The Batticaloa High Court has granted permission for imprisoned Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias ‘Pillayan’ to attend the inaugural sitting of the ninth Parliament on Thursday.

13 officers attached to the Police Narcotics Bureau, who were arrested and remanded for re-selling seized narcotics to drug racketeers, have been further remanded until the 31st of August.

An individual, who had attempted to offer Rs.200,000 as bribe to the OIC of Dompe Police, has been taken into custody by the Bribery Commission.

With two days to go before the first meeting of the new Parliament, several parliamentary positions are being finalised by both the Government and the Opposition.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa reviews the 150,000 employment programme which will come to effect from 2nd September onwards.

The Ceylon Electricity Board says Minister of Power Dullas Alahapperuma will appoint a committee to probe the on-going power outage while stating that the CEB will also conduct an investigation.

Another employee of the Government Analyst’s Department has been arrested with narcotic drugs by the Athurugiriya Police.

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) says the water supply to several areas across the island has been disrupted owing to the power outage in the country.

Police have arrested an employee of the Government Analyst’s Department with over 18 grams of heroin.

While insisting all communities should be united through brotherhood instead of spreading extremism and racism, Minister of Justice, Ali Sabry PC, said a large number of people, including those living in the North and East have joined the Government’s progressive programme.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday raised concerns about the possibility of the Government trying rush through Parliament the proposed 20th Amendment when the House convenes on Thursday.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Deputy Leader and Batticaloa district MP H.M.M. Harees expressed displeasure over SJB leader Sajith Premadasa’s refusal to provide a National list seat for the Muslim community according to the MOU signed before the General Election.

Twenty-five trained dogs attached to the Police Kennels Division in Kandy have been auctioned yesterday.

Minister of Water Supply Vasudeva Nanayakkara says Former President Maithripala Sirisena will receive an adequate post in the present Government.

India is planning to build a new transshipment port in the Great Nicobar Island in the Bay of Bengal.

United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will quit his position only after the upcoming Provincial Council elections, party General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said yesterday.