Former Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) SSP Shani Abeysekara has been interdicted, the Police Media Division said.

A 24-hour special operations centre has been established at the Police Special Task Force headquarters in Bauddhaloka Mawatha to ensure national security and public order.

Former MP Sarana Gunawardena has been sentenced to three years of imprisonment in connection with charges related to misuse of state property.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa directed officials to grant approval for properly prepared housing and small-scale business construction plans within a day.

Recordings found in the possession of MP Ranjan Ramanayake, had contained telephone conversations between him and Judges, CID heads and senior officers, regarding Court proceedings and promotions for Judges. This was revealed at several Media briefings held yesterday (6).

State Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena yesterday said that attempts by UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake, former CID Director Shani Abeysekara and several senior state officials to harass and arrest members of the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration had now been revealed.

Six persons have died and many others injured when an SLTB bus fell down a precipice at the 6th Mile Post on the Passara-Madolsima Road this evening, the Police said.

Former SPC Chairman Rumy Mohamed and the other two individuals arrested and remanded over the ‘White Van’ media briefing have been released on bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

The government has decided to suspend the import of maize and peanuts, stated the Ministry of Agriculture.

Former IGP Pujith Jayasundera and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando were further remanded until January 20 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today.

United National Party Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake claims that he has information that the government is planning on arresting a number of opposition politicians in the near future.

United National Party (UNP) Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka says that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is responsible for 99 percent of the wrongdoing by the past government to the people.

A final decision on Constitutional reforms will be taken after the upcoming Parliamentary election, Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando, said. He was answering a query, raised by media, on 3 January at the Parliament complex.

The politicians and officials from top to bottom who were responsible for the Bond Scam should be brought to book and penalized, former Governor Central Bank (CBSL) and Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister, Ajith Nivard Cabraal said.

State Minister for Tea Industry Development Kanchana Wijesekera said that although the President and the government were on the right track, the Police and their investigations are on the wrong track.