Category: Local News

Sri Lanka’s travel industry is starting to suffer the fallout of a political crisis in the middle of its peak tourist season, as uncertainty prompts cancellations by both business and leisure visitors.

Former Northern Provincial Council member M. K. Sivajilingam stated that his party is willing to support a political organization which promises to fulfill their political needs.

Two suspects were arrested with heroin valued at Rs.2778 million by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) today at Beruwala.

The 13 petitions filed against the dissolution of the Parliament will be taken up for hearing today before the Supreme Court for the third consecutive day.

The Attorney General yesterday informed the Supreme Court that it has no jurisdiction to entertain petitions questioning the conduct of the President, as such the dissolution of Parliament by him under Article 126 of the Constitution.

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday stressed the need to establish a new Parliament, scrapping the Executive Presidency through a referendum.

Although over 48 hours have been passed after issuing an Interim Order preventing the functioning of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers in the purported Government, no action has been taken to establish a Government, Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera said.

Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne was released on two surety bails of Rs. 01 Million each by the Fort Magistrate’s Court today.

The All Island Private Bus Owners Federation and the National Transport Commission have agreed to reduce bus fares on the 21st of December in line with the reduction of fuel price reductions.

The seven-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court has begun hearing the petitions filed against the dissolution of the parliament, for the second day.

United People Freedom Alliance members will boycott Parliament sittings today.

President Maithripala Sirisena today assured that the prevailing political unrest in the country would come to an end within one week.

Mahinda Rajapaksa has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court against the interim order issued by the court of appeal restraining the respondent from functioning as the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers, deputy ministers and State Ministers.

The hearing into the Fundamental Right petitions filed in the Supreme Court challenging the dissolution of Parliament resumed a short while ago.

Credit rating agency Fitch downgraded Sri Lanka on Tuesday, citing refinancing risks and an uncertain policy outlook, after President Maithripala Sirisena’s sacking of his prime minister in October triggered a political crisis.

The second discussion between President Maithreepala Sirisena and the MPs of the United national front yesterday ended without conclusion.