President Maithripala Sirisena said that the government would facilitate multi-national companies such as Maersk A/S to expand container transshipment through the Port of Colombo as that would be of immense help to Sri Lankan economy.

Ambassador Samantha Power, yesterday, said that last year’s political crisis in Sri Lanka had raised alarm bells all around the world.

Five Members of Parliament across party lines today published their declarations of assets and liabilities in public.

Police fired water cannons to disperse a protest staged by Lanka Teachers Union in front of the Education Ministry in Battaramulla this morning.

A 29-year-old Police Countable attached to the Maharagama Police Traffic Unit, has committed suicide by shooting himself this morning.

Southern Provincial Councillor Krishantha Pushpakumara was arrested this morning after he surrendered to the Police through a lawyer.

A special discussion has been scheduled to take place between President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa along with other political leaders this afternoon at the Presidential secretariat.

A 27-year-old person has been arrested in Kuliyapitiya area while transporting 10 kg of heroin valued at Rs.120 million.

Former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, yesterday, said that besides his successor Arjuna Mahendran several others had to be held responsible for the biggest ever financial crime – the bond scams.

SriLankan Airlines has cancelled flights to the Pakistani cities of Karachi and Lahore scheduled for Thursday (February 28) following the temporary closure of Pakistani airspace by the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan.

Reports have surfaced that underworld kingpin Makandure Madush and others who are in custody in Dubai will continue to remain in remand custody for another month.

Increasing exports can lead to better jobs and higher wages in Sri Lanka, including more formal jobs for women. Labor market policies can help different groups of workers to acquire the right skills and to ensure that the gains of more exports are shared more broadly across society.

Sri Lanka has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to extend a $1.5 billion loan by another year and relax its tight spending targets ahead of key elections, two government sources close to the negotiations told Reuters on Tuesday.