Middle-East tension: Sri Lankans in Lebanon, Israel alerted

With air connectivity disturbed in the West Asian region, Sri Lankans bound for Israel work have been requested to be alert on fight details before departure, an official said.

LG and PC elections could have been held in stages: Mahinda Deshapriya

Against the backdrop of the Supreme Court verdict that the fundamental rights of the people have been violated by not holding Local Government elections last year, former Chairman of the Election Commission, Mahinda Deshapriya said the Local Government and the Provincial Council elections could have been held in stages without any obstacle.

SJB has informed IMF that they will increase public servants’ salaries - Madduma Bandara

A future administration under Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa will grant a 24 percent salary hike for public servants and it has already been informed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said yesterday.

EC’s warning on Opinion poll surveys must be taken seriously - Zuhair

Former MP M. M. Zuhair said the Election Commission’s warning not to be misled by polls surveys must be taken seriously to protect national interests.

Will begin from where Mahinda Rajapaksa ended: Namal

In the face of some leading world economies collapsing, the Mahinda Rajapaksa government managed to ensure a robust growth rate by implementing Mahinda Chintana policies, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa said. Addressing an electoral meeting in Divulapitiya on August 24, he said the political stream that made Sri Lanka self-sufficient was defeated by a force that portrayed the lofty ideal of good governanc

Election authorities bust presidential candidate’s dinner party in Anuradhapura

The election authorities blocked a dinner party arranged by a presidential candidate at a leading hotel in Anuradhapura yesterday for professionals in the area, a source said.

Harin, Manusha in hot water if entitled vehicles used for election campaign

In the wake of controversies surrounding the recent appointment of Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara as Presidential Advisors by President Wickremesinghe, the Election Commission stated it is carefully monitoring whether the duo is abusing their privileges for election purposes.

NPP govt. to bring in foreign investors to manage Sri Lanka Telecom: Anura Kumara

A National People’s Power (NPP) government is ready to bring in a foreign investor to manage Sri Lanka Telecom, NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday.

Asset declarations Dilith, Wijeyadasa the richest main presidential candidates

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has published the asset declarations of all 39 Presidential candidates on its official website.

15 MOH areas flagged as high-risk zones due to rise in dengue cases: NDCU

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a rise in dengue cases, with the latest data from the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) indicating 35,118 cases reported up to the 33rd week of 2024, an increase from 30,575 cases recorded during the corresponding period of 2023 .

Customs seize Rs.212Mn worth Hashish sent from Italy

A large quantity of the cannabis variety Hashish worth over Rs.212 million, which had been sent from Italy through a courier service, was seized by Sri Lanka Customs yesterday.

Cardboard ballot boxes, instead of wooden boxes, this time at presidential poll

Only ballot boxes made of cardboard will be used at the presidential poll on September 21, instead of traditional wooden boxes, and the election authorities are currently in the process of making them, an official said. Ballot boxes will be made in small, medium and large sizes to be dispatched to polling stations depending on the number of registered voters with each.

Nominations to be called for Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha elections in October

The Election Commission will call for elections to Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha during the first week of October, this year.

Two men missing after two boats collided in Bentota river

A boatman and a security guard of a tourist hotel in Bentota had disappeared in a collision of two boats in Bentota river on Thursday night (22).

Campaign financing report must be submitted 21 days post-election: EC

All the presidential candidates are required to submit the campaign financing report outlining the income and expenditure within 21 days after the Presidential Election and in the event of a failure to do so, they will have to face legal action, Chairman of the Elections Commission Saman Sri Rathnayake said yesterday.

Controversial visa scheme Rauff, Patali, Sumanthiran warn defiance of court order impacts tourism

Three opposition MPs, Rauff Hakeem, Patali Champika Ranawaka and M.A. Sumanthiran said the persistent non-compliance of the Supreme Court Order by the controversial and allegedly corrupt visa scheme related functions by the Department of Immigration and Emigration and the Ministry of Law and Order continue to hamper tourist arrivals.

Digambaram unmoved over brawl with MP Velu Kumar

Referring to his recent episode with MP Velu Kumar at a political talk show telecast over a private TV channel, MP P. Digambaram said he got annoyed with the former as he was making false allegations.

LG poll possible only after presidential poll: Election Commission

Says will take a decision at the meeting next Wednesday

Govt’s pre-poll salary hike announcement sparks Election Commission’s scrutiny

The government’s proposed salary hike for public servants along with the increased cost of living allowance is to come under scrutiny by the Election Commission to determine whether it will influence voting, particularly postal voting at the presidential election, an official said yesterday.

Medical wastes from neighbouring countries, plastic pollution: Ruwan briefs visiting U.S. official

Senior advisor to President Ranil Wickremesinghe on climate change Ruwan Wijewardene, in his meeting with Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer R. Littlejohn and U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung, briefed that Sri Lanka is grappling with issues such as medical wastes from neighbouring countries.

Presidential candidate Ilyas passes away

Dr. Mohammad Ilyas, (78) who is a candidate of this year’s presidential election, passed away last night (22) at the Puttalam Hospital due to a sudden heart attack.

President says he doesn’t regret decision

While acknowledging that postponing the Local Government elections last year is a violation of the citizens’ basic rights, as the Supreme Court has ruled, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said he does not regret this decision.

Failure to hold LG Polls: SC determines President and Election Commission violated fundamental rights

In another landmark judgement, the Supreme Court held that the actions and omissions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of Finance, along with the Election Commission and the Attorney General, violated the fundamental rights guaranteed under the constitution due to their arbitrary and unlawful conduct, which led to the non-holding of the 2023 Local Government Elections.

City decorations for Presidential Polls 2024: Do not touch Colombo without our permission – CMC warns candidates, parties

Colombo Municipal Council yesterday warned legal action against any candidate or political party that would decorate city roads, streets or public places for any election related propaganda without their permission or paying due charges.

Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe accepts Daily Mirror invitation for a live debate

National Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe became the second to accept the Daily Mirror invitation for a debate among the presidential candidates.

RW’s rallies to showcase multicoloured backdrop, highlighting political parties backing him

UNP Leader and Independent candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe’s rallies will include a multi coloured backdrop on stage during the campaign season as these colours represent all the parties that are supporting him in the upcoming Presidential Election, the Daily Mirror learns.

Namal pledges fresh probe on Easter Sunday attacks

SLPP Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa pledged to conduct a fresh probe on Easter Sunday attacks if elected to power next month.

Anura promises to reduce electricity tariff , fuel prices

National People’s Power (NPP) government will take over the country with a plan to eliminate poverty while stopping waste, looting and corruption, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday.

Sajith promises a government system with effective separation of power

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday pledged to introduce a new governing system with effective separation of power among the three pillars of governance.

Driving licenses with no expiration date will be cancelled by end of this year

The driving licenses including heavy vehicle that do not have an expiry date will be cancelled by the end of this year and those license holders will be provided with a reasonable time to obtain their new licenses, Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) Commissioner General Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe said.