President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said that while the opening of the Lotus Tower was a positive development for Sri Lanka there were governance concerns attached to the project as an estimated Rs. 2 billion loss was incurred to the Government due to an advance payment for the venture in 2012.

Sri Lanka’s request for the extradition of former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, over the 2015 Central Bank Treasury Bonds scam, has been submitted to the Government of Singapore for necessary action, Coordinating Officer to the Attorney General (AG),   State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that sending the agreement, signed between the Agriculture Ministry and D.P. Jayasinghe Company to shift the Ministry to a building owned by the Company at a total cost of Rs. 1.3 billion to the Attorney General’s Department for approval, was the responsibility of former Minister of Agriculture Duminda Dissanayake and that responsibility for Dissanayake’s action lay with the President.

Lotus Tower, the tallest self-supported structure in South Asia was officially declared open by President Maithripala Sirisena, a short while ago.

The 06 suspects including Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma, who were in remand custody for disregarding a Court order have been granted bail.

Landslide warnings have been issued for several areas in the Nuwara Eliya, Kegalle, Ratnapura and Kalutara districts, due to heavy rains experienced in the country during the past few hours.

President Maithripala Sirisena says that he will not allow anyone to underestimate the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and he is prepared to show the Party’s strength.

The UNP presidential candidate cannot win the election with the support of the UNP vote base alone, but will definitely need the support of all other friendly forces in order to win, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has told a group of civil society representatives supportive of the main government party.

Even if the TNA asked the Tamils to vote for Gotabaya, they will not accept it, Batticaloa District TNA Parliamentarian G.Srinesan said.

The selection of the UNP’s presidential candidate would take some more time as the TNA, yesterday, has said it is not ready to accept Sajith Premadasa as the candidate of the coalition to be formed.

The Director of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) SP A.K.D.U. Hemantha, two DIGs and 62 Officers had been transferred on service requirement, the Police said.

The Speaker of Parliament and the United National Party’s one-time chairman, Karu Jayasuriya is expected to be proposed as a possible “National candidate” by an influential section of the party following party leader Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Deputy Leader and Housing Minister Sajith Premadasa digging in to their position on the presidential ticket.

An explosion has been reported from a house in the Dematagoda area this morning (15), stated the Police Media Spokesperson.

President Maithripala Sirisena will ceremonially open the iconic Lotus Tower (Nelum Kuluna) in Colombo tomorrow (16) at 5.00 pm.

The membership of five National List Members of Parliament, appointed from Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), will be suspended within the next few days, SLFP General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara says.

The United National Party (UNP) has appointed a four-member committee to analyse social surveys and opinion polls on who is most suited to be the Party’s Presidential Candidate and who can ensure victory for the Party.