Category: News

Twelve district leaders of the SLPP have decided to act against it if the party decides to field a presidential candidate other than incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Their decision came during talks at a state minister’s residence at Malalasekara Mawatha in Colombo last night (22), lankadeepa.lk reports.

Quoting political sources, it said the participants claimed to have the backing of nearly 75 SLPP MPs.

They also decided to coordinate with them and local government chiefs to carry out a campaign in support of Wickremesinghe.

The Supreme Court issued an interim order restraining the exercising duties of Deshabandu Tennakoon as Inspector General of Police.

The petition was filed by eight individuals, including the Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith.

The case was taken up before a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Achala Wengappuli, and Mahinda Samayawardhena.

The petitioners argue that Tennakoon’s appointment, as recommended by the President, contravenes fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.

The Constitutional Council, including Speaker, Deshabandu Tennakoon, the Attorney General, and other relevant parties, have been named as respondents in the case.

Japan has decided to make immediate disbursements of suspended loans, making it the first country to do so after Sri Lanka reached an agreement to restructure official debt, Ambassador Mizukoshi Hideaki said.

Yuri ide, Senior Representative of the Japan International Corporation Agency Sri Lanka office said the decision was taken by Japan to make immediate disbursement instead of waiting for new agreement to be singed in line with the debt restructure.

The decision to make immediate disbursements was showed the confidence in Sri Lanka’s economy and it will also support cashflows and interest rates, Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana said.

Director General of External Resources Ajith Abeysekera said the move will result in the immediate disbursement of 75 million dollars of pending contractor bills in the next few week.

The were about 1.1 billion dollars of committed but undisbursed fund for 11 projects, in power, healthcare, rural infrastructure and an airport terminal.

The Labour Ministry has issued a new Gazette cancelling the previous notification that increased the daily wage of plantation workers to Rs. 1,700. Instead, the new directive mandates that payments be processed through the Wages Board.

Earlier, the Minister of Labor had set the minimum daily wage at Rs. 1,350, with additional allowances of Rs. 300 and Rs. 80. This move faced legal challenges from 21 plantation companies, including Agarapatana Plantations Ltd., which filed a petition to invalidate the wage increase.

General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said the SJB will face the upcoming Presidential Election as the strongest alliance in Sri Lanka’s political history.

The relevant agreement will be signed on August 8.

Speaking during a media briefing today MP Madduma Bandara said the SJB will face the upcoming election as an alliance comprising of MPs from the most powerful parties in Parliament.

He added that the alliance, comprising over 35 MPs, will be revealed to the public following the signing of the agreement.

USS Michael Murphy of the United States Navy arrived at the port of Colombo on a formal visit today (23).

The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in compliance with naval traditions.

The 155m – long Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyer is manned by a crew of 323 and she is commanded by Commander Jonathan B. Greenwald.

Meanwhile, Commander Jonathan B. Greenwald called on Rear Admiral Chinthaka Kumarasinghe, Commander Western Naval Area at the Western Naval Command Headquarters today. The cordial interaction came to an end with an exchange of mementoes.

During the stay of USS Michael Murphy in the island, her crew members are expected to visit some of the tourist attractions in the country. The ship is scheduled to depart the island on 26th July.