The UPFA Parliamentary Group yesterday decided to appoint MP Dinesh Gunawardena as the Leader of House at the next Parliamentary session.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says it will vote in favour of the No Confidence Motion to be brought against the Government headed by Mahinda Rajapaksa who has been “unconstitutionally and illegally” appointed as Prime Minister.

UPFA MP A.H.M. Fowzie was sworn in as the State Minister of National Unity, Co-existence and Muslim Religious Affairs a short while ago.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged Sri Lanka’s President to allow parliament to vote on the appointment of a prime minister to end a political crisis in the island nation.

The European Union will consider stripping Sri Lanka of its duty-free access if it backs off commitments on rights, the EU ambassador said, amid worries stoked by the president’s replacing of the elected premier by a wartime nationalist.

The meeting with the former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe was held to discuss as to how the prevailing volatile situation could be resolved while preventing chaos from taking place, says the former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Media Secretary to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has issued a press release by rejecting the statement released by parliamentarian Sagala Ratnayake on a letterhead of the Prime Minister’s Office.

MP SB Nawinna was appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena as the Minister Cultural Affairs, Internal Affairs and Regional Development.

TNA MP S. Viyalendiran was appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena as the Deputy Minister of Regional Development (Eastern Development)

A resolution signed by 118 MP’s against the appointment of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister and the appointments and decisions that followed, was handed over to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today.

Sri Lankan rupee has appreciated to Rs.175.82 against the US Dollar when compared with yesterday’s selling rate of Rs. 177.32, the Central Bank said.

The new government has introduced several concessions on essential items with effect from midnight.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today said President Maithripala Sirisena has agreed to reconvene parliament on November 7 instead of 16.

Sri Lanka advanced 11 positions to reach the 100th position in Doing Business 2019 index with an Ease of Doing Business score of 61.22. Sri Lanka’s score improved 1.80 on the 0-100 scale, 100 representing the best.

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has met with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said yesterday people should not accept the person who secures a majority in Parliament because it means that peoples’ representatives were bought over for money to secure the majority.