Sri Lanka’s president has pardoned a death-row prisoner who murdered a Swedish teenager just a week before he leaves office, officials said Sunday, in a move that sparked national outrage.

National Democratic Alliance Candidate Sajith Premadasa in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times has assured he would bring about social justice, including poverty alleviation to restore the dignity of millions of poverty-stricken people.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa says he has a proven track record, as Secretary of Defence and the Urban Development Ministry, in ensuring both national security and rebuilding the nation.

Ahimsa Wickramatunga, daughter of slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge says she would feel safer under the presidency of Sajith Premadasa, “a man who suffered horrifically at the hands of terrorists.”

MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe yesterday claimed that Sri Lanka would not benefit from the Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC) pact and that not even a cent would be received by the Treasury.

New Democratic Front Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, in a strongly worded letter to Opposition Leader and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has condemned the Opposition Leader’s call for the Mahanayaka Theras to intervene on his side in an attempt to discredit the Premadasa presidential manifesto.

SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa says that a “relief package” will be provided to the poor and needy in the country, as an ‘instant’ relief measure before the economy if uplifted.

CANBERRA, Australia – A Sri Lankan man who threatened to blow up a Malaysia Airlines plane with 222 people on board had his prison sentence slashed on Friday by an Australian appeals court because he had been in a psychotic state and the fake bomb he had brandished posed no danger.

State Minister Wasanatha Senanayake extended his support to Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa today.

Court of Appeal today fixed for support on February 17 to issue summons for formal charge in respect of the alleged contempt of court case against Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera as well as SSP Anuruddha Bandara Hakmana and HQI Senadhipathi K. D. De Silva of Mullaitivu.

The new Sri Lanka Army Headquarters complex, equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology and high-tech security systems, was declared open a short while ago under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena.

The Tamil National Alliance yesterday urged “all people, particularly the Tamils, whom it represents to vote for Sajith Premadasa, the New Democratic Alliance candidate contesting under the Swan symbol.”

Presidential hopeful of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa says the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has chosen the party that can fulfil their separatist demands.

The Sri Lanka Army will move into a new Headquarters complex built (within the Defence Complex) in Sri Jayawardenapura, on Friday (08 November).

National People’s Power (NPP) Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a campaign rally in Anuradhapura on Wednesday that a massive land area extending over 8,000 acres was leased out to American companies during the Rajapaksa regime.

New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa said once voted into office he would appoint a new prime minister who he felt could command a majority in parliament.