The SLFP yesterday threw its weight behind Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrema, now under heavy fire over Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA) finalized in January this year.

Sri Lanka’s National Coach Chandika Hathurusingha yesterday reiterated that there was still a place in the National Team for Lasith Malinga, if the fast bowler did his part and met selection criteria.

A heated exchange of words took place during a Joint Opposition (JO) media briefing held on Wednesday (Aug 15th). The situation occurred over the JO’s refusal to allow a particular media institution to cover the media briefing.

Racism and religious intolerance will not be accommodated again, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said.PM Wickremesinghe observed that some people are unfortunately spreading racism and religious animosity without nurturing empathy and kindness.

Fifty persons have been arrested in connection with recent gang fights in Jaffna, stated the Jaffna Police.

The All Ceylon Private Bus Workers Association were expected to launch a strike as of midnight yesterday to express their opposition against the new fines imposed for violating road rules.

The Sri Lankan Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) will ink an agreement with China’s e-commerce giant, Alibaba’s travel arm, Fliggy, to bring down 1,000 travelers weekly to Sri Lanka for expanding the island’s growing tourism sector, local media quoted Tourism Minister John Amaratunga as saying on Tuesday.

Former President Mahinda Rajapakse has been summoned by the CID to be present at their office on August 17th in order to record a statement relating to the abduction and assaults made on Keith Noyahr journalist of the Nation newspaper.

Cabinet yesterday granted approval to appoint a Special Commission to increase public sector salaries and remove salary anomalies on a recommendation made by Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

Most of the developed countries, as well as rapidly developing middle-income countries have stable national policies to guide development in various sectors. These national policies ensure continuity of the development process, despite the change of government due to electoral politics.

The mounting clinical waste in coastal areas off Puttalam has washed ashore from India, the Maritime Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) confirmed yesterday.

The Joint Opposition says that it deplores the monthly transport allowance of Rs 200,000 given to 55 selected MPs.

Justice and Prison Reforms Minister Thalatha Atukorale yesterday said she will arrest illegal activities in prisons.

Chinais printing currencies for the governments of several countries, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Brazil, the Chinese media reported, quoting a top official of the state-owned banknote printer.

In a move to counter China’s increasing influence on Sri Lanka, the United States has announced that it would grant the Indian ocean island a $39 million to boost its maritime security.