China is full of confidence in the future development of Sri Lanka and dismisses allegations that the island country faces a “debt trap,” the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said here Thursday.

Additional Solicitor General Yasantha Kodagoda yesterday told the Fort Magistrate court that Perpetual Treasuries subsidiary, W. M. Mendis and Company had paid Rs. 5 million to a company owned by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake in 2017.

The Rajapaksa regime borrowed $1320 million from the Chinese government for the construction of the Hambantota Port, but the Port Authority or the government did not have the ability to bring in ships to this port, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said. The Prime Minister was making a Special Statement in Parliament yesterday on the New York Times investigative report.

The National Audit Bill which was postponed several times was passed in Parliament yesterday without a vote.

The prices of fuel would be increased with effect from midnight today, the Petroleum Ministry Sources said a short while ago.

Media Secretary to Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa Rohan Welivita has denied allegation of threatening two Sri Lankan journalists who had helped to produce the article of New York Times on 25th June.

Vijayakala Maheswaran says that she has decided to resign from her post as the State Minster of Child Affairs.

The Government had already decided on the action that was to be taken against State Minister Vijeyakala Maheswaran, who had called for the resurgence of LTTE, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday.

Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday agreed to complete the Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investment (APPI) as early as possible in order to expand investment and trade cooperation between the two countries.

The Sri Lankan rupee edged lower for a third straight session on Wednesday in dull trade, as importer dollar demand outpaced inflows from inward remittances, dealers said.

The Appeal Court today issued an interim order staying the proceeding of the Avant-Garde case at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, against former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and 8 other defendants until October 3, 2018.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) began investigations on the New York Times article which revealed that former President has traded the Hambantota port to obtain funds for Presidential election campaign in 2015 following a complaint lodged by Deputy Minister of Social Empowerment Ranjan Ramanayake.

A Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesperson Tuesday rejected some media reports that China harbours military intentions by constructing Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has summoned State Minister of Child Affairs Vijayakala Maheswaran to Colombo effective immediately, to inquire into her statements made in Jaffna in Monday (2).

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has met with key legislators last week to present the legislative brief on the National Audit Bill detailing key amendments to be made in committee stage, ahead of the debate on the Bill which will commence in Parliament on Thursday (5).