Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday said he would strive to take his country’s bilateral relationship with India to a “very high level”.

The Supreme Court today issued an interim order directing the Controller of Immigration and Emigration to prevent Royal Park murder convict Shramantha Jude Jayamaha, who was released on a presidential pardon, from leaving the country until December 11.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will hold talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi today.

The President’s Media Division (PMD) yesterday warned the people to be aware of individuals who promise perks including job appointments and tenders by impersonating as close associates of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

International Relations State Minister Susil Premajayantha said all steps will be taken by his ministry to safeguard Sri Lanka’s independence and sovereignty in a manner that would prevent any international interference in its domestic affairs.

Indian Rajya Sabha MP and MDMK Chief Vaiko and his supporters were detained by the Delhi police on Thursday (28) near Jantar Mantar, during protests against the visit of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left for India, making his first overseas visit as the President.

A six-member committee has been appointed on a directive of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to submit recommendations on the appointment of qualified and suitable persons to Statutory Boards and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), Presidential Media Unit said.

The Police and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have launched probes into the alleged incident of a local staff member of the Embassy of Switzerland in Sri Lanka being threatened, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says.

A group of representatives of the National People’s Party convened a media briefing in Colombo yesterday (27). General Mahesh Senanayake expressed these views at the briefing.

Minister of Plantation Industries and Agricultural Exports Ramesh Pathirana says the present government has decided to limit the importation of several products that can be produced in the country.

The new caretaker government today announced a heap of tax concessions which included the annulment of Nation Building Tax (NBT), Capital Gain Tax, Withholding Tax and the reduction of VAT to 8 per cent from 15.

The Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya says that he has recognized UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Leader of the Opposition, upholding Parliamentary traditions.

The swearing-in ceremony of the State Ministers & Deputy Ministers of the new government commenced a short while ago.

The seventh edition of the India – Sri Lanka joint training exercise, Mitra Shakti 2019, will be conducted at the Foreign Training Node (FTN) in Pune, India, from December 1 to 14.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia at the US Department of State, Ambassador Alice Wells last week said that the US had ‘another MCC that we’re launching soon in Sri Lanka.’