Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya informed party leaders yesterday it was not consistent with democracy to introduce a new electoral system and then conduct an election under it immediately afterwards.

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday told his predecessor, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to let him conduct the affairs of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), as its Chairman, without any interference.

Former State Minister Rajiva Wijesinha on Tuesday (17) defected and sat in the opposition side of the Parliament citing several issues including the 19th amendment and removal of the Chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The former Secretary of the Economic Development Ministry Dr Y.D. Nihal Jayathilaka and former Director of People’s Leasing & Finance Mr P. Kudabalage are being questioned by the Fraud Investigations Bureau (FIB).

The Gazette notification on the 19th Amendment to the Constitution has been published and public are allowed to submit their concern within two weeks, the Government Information Department said.

President Maithripala Sirisena has ordered the Excise Commissioner to cancel with immediate effect the liquor licenses issued to 349 liquor shops/bars for running them illegally, violating the rules and regulations of the Excise Act.

Construction work on the Defence Headquarters Complex in Battaramulla has come to a halt due to non-availability of funds, and Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake saying funds will not be released until the exact cost estimation of the project is clarified.

Gamini Senarath, the ex-Chief of Staff at the Presidential Office, is being interrogated by the Fraud Investigation Bureau (FIB), over an alleged financial fraud based on a complaint made by the People’s Leasing Company (PLC), the Police said.

Sri Lanka is united against an international investigation into alleged war crimes during its 26-year-long civil war, according to its former president, Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday warned that the national economy would suffer a staggering loss of approximately Rs. 9 billion unless the government cancelled the controversial Treasury bond issue involving Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran and his son-in-law Arjun Aloysius.

DMK leader M. Karunanidhi warned that attack on Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy would affect the bilateral relationship between India and Sri Lanka, especially at a time Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken efforts to secure the rights for the Tamils in the country.

The Cabinet approval has been granted for the draft bill on the 19th Amendment and it will be tabled in parliament within next few days, Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said.

President Maithripala Sirisena was appointed as the Chairman of United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) at the Central Committee meeting held yesterday.

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) decided last night that both constitutional and electoral reforms should be presented together in Parliament.