The new government, in its first Cabinet meeting, appointed a ministerial committee to work on drafting the new constitutional proposals to be enacted by repealing the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

The new government’s parliament decided today to nominate Matara district MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane as the Speaker of the new Parliament, Kegalle district MP Ranjith Siyambalapitiya as the Deputy Speaker and Jaffna district MP Angajan Ramanathan

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today made a stop to talk to the graduates who were protesting outside the Presidential Secretariat, Colombo and assured that they would be given jobs.

A stock of illegally imported foreign cigarettes worth Rs. 35 million found hidden in a 40-foot container was destroyed at the Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) destruction yard under the supervision of Customs officials today.

The Cabinet today granted the approval to abolish the 19th Amendment to the Constitution and to draft the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told Daily Mirror.

The only alternative left for the United National Party (UNP) is to ally with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by Sajith Premadasa, newly-elected SJB MPs Hesha Withanage and Chaminda Wijesiri told a news conference today.

Former State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene left the Police Unit attached to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing the Easter Sunday Attack a short while ago, after giving a statement.

Investigations are underway into the fire that broke out at late Minster Arumugam Thondaman’s Bungalow at Ramboda Vavanton Estate in Kotmale.

Former State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene arrived at the Police Unit attached to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing the 2019 Easter Sunday Attacks, a short while ago.

Only 20 per cent of local fuel consumption was refined in the country and therefore five oil refineries would be opened up apart from the plans to refurbishing the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery, New Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said assuming duties a

Heavy traffic was reported along several roads in Colombo due to defunct signal lights as a result of islandwide power failure. The CEB said it could take two more hours to restore the power supply.

The Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel would be deployed at the entrance of prisons in the Colombo city from next week, the Prisons Department said.

An island-wide power outage was experienced a short while ago due to a failure in the transmission system at the Kerawalapitiya Grid-Substation, The Ceylon Electricity Board said.

Five suspects, including the owner of a multi-day trawler, had been arrested in connection with the alleged assault and torture of a 16-year-old boy in the seas off Mirissa, Police Spokesman SSP Jaliya Senaratna said.

A suspect had been arrested in Ambalangoda with 12 kgs of synthetic drug known as ’Mandy’ yesterday, Police said.

The government has made its intentions clear through the synopsis of its cabinet, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) said yesterday.

The Education Ministry is hoping to discuss with private institutions to identify the skills and abilities needed for job opportunities available in both the government and private sectors, Education Minister Professor G.L. Pieris said.

One of the main priorities of the government would be to consolidate the confidence placed by the people in the media and hence the newly formed SLPP government under no circumstances would put restrictions on the media or suppress it, Mass Media Min

A couple had been arrested at Pelenwatta in Piliyandala by the Colombo Crimes Division Officers with about 8,000 packets of heroin, the Police said.

The Navy has taken four people into custody along with a stock of turmeric weighing 6,381kgs on board a trawler in the sea area about 10 nautical miles (18km) off Chilaw yesterday.

Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) which claimed to be the second-largest Party in the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today said it has decided not to request for a national list slot as they wanted, in view to prevent the breakup of the alliance.

Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen was questioned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today for six hours over the Easter Sunday attacks, Police Spokesman SSP Jaliya Senaratne said.

The Court of Appeal today ordered not to execute the arrest warrants issued against Kurunegala Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa and four others until it issues an order regarding the writ petition filed by the Mayor on August 24.

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) today requested the Government to appoint a commission to commence investigations over the illegal activities of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) Chairman Prof. Harendra De Silva.

The driver who was arrested over the accident in which a student was killed and eleven others were injured when a double cab ran over them at Aralaganwila had been charged with murder, Police said today.

Former Ministers Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Rajitha Senaratne, Ajith. P. Perera and Ranjan Ramanayake appeared in the PCoI probing incidents of Political Victimization today.

An owner of a hotel and 18 others including 5 females were arrested with drugs during a raid on a party organised through Facebook at a hotel in Bellantudawa in Millaniya yesterday.

A 16-year-old student was killed and eleven others were injured when a cab ran over them at Aralaganwila today.

The Our Power of People Party (OPPP) has nominated Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera as its National List member of Parliament.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman G.L.Peiris said yesterday when it came to either amending the Constitution in its entirety or changing the 19th Amendment to Constitution, it would only be carried out after much thought and consideration.