The government is to begin the disbursement of payment to the deposit holders of the defunct Golden Key Credit Card Company Ltd (GK) from Friday (July 24).

The Sri Lankan rupee ended steady on Wednesday in dull trade as a state-owned bank maintained its dollar-selling rate at 133.70, dealers said.

Sri Lanka coach Marvan Atapattu said Lasith Malinga’s lack of penetration, and the bowlers’ failure to execute plans has paved their path to decline, though the plans themselves remain robust.

One of the two Sri Lankan Tamils arrested last night along with communication gadgets and cyanide in the district of Ramanathapuram has been identified as Krishnakumar, a close associate of slain LTTE supremo V Prabhakaran, Tamil Nadu police said today.

There were many who were corrupt in the former president’s government which resulted in his defeat earlier this year, said the former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe had been illegally holding the post of Prime Minister for over six months by manipulating the mandate given by the people at the recent Presidential Election.

Former External Affiars Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday urged the government to inquire into circumstances under which three army personnel had been arrested in the Mirihana Police area, while travelling in a white van bearing a forged number plates.

Sri Lanka’s cricket authorities announced a ban on alcohol during Wednesday’s fourth one-day international between Pakistan and the hosts following a drunken riot at the venue on Sunday.

Election outcome in Sri Lanka is important for the region and the world, Dennis Cutler Blair, the former United States Director of National Intelligence and former US Navy admiral has said.

President Maithreepala Sirisena made a sudden observation visit to the Kidney Hospital in Maligawatte on Monday afternoon. His visit the hospital to find out about complaints with regard to suspension of operations at the Kidney Hospital in Maligawatte.

Sri Lanka’s main minority Tamil political party, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), on Monday said it will push for a permanent political solution to issues faced by the Tamils, following the August 17 parliamentary election.

Former President and UPFA candidate for the Kurunegala District Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday rejected the idea of forming a national government post-election, vowing that the fractured alliance would obtain 117 seats and rule alone.

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka on Sunday said that those who had left the former government to usher in good governance had proved that they were not power hungry.

Gold prices have dropped to a record low in global markets. Foreign media reported that this marks the lowest price recorded for gold in five years.

The radical Sinhalese-Buddhist party, the Bodu Jana Permuna (BJP), has refused to give an election ticket to Wijemuni Vijitha Rohana de Silva, who had hit Rajiv Gandhi with his rifle butt when the then Indian Prime Minister was reviewing a Guard of Honuor at Colombo on July 30, 1987

Former Parliamen-tarian Sajin de Vaas Gunawardena who is currently in remand custody for the misuse of 16 State owned vehicles was ordered to be removed from Prison Hospital and relocated into a normal prison ward by the Colombo High Court Justice Ranawaka Gunatileke.