Category: Breaking News

The SLPP will expel its members who act against party decisions irrespective of their positions, said its general secretary Sagara Kariyawasam in a letter.

The party’s politburo has taken the decision unanimously, he said.

It comes in the wake of some party politicians having decided to support incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe at the presidential polls.

State minister Piyal Nishantha is one of the recipients of the said letter.

He said they would not fear any such letters, adding that their decision was based on the services rendered by the president to the county.

MP Dayasiri Jayasekara declared today that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party will throw its support behind Leader of the Samagi Jana alliance and the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming Presidential Election.

“As the SLFP, our central committee has been steadfastly opposed to the current government. Therefore, we cannot extend our support to them,” MP Jayasekara said, emphasizing the party’s decision to maintain its stance since November 11, 2023, when it resolved not to align with the government.

MP Jayasekara underscored the party’s commitment to uphold the decision made by its Central Committee, asserting that they have adhered to this directive without deviation.

He said that the focus now is on supporting Sajith Premadasa’s candidacy to secure victory in the upcoming election and usher in a new era of governance.

He reiterated the SLFP’s vision of establishing a government characterized by integrity, free from corruption, capable of driving the nation forward.

India’s INS Shalki, a diesel-electric submarine commissioned in 1992 arrived in Sri Lanka’s Colombo port on August 02 and will depart on August 04.

“The visit is an Operational Turn Around (OTR), wherein the submarine will replenish fuel and provisions,” India’s embassy in Colombo said.

“The crew will recuperate and have the opportunity of visiting places of interest in Sri Lanka.”

The Commanding officer was due to call on Sri Lanka’s Western Naval Area Rear Admiral WDCU Kumarasinghe and 50 Sri Lanka naval personnel was to visit the submarine.

INS Shalki was the first submarine to be build in India, the statement said.

Sumbarines INS Karaj had visited Colombo in February 2024 and INS Vagir had visited Colombo in June 2023.

Sri Lanka has shut a electronic visa application site run by consortium involving companies called VFS Global, IVS and GBS, after a court order suspended the the contract awarded without competitive tender.

“We have been notified of certain interim orders issued by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today pertaining to the agreement under which this platform is operated,” a statement on front page of the website said.

“In view of these orders, the website is suspended effective 2 August at 17:00 hours Sri Lanka Standard Time.”

The Department of Immigration continued to issue on arrival visas physically to tourists from eligible countries, airport officials said.

Court also ordered the status quo that prevailed before April 18, when the site was operated by Mobitel, a domestic company.

There was no immediate information on when the old site would be restored. Department sources said a decision is likely to be taken next week.

Mobitel was charging one dollar for the service while VFS Global was charging different prices ranging from 10 dollars to 18.5 dollars and more depending on the category of visa.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) says that steps will be taken to suspend the party membership of anyone who acts against the party’s decisions regardless of their positions.

The General Secretary of the SLPP Sagara Kariyawasam has informed in writing that this decision was unanimously arrived at by the Politburo of the SLPP.

Furthermore, the SLPP mentioned that against a backdrop where the party has adopted proposals to field a candidate of the party for the 2024 presidential election, if any member of the party presents himself as a presidential candidate without the knowledge of the party or acts directly or indirectly against the candidate presented by the party, disciplinary action will be taken against that member regardless of the position held by that member in the party, and the party membership of the person in question will be suspended.

Additionally, it has also been decided the same will apply for any party member who backs any candidate other than the SLPP’s presidential candidate directly or indirectly, or acts against the decisions taken by the party.

The People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) has reportedly receiving 45 complaints related to violations of election laws concerning the upcoming Presidential Election.

Executive Director of PAFFREL, Rohana Hettiarachchi stated that the majority of complaints involve the misuse of state power.