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.

The Government is to consider the suspension of the controversial Uma Oya multi-purpose Development project in the Uva Province.

After commencing operations in United States (US) about two years back, the Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited (KDCMPUL) popularly known as Amul Dairy will now start milk procurement in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

President Maithripala Sirisena pointed out the importance of streamlining and more efficiently implementing the programmes on waste management and prevention of dengue menace.