International cocaine smugglers are increasingly turning to Sri Lankan as a transit hub in Asia, authorities say, after they made a series of seizures of the drug, some smuggled in containers of sugar from Brazil.

President Maithripala Sirisena says the National Economic Council which was appointed by him to make a comprehensive transformation in the agriculture and industrial sectors in the country, with the objective of strengthening of the national economy, will meet for the first time on the 12th of September.

Sri Lanka Army Brigadier Aruna Deshapriya Gunawardena and the Staff Sergeant Sirisena who were alleged to have given orders to shoot the Rathupaswela protestors were released on bail by the Gampaha High Court today.

Irate Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne defended his decision to take Rs. 10 million from the President’s fund for his medical treatment in Singapore stressing that he was not the “only one” to do so.

Security forces stationed in Vavuniya have reported that handbills penned by LTTE intelligence agencies were circulated among the people of Vavuniya last night (29).

President Maithripala Sirisena has reviewed the progress of the programmes implemented by the Government to provide relief to the people affected by the drought prevailed in various parts of the country.

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa, MP, has alleged that Foreign Employment Minister Thalatha Atukorale had been rewarded with justice portfolio, in spite of prevailing corruption charges against her.

The foundation stone laying ceremony of the ‘Pandith Amaradeva Sangeetha Asapuwa’ was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the premises of the Ape Gama, yesterday (28).

The Colombo High Court issued summons on Avant-Garde Maritime Services (Pvt) Ltd Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi and Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando ordering them to appear in court on September 19 for allegedly offering and accepting a bribe of Rs.35.5 million following the Avant-Garde floating armoury transaction.

Due to the Government’s lack of revenue, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), on Friday (25), printed Rs 11,336 million to help the former meet its monetary commitments, interpretation of Central Bank’s open market operations (OMO) showed.

Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne yesterday said that pharmaceutical mafia and tobacco companies were behind the moves to oust him.

The Government is considering a proposal to hand over the management and operation of existing and proposed expressways to an international company, Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella said.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday said they would defeat the no-confidence motion brought against Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne by the Joint Opposition MPs.