A 39-year-old father and his three-year-old daughter have died in a motor accident reported in Millaniya adjacent to the Galanigama Exit along the Southern Expressway at around 1:30 am this morning.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena had instructed officials, including Intelligence Chiefs, not to attend any security meetings chaired by then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe following the Easter Sunday attacks, former Defence State Minister Ruwan Wijewardene said.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa pledged yesterday (14) that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will provide free legal assistance to those affected by the recent gas related explosions.

The JVP says although Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa had claimed to the Cabinet of Ministers that an agreement to transfer 40% ownership of the LNG power plant in Kerawalapitiya, was approved by the Attorney General

The latest ship that arrived in Colombo with liquefied petroleum (LP) gas for Litro does not comply with the required level of Ethyl mercaptan and may be rejected, sources said.

Senior Adviser to the Ministry of Justice, U.R. de Silva (PC) said if certain gas companies had behaved in a manner jeorpadising the lives of consumers, then the public could institute legal action against such companies and seek compensation for losses suffered as per provisions in the Public Utilities Commission Act.

The Sri Lankan government today said it has decided to pay USD 6.7 million to the Chinese fertilizer company that had shipped the disputed fertilizer consignment, on the advice of the Attorney General’s Department.

Sri Lanka’s Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said that a Gazette notification has been issued declaring that all government and private ambulances can use the country’s expressways toll free with immediate effect.

India is working out a package on an urgent basis to assist Sri Lanka, following Sri Lanka Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s New Delhi visit that focussed on measures to tide over an economic crisis that the island nation is facing, The Economic Times reported.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has issued a notice to the public on conversion of foreign currency and regulations to be adhered with regard to the deposit of foreign currency at any bank.

The General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara says he personally believes the government should seek the assistance of the International Monetary Fund to resolve the present economic crisis.

The Opposition suggested that the Government should obtain assistance from India to import essential commodities, medicine and fuel to overcome the current economic crisis.

The World’s largest single natural specimen of corundum as a single crystal (Blue sapphire) has been found in Sri Lanka, officials said.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP Chandima Weerakkody stresses that the agreement to transfer 40% shares of the Yugadanavi LNG power plant in Kerewalapitiya, to an American company is one that betrays the nation.

Imported essential food prices have soared due to delays in supplies reaching the markets, with more than 1000 containers held up at the Colombo Port for lack of dollars for clearance.