Govt. to introduce non-paying wards in private hospitals: President

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that the government is seeking the possibility of introducing non-paying wards in private hospitals where the government is taking the tab for the treatments made in those non-paying wards, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

’’Height of absurdity’’ to claim no election declared: Sumanthiran

It is the height of absurdity of the President to claim that the Local Government election has not been officially declared after all legal steps have been taken and nominations filed for the March 9 elections, TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran PC said today.

EC writes to Speaker over releasing funds for LG polls

The Elections Commission has requested Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene to mediate to release required funds for the Local Government elections.

Mayantha to resign from COPF Chair

SJB MP Mayantha Dissanayake has decided to resign from the chair of Committee on Public Finance.

President has no right to express opinion on legality of LG polls: AKD

Claiming that the President had no right to express his opinion on the legality of declaring the Local Government election JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday if there was any issue with regard to the declaration of the election, it should be resolved in the Courts.

UN Human Rights Committee to review Sri Lanka

As part of the regular reviews by the Committee of 18 independent international experts, the UN Human Rights Committee will hold its upcoming session from February 27 to March 24, to review Sri Lanka and five other countries.

Interim Order preventing collecting Personal Income Tax from judges further extended

The Court of Appeal today further extended its interim order preventing Justice Ministry officials from deducting the Advance Personal Income Tax (APIT) from the monthly salaries of the High Court Judges and judges of Judicial Service Association until March 1.

President talks as if he has gone insane: Sajith

Responding to the remark made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe that the local government election has not been legally declared, Leader Of Opposition Sajith Premadasa today questioned as to why the UNP had submitted nominations if there were no polls.

Chinese EXIM Bank offers short, mid, long term measures

EXIM Bank of China (Export-Import Bank) submitted a comprehensive programme in its financial support document on January 19 to ‘strongly support’ Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring process with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and it includes short, mid and long term measures for debt treatment, a diplomatic source from the Chinese embassy said.

Verbal battle continues in Parliament over COPF Chairmanship

The ruling party and the Opposition engaged in a verbal battle in Parliament once again with regard to the Chairmanship of the Public Finance Committee today.

Withholding funds for LG polls will have far-reaching consequences: Church of Ceylon

The decision by the government to withhold funding for the Local Government Election is an unreasonable and arbitrary course of action that will have far-reaching consequences, the Church of Ceylon said.

SL to receive its first group of post-pandemic Chinese tourists on March 3

Sri Lanka is set to receive its first group of post-pandemic Chinese tourists after becoming one of the first 20 countries to resume the organization of outbound group tourists from China since COVID-19.

Over 7,000 Govt. Servants who contest LG polls in quandary: Rajitha

More than 7,000 Government Sector and Semi-Government Sector Servants who had submitted nominations to contest at the Local Government Election are in a quandary due to the uncertainty over the LG polls, SJB MP Rajitha Senaratne said in Parliament today.

Fowzie granted bail by High Court

The Colombo High today ordered to release Samagi Jana Balawegaya parliamentarian A.H.M. Fowzie on bail in connection with a corruption case filed by the Bribery Commission.

Lasantha Alagiyawanna appointed COPA Chairman

Government MP Lasantha Alagiyawanna has been appointed as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) with a majority vote today.

Sri Lanka again abstains from UN vote on Russian invasion

Sri Lanka has once again on Thursday abstained from voting on a resolution against Russia at the UN General Assembly, where the General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to call for a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine and for Russia to withdraw its forces immediately.

Heated arguments in Parliament after Mayantha appointed COPF chairman

Heated arguments flared up in Parliament after the committee of selections appointed SJB MP Mayantha Dissanayake as Public Finance Committee Chairman today.

Ranjith Bandara new COPE Chairman

SLPP MP Ranjith Bandara has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE).

Mayantha Dissanayake replaces Harsha as COPF Chairman

SJB MP Mayantha Dissanayake has been appointed as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance by the Committee of Selections.

The body of LG polls now at Wickremesinghe funeral parlour: Dullas

Parliamentarian Dullas Alahapperuma today questioned as to why United National Party (UNP) handed over nominations to the Local Government elections if the election was not legally declared as claimed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Fly economy class for official travels: President directs

A new circular has been issued by the Secretary to the President making it compulsory for officials obtaining airline tickets for official overseas travel to purchase Economy Class tickets only from March 1, 2023, except for two categories of officials.

LG polls not legally declared: President

Local government election has not been declared legally and therefore, there is no question of a postponement, President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated today.

Ministers, MPs have made huge dedication by paying PAYE tax: Susil

Ministers and MPs have made a huge dedication by paying PAYE tax at this critical juncture where Rs. 241,000 has been deducted from the salary and fuel allowances of a Minister and Rs. 90,000 from an MP, Minister and leader of the House Susil Premajayantha said today.

Dinesh Schaffter’s mysterious death questioned in Parliament

Whilst questioning on the investigations carried out on the death of businessman Dinesh Schaffter, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Eran Wickramaratne today said no foreign investor would come to Sri Lanka if justice is not meted out to the late businessman’s family.

SL won’t get international support if LG polls put off: Vijitha

Sri Lanka would not get any international support such as IMF bailout and GSP+ facility if the government attempts to postpone the Local Government elections, National People’s Power (NPP) MP Vijitha Herath said today.

New COPE, COPA members appointed

New members of Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) were announced today in Parliament.

Postponement of LG polls a dangerous precedent: Cardinal

Postponement of local government elections could be a dangerous precedent as it would eventually push the nation into a dictatorial rule, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said today.

Parliament can be dissolved any time now

Sri Lanka can go for a general election anytime now as the present Parliament has completed two and a half years of its term as of midnight on Monday.

Local government polls should not be postponed: MR

Local government elections should not be postponed, Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

Plans to remove Kimbulawala street food stalls: Harsha alleges

SJB MP Harsha de Silva said plans are afoot to remove the street food stalls at Kimbulawala in Madiwela and urged the government not proceed with the proposal.