Former minister Arjuna Ranatunga has said he is willing to take over as United National Party (UNP) leader if the party wishes to offer him the post.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on Friday alleged that the government had arbitrarily ended the services of employees recruited by the previous government to the state sector and those recruited for full time training.

The US has imposed sanctions on 24 Chinese companies–including the builders of Colombo Port City–making it illegal for American companies to export products to these entities without a Government licence.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa inspected the renovation of the Neluwa-Lankagama road today (29) and spoke to the stakeholders about allegations that the work is harming the Sinharaja forest.

Minister of Justice Ali Sabry says the government is yet to hold talks pertaining to establishing a post of Deputy Prime Minister, through the 20th Amendment to the Constitution.

The businessman who was involved in clearing the Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary in Mundalama, Puttalam was taken into custody, police said.

A senior Government politician said, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna will table the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, aimed at repealing the 19th Amendment, on 3 September and also asserted that a group of MPs from the Opposition were also willing to support the ruling alliance’s decision.

Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) Gampaha District MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka reacting to a previous statement made in Parliament by TMTK MP C.V. Wigneswaran warned him that degrading the Sinhalese and making racist statements undermining the Sinhalese in Parliament will get him nowhere and will not be tolerated.

A gunman of the team orchestrated by the notorious underworld figure “Samayan” has been shot dead by the Police.

The Ministry of Finance has issued a circular enabling vehicle permit holders to purchase a vehicle of their choice for the relevant market price at the concession mentioned in the permit.

A 29-year-old mother from Pepiliyawala gave birth to quintuplets (5 girls) this morning at the De Soysa Hospital for Women (Teaching), Colombo 08.

The STF has arrested an accomplice of organized criminal Janith Madusanka de Silva alias ‘Podi Lassi’ with a stock firearms and ammunition at a house at Wathugedara in Ambalangoda.

The Colombo High Court today (28) served indictments on Parliamentarian Rajitha Senaratne and the former Chairman of State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) Mohamed Rumi over controversial press conference on “white van abductions”.

A Prison Guard (49) attached to Colombo Remand Prison arrested by Western Province – North Crime Division from Borella along with 94 grams of heroin.

Issues related to the costs and prices of heavily subsidised meals provided to the MPs in the Parliament canteen were raised afresh yesterday by SJB Colombo District MP SM Marikkar.

The Ministry of Labour is considering amending a handful of labour laws to expedite the hearing of grievance cases of the country’s workforce which seems to have created a backlog at magistrate courts.