Prime Minister to resign today

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will step down today making the way for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to appoint a new Cabinet, Daily Mirror learns.

I opted to remain neutral paving way for free and fair poll: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said today a free and fair election was being held in the country for the first time in its history because he had decided to remain neutral.

Last Cabinet meeting as president

President Maithripala Sirisena will chair his last Cabinet meeting as president today before retirement.

Sajith challenges MR

New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa in a letter to Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said today he condemned in the strongest possible terms Mr. Rajapaksa’s desperate attempt to drag the Venerable Mahanayake Theras of the Three Nikayas into his fear-mongering election campaign.

Five candidates spent Rs.1,257mn: CMEV

A total of Rs.1, 257 million has been spent from October 14 till November 4 by five candidates contesting for the presidential election on their election campaign, the Centre For Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) said.

Corroborate testimony before 16th: Mangala challenges Gota

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera openly challenged SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa to produce the certificate of loss of nationality or renunciation of his US citizenship prior to the presidential poll.

ITAK’s support implies Sajith’s decision to accept pre-conditions: SLPP

The SLPP today said the ITAK’s decision to support New Democratic Front presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, indicated that the latter has accepted the conditions put forward by the TNA.

Sajith writes to Gota on debate

New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa said he had written to Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa challenging to a presidential debate.

Police deny media report

Police Headquarters denied media reports that the election commission had asked the police to consider summoning the wife and son of former Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) Director Ravi Vidyalankara after the presidential election.

IMF approves disbursement of US$164M for SL

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Sixth Review of Sri Lanka’s economic performance under the programme supported by an extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and approved a disbursement of SDR 118.5 million (about US$164 million).

I will decide who becomes PM: Sajith

New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa said yesterday that it was he who would decide who the prime minister would be after he assumes office as the president next month.

Parliament have time to review MCC pact once it’s signed: US

The parliament will have ample opportunity to review the MCC grant assistance agreement once it is signed, the US Embassy today said.

EC says final results could be announced by Nov. 17 morning

The Elections Commission (EC) would be able to announce the winner of the presidential poll 2019 in the morning of November 17 and if the top two candidates fail to obtain 50%+ votes for an absolute majority, the releasing of the final results would be delayed till the dinner time of the same day, Chairman of the EC, Mahinda Deshapriya said today.

Senanayake challenges UNP to remove him from portfolio

While saying he would not quit from politics despite his previous statement, Foreign Affairs State Minister Wasantha Senanayake categorically said he would continue to function as the State Minister despite reports about moves to suspend him from the ministerial portfolio. He also challenged those concerned to remove him if possible.

I will continue to be the Prime Minister: Ranil

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today that he would continue to function as the Prime Minister under the presidency of Sajith Premadasa.

Wasantha Senanayake expelled from UNP

UNP has decided to expel State Minister Wasantha Senanayake from the party, Party General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today. Mr. Kariyawasam told Daily Mirror that action will be taken to remove his state ministerial portfolio as well.

Sajith renews debate challenge to Gota

New Democratic Front presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, who previously challenged his opponent Gotabaya Rajapaksa to a one-to-one debate, renewed his call yesterday by challenging the entire Rajapaksa family to debate alone.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed in US raid, Trump confirms

The Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed in a raid by US special forces on his Syrian safehouse, Donald Trump announced on Sunday, ending a years-long manhunt for one of the world’s most wanted terrorists.

ISIS leader Abu Bakr reportedly killed by US-led forces in Syria

ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is believed to have been killed by the US-led forces in Syria.

Rumours about Sagala deciding to support Gota false

Sources close to Minister Sagala Ratnayaka vehemently denied rumours that the Minister has decided to extend his support to SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

CB issues notice to cancel 'The finance' license

The Central Bank yesterday said it has given notice of cancellation of the license issued to the liquidity-hit The Finance Company PLC (TFC) with effect from October 23, 2019, to safeguard the interests of depositors and other creditors.

CEB has purchased power on arbitrary rates during last five years: COPE Chairman

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has purchased power at their own discretion without any transparency for the last five years, the Committee on Public Enterprise (COPE) said yesterday. The COPE report which was submitted to Parliament by its Chairman JVP MP Sunil Handunetti said.

TISL urges Cabinet to revoke perks granted to President

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) today expressed its concerns with regard to the perks approved by the Cabinet last week to be granted to President Maithripala Sirisena and urged the Cabinet to revoke its decision while citing it as a clear case of a conflict of interest.

Utilise resources in an impartial & transparent manner-SL to UN

Asserting that despite many domestic priorities Sri Lanka has discharged its obligations in paying its assessments to date, the Sri Lanka delegation to the UNGA this week called on the United Nations Secretariat to utilise the available resources received from the member states in a more effective, impartial and transparent manner, at a time when the organisation is battling its worst financial crisis.

Airport officials gave green light to store paddy at Mattala Airport - Daya Gamage

Primary Industries and Social Empowerment Minister Daya Gamage informed the Presidential Commission that the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) had decided to store paddy at Mattala Airport after the airport officials had given them permission to execute this decision in 2015.

Fin. Ministry stops buying vehicles for state institutions

The Ministry of Finance has decided to suspend the purchase of vehicles for state institutions until further notice. The Ministry has also decided to stop the commencement of new projects during the remaining two months of this year and also to postpone the purchase of non essential office equipment until next year.

Senadhipathi arrested by the CID at BIA

Avant-Garde Maritime Services (Pvt) Ltd Chairman Nissanka Senadhipthi has been arrested by the CID on his arrival from Singapore at the Bandaranaike International Airport earlier today, sources said.

Stop using war, war-victory slogans for election campaign: EC

National Election Commission (NEC) today said it was prohibited to use war and war-victory for the presidential election campaigns.

95% SLFP organizers against joining SLPP: CBK

While saying that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) had been handed over to conspirators just for his personal benefit by a leader who came to power with 6.2 million votes, former president Chandrika Kumaratunga said 95% SLFP organisers were against the SLFPs decision to join the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

No outsider will interfere in Sri Lanka polls this time: Basil

No international actor will try to interfere in Sri Lanka’s approaching presidential election said Basil Rajapaksa, chief strategist of his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidential bid.