UNP-SJB electoral pact now a non-event

An electoral alliance between the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP) is now going to be a non-event, with each of them planning for different strategies to contest the upcoming General Elections, Daily Mirror learns.

High level SL delegation due for talks with IMF this month

Claiming that the government will not discuss any structural changes to the IMF agreement with the IMF delegation that arrives in the country today, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Vijitha Herath said yesterday that structural and principal changes to the IMF agreement will be discussed at a meeting scheduled with a Sri Lankan delegation at IMF Headquarters at the end of this month.

New Govt. to review all connectivity-related projects with India

The new government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has decided to review all the connectivity projects with India along with the Adani power projects in the north before taking a final decision on them after the next Parliament convenes following the conclusion of the General Election on November 14, a source familiar with the process said.

Treasure hunters escape arrest

A gang of treasurer hunters carrying out excavations at the Vessagiri archaelogical site in Anurdhapura had fled to escape arrest.

NPP govt. abandons plans to privatize Srilankan Airlines

The National People’s Power (NPP) government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is to abandon initial plans by the previous rule to sell off or divest the cash strapped SriLankan Airlines, an official said .

Planned cuts to former presidents’ perks face legal hurdles

The government has initiated action to review the benefits of former Presidents to be pruned according to a criterion since some curtailments require legal amendments to be enacted by the next Parliament, a top source said.

After two months of vacillation, previous visa process reintroduced; VFS out, Mobitel in

After vacillation of two months despite a court ruling, the immigration authorities yesterday reinstated the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) process for issuing on-arrival visas according to the criterion that existed before April 17, leaving out the private consortium IVS-GBS and VFS Global that handled it, a source said.

EC seeks Rs. 11 billion for general election

The Election Commission has sought Rs. 11 billion from the Treasury to conduct the General Election , an official said yesterday.

UNP, SJB Talks ongoing despite obstacles

Despite SJB leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday saying that his party will not enter into an alliance with the UNP to contest the General Election, Daily Mirror learns that the talks are still ongoing to make a final decision.

Parliament to be dissolved tonight

Parliament will be dissolved tonight and a Parliamentary Election will be held by December, the Daily Mirror exclusively learns.

I Win People Win

Leader of the National People’s Power (NPP) Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday vowed to bring in economic stability as his first priority and said his victory was a victory of the people.

Presidential Election 2024 Sri Lanka decides today

Sri Lankans will go to the polls today to elect the ninth Executive President of Sri Lanka to run the country for a period of five years. The presidential poll holds significance this time since it is the first election to be conducted after the country went through its worst-ever economic crisis since 2022.

Grade 5 Scholarship answer scripts paper marking suspended due to ongoing investigations: Ministry

The scrutiny of answer scripts of the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination has been suspended due to ongoing investigations into the leak of the first paper in Anuradhapura, Education Ministry Secretary J.M.Thilaka Jayasundara said.

Sri Lanka Strikes Us $ 14. 2 Billion Isb Restructuring, Paving Way Out Of Bankruptcy

Sri Lanka overcame yet another major obstacle in its attempt to get out of bankruptcy status with the government reaching agreement in principle with the ad hoc group of bond holders, China Development Bank and the Local Consortium of Sri Lanka (LCSL), an informed source said. It is for restructuring of US $ 14. 2 billion of sovereign bonds.

Heightened security in place for one more week in post - election period

In a bid to prevent possible post-election violence, a special security arrangement involving the police, the Special Task Force and the military will be in place for a period extending for one week after the presidential election is over, an official said yesterday.

The Next President - 2024

Independent candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday stressed that Sri Lanka’s economy will be worse than 2022 if the country deviates from current economic reforms.

JVP - FSP clash shuts down Jayawardenepura University

The Sri Jayewardenepura University which was temporarily closed following a clash reportedly between two groups of students of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), is to be re-opened after the Presidential Election.

Viral image of marked postal ballot paper: EC bars voters from carrying mobile phones into polling stations

Following the release of the image of a marked postal ballot paper to social media, the Election Commission has decided to bar voters from carrying their mobile phones inside polling stations at the presidential poll on September 21, an official said yesterday.

Plans underway to keep security beefed up post Presidential election

Plans are underway to keep security beefed up islandwide following the post-election period in order to maintain law and order and uphold democracy, the Daily Mirror learns.

Jalani Premadasa receives salute from Air Force?

Severe controversy has erupted over a video circulating on social media showing Jalani Premadasa, the wife of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa supposedly receiving a present arms salute by SLAF personnel while she was entering the Air Force Camp in Palali yesterday (10)

“I am not in any secret deal with Ranil” – AKD

National People’s Power (NPP) presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake scotched speculation that he is having a secret deal with President Ranil Wickremesinghe who is contesting the election as an independent candidate.

Namal’s Economic policies The good, the bad, the ugly

A voluntary service pool consisting of former state sector employees will be provided with a stipend should they choose to continue their service.

Ranil pledges to promote Hela Wedakama (indigenous medicine) globally

Emphasises the need for research to determine the origin of local medical traditions and systems

State owned enterprises should no longer be a burden to country - Sajith

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa said that state-owned enterprises (SOE) can no more be a burden to the country, economy, taxpayers and the people.

Governance is second, rebuilding economy first - President

In the midst of talks about abolition of the executive presidency, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said he will leave it up to the next Parliament since rebuilding the economy precedes governance in his view.

Ranil’s Economic Policies The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Ranil Wickremesinghe’s (RW) manifesto in English spans 13,496 words. While it is primarily aspirational, like most manifestos, it also uniquely outlines his efforts over the past two years to stabilize the economy. He highlights the enactment of 100 new laws, with notable achievements in legislation related to the Central Bank, Economic Transformation, Anti-Corruption, Public Debt Management, Electricity, and Public Finance Management.

A word of caution to the winning candidate Will you be plagued with the winner’s curse

A highly competitive auction of non-existing resources is taking place. Promises are galore – lower taxes, more subsidies and higher public service salaries. How are we going to pay for all of this?

SJB Economic Policies - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Fuel subsidies are even more problematic, as they lower prices and promote overconsumption, which strains our balance of payments.

India’s move to secure ties as presidential race heats up

Ahead of the presidential poll, in an apparent move to ensure that Indo-Lanka bilateral cooperation on national security is not compromised under a future government, visiting Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with four main presidential candidates - President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) candidate Sajith Premadasa, National People’s Power (NPP) candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Some presidential candidates make absurd demands

Ahead of the Presidential Election, some candidates have asked for bizarre demands from law enforcement authorities, some of which have been rejected while some are being mulled.