Secretary General of the UNWTO called on the global community to offer its unwavering support to Sri Lanka through Tourism at this critical moment noting that hotels, beaches and other sites of interests are open as usual.

HIKKADUWA, Sri Lanka – Sipping fresh coconut water while sunbathing on deserted Hikkaduwa beach, Alexi Konchayenko, a sports trainer from Ukraine, struck a stoical note.

The no-confidence motion signed by 66 opposition MPs against Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, was handed over to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya a short while ago, MP Udaya Gammanpila said.

The Prime Minister has ordered Police to take action in terms of the International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights Act (ICCPR) and the Emergency regulations against persons involved in acts of violence, the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement yesterday.

The UPFA lawmakers yesterday met at the Wijerama residence of Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss the current situation with the focus on ways and means to defuse the situation and also decide on a No Confidence Motion (NCM) against All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader Rishad Bathiudeen over his alleged links with the perpetrators of the Easter Sunday bombings.

International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) says it condemns the series of the acts of violence directed against the Muslim community in the aftermath of the Easter attacks on 21 April in Sri Lanka directed at churches and other places.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday met with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena in Beijing.

Police Media Spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara stated that police curfew will be imposed in the north-western province and Gampaha police division from 7 pm till 4 am tomorrow.

The Government has declared Monday the 20th of May as a special public holiday.

Mahasohon Balakaya leader Amith Weerasinghe was remanded till May 28 by Colombo Additional magistrate Shalani Perera today.

Three superintendents of police (SP), including Kuliyapitiya Division SP, Oshan Hewavitharana, have been transferred, the police said.

Referring to Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s statement that Sri Lanka was not a Sinhala Buddhist country, National Integration, Official Languages, Social Progress and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister Mano Ganesan said yesterday that Sri Lanka was a Sinhala Buddhist country.

Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday vowed to provide all possible assistance to Sri Lanka in its endeavour to strengthen national security by wiping out the scourge of terrorism.

The Government and relevant authorities should not rush the draft Bill to regulate Madrasa schools and should prepare it in a transparent manner, Ven. Mawarale Bhaddiya Thera said yesterday (14).

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera says that the biggest threat to the country is not from global terrorism, but from a certain political group.

The National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ) has received over Rs.1000 million as funds from three foreign countries over the last few months, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said yesterday.