Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed duties at the Opposition Leader’s office at No 30, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 07, after a religious ceremony, this morning.

The Central Bank is steaming ahead to raise funds for debt repayments, aiming to raise in excess of $5 billion over the next two months from a range of sources, including currency swaps from India, loans from Chinese banks, an international sovereign bond, lines of credit from State banks, as well as Panda and Samurai bonds, a top official said yesterday.

Minister of Justice and Prison reforms Thalatha Athukorala says the law will be enacted against all those involved in the assault incidents reported within the premises of the Angunakolapelessa Prison, regardless of rank and distinction.

Former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the matter of dual-citizenship was something personal to him and he did not think the US could block individual rights.

Four persons in possession of 100kg of explosives and 100 detonators have been arrested in Wanathawilluwa area in Puttalam.

President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed a Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate into allegations of corruption and malpractices that had taken place from 15th January 2015 to 31st December 2018, the Presidential Media Division said.

Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa arrived at the Special High Court this morning to appear over the alleged misappropriation of public funds for the construction of the D. A. Rajapaksa memorial museum at Weeraketiya.

A suspect was arrested with 5.024 kg of heroin valued at more than Rs.60 million in Kothalawala last night by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB).

The two heads of state have focused on establishing an economic council to revive economic and trade relations between Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

Leaked CCTV footage from the Angunukolapelessa Prison revealed that on 22 November 2018, Prison Police personnel led by the Prison Superintendent, chased unarmed and unresisting prisoners in remand custody, got them to crawl and walk on their knees, continuously attacked and assaulted them with batons and in one instance, even kicked a detainee.

The Philippines and Sri Lanka signed five agreements during President Maithripala Sirisena’s state visit to the country.

The International Monetary Fund will resume discussions with Sri Lanka in February for further disbursal of part of a $1.5 billion loan, the lender said, after a political crisis led to talks being delayed by three months.

Sri Lanka and the Philippines will sign six Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) enhancing bilateral ties in many fields including the economic, cultural and political during President Maithripala’s visit in Manila today.

The International Monetary Fund says it will continue to support the government’s economic reform agenda.

A total of 120 houses built in Sri Lanka with Emirati aid have been given to displaced families in the north.

Sri Lanka is considering an offer from Bank of China (601988.SS) for a loan of $300 million, which could be raised to $1 billion, to help it meet repayments in coming months, junior finance minister Eran Wickramaratne told Reuters on Tuesday.