Russia has sought an explanation from Sri Lanka as regards a recent claim by Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera that Russia funded a special propaganda unit backing UPFA/Joint Opposition MP Namal Rajapaksa.

The European Union, along with Canada and Norway, key markets for Sri Lankan exports, have said they oppose plans by the government to resume implementing the death penalty after a moratorium of more than 40 years.

The Colombo High Court has granted former minister Basil Rajapaksa permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.

The funding for a stretch of Sri Lanka’s Central Expressway project now looks to have been secured, according to foreign media reports.

A list of names comprising 18 prisoners convicted for drug trafficking and sentenced to death was handed over to the Justice Ministry yesterday, Commissioner of Prisons (Administration/Intelligence and Security) H.M.T.N. Upuldeniya told the Daily News yesterday. He said the majority of those inmates were being detained at the Welikada Prison while several have been detained in outstation prisons.

Sri Lanka will on Monday begin sittings of a special high court which has been set up to try high-profile bribery and corruption cases including those against members of the former government, local media reported Sunday.

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka Friday denounced President Maithripala Sirisena’s plan to deploy security forces to deal with drug-related crime and said it was a job for the police and not the military.

The Government is to invest more than US$300 million (Rs.47.8 billion) to reclaim land for a new beachfront from Kollupitiya to Dehiwela.

Carrying out the death sentence will not stop crimes, State Minister Ajith P. Perera told a media briefing yesterday and added that this is a reality he learned through his experience as a lawyer and a lecturer at the police training school.

Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samarawweera yesterday alleged the major heroin dealers were key members of the civil society.

The Sri Lankan rupee closed weaker on Friday as importer dollar demand surpassed mild selling of the U.S. currency by exporters, traders said.

India has sought Sri Lanka’s cooperation in swift completion of joint ventures, amidst anxiety in South Block over apparent delays in taking India-assisted projects in the island forward.