KARACHI: Despite the signing of 2005 Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and some 4,000 items on the trade list for 12 years, there is no substantial growth in bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, Sri Lankan consul general H.M.B. Herath said on Thursday.

Chairman of the National Trade Union Centre, K. D. Lal Kantha states that a new Constitution which abolishes the executive presidency is necessary, and that power should subsequently be vested with public representatives and the Parliament.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Thursday pledged to consult the country’s Buddhist leaders over his plans for constitutional reform, which he promised in his 2015 election campaign to bring about reconciliation among all ethnic groups.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has increased its multi-sectoral assistance to Sri Lanka from 800 million U.S. dollars to 1 billion dollars as a result of the merger of its two main windows of financing

A Bill to further strengthen the legal framework against illegal fishing methods including bottom trawling will be tabled in Parliament today (6th July)

Cabinet spokesman Minister Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday it costs the Government Rs 12 million a month to sustain the Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat.

The Colombo High Court today imposed the death sentence on the individual accused and convicted for the murder of journalist Melicia Gunasekara in 2014.

The Government yesterday accepted that it had leased out a building to house the Ministry of Agriculture in 2016 and had paid an advance of Rs. 500 million though it has not been occupied.

Eastern Province Governor Austin Fernando has been appointed as the new Secretary to the President. He received his letter of appointment from President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat, yesterday.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Sri Lankan government have signed a 33.7 million dollar financing agreement that will help 57,500 rural households in Sri Lanka, a Foreign Ministry statement said here Tuesday.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa states that the Government is preparing to issue a bill in order to file cases against himself and a few others.

Launching wide-ranging reforms to improve the investment climate in the country, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said that wider powers will be needed to implement certain changes while proposed legislative and sub-legislative changes will be expedited.

Hot on the heels of Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera calling for the restrictions on the sale of alcohol on certain days to be liberalized, Finance State Minister Eran Wickramaratne said he was stunned to find out that women cannot legally purchase liquor in Sri Lanka.

The central committee of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has given consent to launch a continuous strike.

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said his ministry has not been entrusted with any responsibility relating to the disposal of garbage in the country.

Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya yesterday called on Sinhala mothers to produce more children and ensure the protection of Buddhism and the Sinhala race.