair in Parliament chambers. 

I won't stay even one hour if Ranil comes back: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena has said that he would neither let the North and East to be merged nor allow the country to be a federal state.  

Will launch massive TU action against Prez’s decision: Wickramabahu

Nava Sama Samaja Party Leader Wickramabahu Karunaratne said yesterday they would launch a massive trade union action and a riot in protest of President’s decision to remove Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister and proroguing Parliament unconstitutionally.

No evidence of foreign power: Ranil

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that there was no evidence to believe that a foreign country was behind the crisis situation in Sri Lanka.

West upset its SL agenda thwarted: Prelate

The International Community, mainly the Western Countries, was worried that their agenda in Sri Lanka was no longer operative and therefore, kept interfering in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka, Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera said today.

Basil meets Duminda

It is reported that Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) national organizer Basil Rajapaksa held a special discussion with Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) national organizer Duminda Dissanyake today.