Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said Thursday the alleged kidnapping of a Swiss embassy staffer which triggered a diplomatic spat between Colombo and Bern had been concocted to discredit his election victory.

Former Minister Rajitha Senarathne today filed an anticipatory bail application at the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, seeking an order to prevent his arrest in relation to the ‘white van press conference’.

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to appoint a four-member committee study the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena’s chief of staff I.H.K. Mahanama and State Timber Corporation (STC) former chairman P. Dissanayaka, were sentenced to 20 and 12 rigorous imprisonment respectively after they were found guilty of accepting a bribe of Rs.20 million by the Special High Court today.

Swiss Embassy local staffer, Garnier Banister Francis, who is in the remand custody, was taken to the National Institute of Mental Health, Angoda this morning.

The government has decided to implement a programme to provide 100,000 jobs to eligible persons from low income groups from January 15.

Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka has been arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) in connection with the road accident at Rajagiriya in 2016.

The World Bank has approved a $25 million loan to Sri Lanka to improve the transparency and efficiency of core government and public financial management functions.

Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris yesterday (17), informed Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage that Attorney General Dappula de Livera has already ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to record statements from former President Maithripala Sirisena, Parliamentarian and former Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe

A prison vehicle has met with an accident at Digampathana area in Sigiriya early this morning (18) killing one prison guard and injuring three others.

The prices of vehicles such as cars, sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and jeeps will increase between Rs.75,000 and Rs.1 million because of the imposition of the new luxury tax, Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) President Ranjan Pieris said.

United National Party Parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa says a broad alliance will be formed for the upcoming General Election.

Former Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Hemasiri Fernando and Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara, who was sent on mandatory leave, have been further remanded until the 23rd of December.

Prison officers have opened fire at a prisoner who has made an attempt to escape at the Homagama court premises this morning (17).

A special discussion will be held in Colombo between the backbenchers of the United National Party and Parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa.