Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday criticized a comeback bid by Mahinda Rajapaksa, the rival he beat in elections last January, and his own allies for backing him to become prime minister.

President Maithripala Sirisena said that he was totally against the granting of nominations to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and said that Mr. Rajapaksa would lose the upcoming general elections similar to his loss on January 8.

Naval craft of the North Central Naval Command which were on routine patrol arrested four Indian nationals with 165 kilograms of Cannabis (Kerala Ganja) in the seas north-west of the Thalai-mannar in the early hours of 14th July 2015.

The Fort Magistrate on Tuesday (14) granted bail to the Chief Minister of the Western Province, Prasanna Ranatunga, and his wife in connection with a case filed against them over an irregular land deal.

The Sri Lankan rupee ended weaker on Monday after a state-owned bank pegged the currency’s exchange rate to the dollar at 133.80, 20 cents lower than its previous close, dealers said, amid demand for the greenback from importers.

A coalition led by Sri Lanka’s president has nominated war-time leader Mahinda Rajapaksa to run in elections next month, official documents showed on Monday, with allies saying he will stand for the post of prime minister.

The National Lists of the United National Party (UNP) and the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) have been announced for the forthcoming General Election.

The nominations lists (Colombo) of the United National Party (UNP) and the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) have been announced for the forthcoming General Election.

General Secretary of the UPFA Susil Premajayantha has been admitted to Hospital due to a sudden illness last night (12).

The price of LP gas will be reduced by Rs 100 per 12.5 kg domestic cylinder, Samba rice to Rs. 69 and Nadu rice to Rs 60 per kilogram with effect from July 15, Finance Minister announced.

JHU General Secretary Champika Ranawaka, Rajitha Senaratne, Arjuna Ranatunga and Hirunika Premachandra have signed their nomination papers for the forthcoming General Elections from the newly formed United National Front for Good Governance, sources said.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form the United National Good-Governance Front has been signed by the United National Party (UNP), Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and some other members of SLFP breakaway faction at Temple Trees this morning.

President Maithripala Sirisena, in his effort to prevent a split in the SLFP led by him, has inadvertently weakened the party like never before. Not to mention the severe blow dealt to the foundation of good governance, a policy he preached in the run up to the Presidential election.

UPFA Western Provincial Council member Hirunika Premachandra has reportedly signed nominations to contest the upcoming parliamentary election from the United National Front for Good Governance, the UNP-led political alliance.

The Sri Lankan rupee was steady for a sixth straight session on Friday in thin trade as demand for more dollars by importers was offset by selling of the greenback at 133.60 by a state-run bank, dealers said.

Sri Lanka’s war-time president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, has signed nomination papers to fight an Aug. 17 election as part of a coalition led by President Maithripala Sirisena, Rajapaksa’s spokesman said on Friday.