RAJANGANAYA, Sri Lanka – In mid-April, at the same time of year as their families have done for generations, Sri Lanka’s paddy farmers started cultivating their rice fields.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday informed the House that the Supreme Court had informed him that five sections of the Right to Information Bill were inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution and a two thirds majority of Parliament was needed for the approval of the bill.

Fists flew in Sri Lanka’s parliament on Tuesday, leaving several members injured, the speaker said, as lawmakers supporting former president Mahinda Rajapaksa protested against a move to replace his military security guards with police.

Sri Lanka’s deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) may have averted a crisis, but the bailout may undermine a key source of strength: the country’s impressive economic growth rate.

Value Added Tax (VAT) increased to 15 percent, was operative from May 2, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.

The functions of the Police Media Unit has temporary been suspended by the IGP, the police said.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s military security has been removed from today and replaced by police security, MP Namal Rajapaksa says.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the government would create an independent fund to manage all profits made by state owned enterprises, “we will work towards getting these profits back to the people. We will not privatize any state enterprise”, he said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate action to secure the release of 34 fishermen from the state and 88 fishing boats

“We should take a firm determination to fulfill the aspirations of our people with a firm commitment to make the achieved victories a reality in this May Day…

Unions of the labour must ideally give priority to safeguard the rights of the workers instead of focusing on political agendas, emphasized Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa had been given a contract to divide the SLFP and weaken President Maithripala Sirisena allegedly funded by a neighbouring country, Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera charged yesterday.

Sentiment on the Sri Lankan rupee improved on Friday, as reflected in the forwards market, after the country signed a $1.5 billion, three-year loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Friday it has reached agreement with the Sri Lankan government for a $1.5 billion bailout to help the island nation avert a balance of payments crisis.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) have expressed their willingness to join the UPFA May Day Rally.

A SriLankan Airlines flight made to return to Changi Airport for “security reasons” two weeks ago did so because a checked-in box had caught fire, injuring a baggage handler, said the Singaporean police in a statement on Thursday (April 28).