Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday morning that the letters of resignation of some of the Muslim Ministers, State and Deputy Ministers had already been submitted by then and all the others would follow during the course of the day.

Legal and administrative steps would be taken by the government shortly to prohibit the import of tree cutting machines, chainsaws, mechanical saws and the carpenter sheds popularly known as ‘wadu maduwa’, in a bid to protect the environment – in particular, the forest density of the country, President Maithripala Sirisena declared today.

British travellers are no longer being warned against travelling to Sri Lanka following a change in the UK Foreign Office’s advice.

The Education Ministry said there is no further need to summon parents to assure security of schools.

Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, yesterday, told the parliamentary select committee probing the Easter Sunday carnage that the President had specifically told him not to invite the Prime Minister, the State Minister of Defence and the IGP to National Security Council meetings from Nov 13, 2018.

One of the bombers at Cinnamon Grand Hotel Colombo on Easter Sunday, Mohammed Ibrahim Inshaf, has been identified as a main suspect in a case currently being heard before the Colombo Magistrates Court over the theft of a container with aluminum, brass and iron valued at 6.2 million rupees.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara testifying at the Special Parliamentary Select Committee stated that the President has asked him not to attend the National Security Council meetings.

Sri Lanka’s government will introduce five-year jail terms for those caught spreading fake news and hate speech on social media, the government said Wednesday, following a surge in online vitriol and disinformation after the Easter suicide attacks.

Former Minister Parliamentarian MHM Haleem says all Muslim Ministers representing the government signed one letter informing the President of their decision to resign of Ministerial portfolios.

Three persons have been electrocuted to death at around 7.30 a.m. this morning (06) due to an illicit electric cable near a field at Gonakamulla, Thalagahagama in Akuressa police division.

President’s Secretary Udaya R. Seneviratne, yesterday, said that none of the Muslim Ministers who, on Monday, announced that they would resign from the Cabinet had tendered their resignation letters.

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera today said the Constitution does not give power to any politicians, priests or social media platforms to decide who is guilty or innocent of any crime, including terrorism.

The Maha Sangha of all Buddhist Chapters has requested all Muslim political leaders to take up their official responsibilities once again.

Former Chief Minister of Southern Province, Shan Wijayalal De Silva was sworn in as the Governor of the Eastern Province before President Maithripala Sirisena a short while ago, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen says he did not step down from his post in fear of the No Confidence Motion presented against him.