Samples of the substandard coconut oil consignments imported to Sri Lanka have failed a second test and reconfirmed it contains cancerous substances.

JVP former Parliamentarian Nalinda Jayathissa says authorities are using myths to silence the public.

The 6.9 million people who voted the present administration into power is also responsible for the failure of systems in the country in addition to those in the government itself, Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa said yesterday.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP, Dr. Harsha de Silva, said that the Government’s claiming there could be an increase in gas prices due to the ship ‘Ever Given’ wedged in Suez Canal is false.

The Government does not wish to be associated with the power struggles in the Indian Ocean region by the global giants, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.

The Consumer Affairs Authority has instructed district officials to obtain five samples of coconut oil from each district to test for substandard products.

Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardana says if the opposition claims coconut oil containing cancerous substances have been released to the market, information of such must be provided.

Amidst allegations that consignments of contaminated coconut oil imported to the country have been cleared for release to the market by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), the head of the premier body dismissed the claims as “unfounded”, saying that samples of the 13 containers are still under testing for any harmful substances.

Both false and accurate information posted on social media on incidents of environment destruction will be kept under watch by a new unit to be set up by the Environment Ministry.

Parliamentarian Mujibur Rahman has urged the government not to punish and burden the majority of Muslims in the country owing to the actions of a very few individuals.

An initiative to plant 20 million trees will be conducted along with a cycle parade, under the patronage of MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera in collaboration with the Matha Organisation.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday told Parliament that he had received no prior information about the Easter Sunday attacks and that he would have done everything in his power to stop the attacks if he had received a warning.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa points out that the “Digital Platform” is a great opportunity for the public to come up with ideas and creative proposals in order to formulate a “Sustainable Education Policy Framework”.

Minister Johnston Fernando has been acquitted of two cases including the case being heard over the misuse of Sathosa employees during the period of the United People’s Freedom Alliance led government for political activities.

The Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) yesterday arrested two suspects who were involved in promoting various ideologies relating to extremism and terrorism using social media.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R. Sampanthan said India had influenced UNHRC delegates to pressure the Sri Lankan Government to hold Provincial Council elections at the earliest.