The Government will gradually ease restrictions on imports that were put in place to reduce the outflow of foreign exchange, but it will be done in a manner that the emerging local businesses are not negatively impacted, State Minister of Money, Capital Markets and State Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabraal told Parliament yesterday.

National People’s Power (NPP) Leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, yesterday (24), alleged in Parliament that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena was biased towards the Government.

Denying claims made by former Minister John Amaratunge that he will be UNP’s national list member, the UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam yesterday said no such decision has been made by the party as yet.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has emphasized the need to reform the country’s education system in order to create a citizen who can optimally contribute to the future world, the economy and development.

Another six petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court against the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution today.

The owners of MT New Diamond Crude Oil Tanker informed Attorney General Dappula De Livera on Thursday (24) on their agreement to settle in full the interim claim of Rs. 340 Million, said State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, the Coordinating Officer to the Attorney General.

The Secretary to the President P.B Jayasundara has informed the Ministry of Transport to immediately end the implementation of the Colombo Light Rail Transit System project.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena, between 2017 and 2018, had instructed the then Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara not to conduct open investigations into Islamist extremists, including National Thowheed Jama’ath Leader Zaharan Hashim.

TMVP leader and MP, S. Chandrakanthan, has been appointed the Co-Chairman of the Batticaloa District Coordinating Committee in keeping with an understanding between his party and the SLPP.

A leading underworld figure Dewamuni Harrell Rohana de Silva also known as ‘Ratmalane Roha’ has been killed in a shootout with the police in Kochchikade area, Negombo, in the early hours today, police said.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa made a sudden inspection visit to the Narahenpita Office of the National Housing Development Authority.

The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) filed a special petition in the Supreme Court today against the draft of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution brought in by the Government.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has informed the court that the investigations into the negligence of duties by the former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundera have been concluded.

The Combined Association of Unemployed Graduates will hold a protest opposite the Colombo Fort Railway Station today and will engage in a protest march demanding the government to fulfil promises to employee another 10,000 unemployed graduates.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has decided to go among the people to give swift solutions to their grievances at the village level.

A Special Determination petition challenging the constitutionality of the bill titled “Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution” was filed before the Supreme Court yesterday.