The Sri Lankan government said on Sunday that it needs to have strong defence ties with countries like China and India.

Ratnapura District UPFA parliamentarian Vasudeva Nanayakkara said the government is using every opportunity to target anyone who is against them or supporting the previous regime.

The third reading of the Budget 2016 passed in Parliament with a majority of 109 votes with 160 votes in favour and 51 votes against it while 13 members were absent.

Avant Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi filed a Writ Application in the Court of Appeal seeking to register 91 guns owned by the company.

Bringing to the notice of the Inian Prime Minister the arrest of four more TN fishermen by Lankan Navy, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has urged the Center to act decisively and initiate a calibrated set of actions to end the sufferings of fisher-folk, the New Indian Express reported.

The All Ceylon Customs Services Union (ACCSU) yesterday complained to the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) about a large scale fraud amounting to Rs.1 billion.

President Maithripala Sirisena says everybody should be committed to fulfill their responsibilities for the country and the future of the country, without trying to overthrow the government, from the day it was elected to power.

The Chairman of Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council (NPC) C.V.K. Sivagnanam, says that he is determined to overcome obstacles to sending relief to flood-ravaged Tamil Nadu.

The Navy has earned an income of 220 million rupees from the operations of Avant Garde Maritime Services Ltd. This sum was earned during the period November 13th to December 13th.

The amendments proposed to the Budget 2016 by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will result in a Rs. 7 billion impact on the Government revenue, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake informed Parliament.

INDIA: Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said India is planning to build a sea bridge and tunnel connecting Sri Lanka.

A driver of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to be arrested in connection with the murder of former Sri Lanka Rugby captain Wasim Thajudeen.

The United States says the success in rebuilding Sri Lanka and reconciling the people will be an example to the rest of the world, said US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs-Designate Thomas Shannon.

The Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province C.V. Wigneswaran on Tuesday expressed opposition to the Sri Lankan government’s plan to introduce “Grama Rajya” as the unit of devolution of power.

UPFA MP Johnston Fernando has been granted bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate over cases filed by the Bribery Commission for failing to submit assets declarations.

The special attention of the President Maithripala Sirisena has been drawn to certain issues arisen from the budget proposals and the suggestions and grievances made by the public and the trade unions.