The official launching of Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB), the new coalition formed under the leadership of United National Party (UNP) Deputy Leader and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa will be held today at the Nelum Pokuna assembly hall in Colombo.

The Department of Meteorology states that the Heat Index is likely to reach the cautionary level in the coming few days in some parts of the country.

The majority of the United National Party (UNP) Working Committee has agreed to contest the upcoming general election under the election symbol ‘Elephant’.

The public has been requested not to display photographs or portraits of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in public places, stated President’s Media Division (PMD).

22 university students including the convenor of the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) Ven. Rathkarawwe Jinarathana Thera, who were arrested for protesting outside the University Grants Commission (UGC), were remanded till tomorrow.

The government says it would sign the proposed US Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact after re-negotiating what was agreed upon during the previous Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration.

Speculation was rife that the eighth Parliament of Sri Lanka would be dissolved by midnight tomorrow for the country to go for fresh elections to elect a new Parliament.

A haul of drugs containing 68kg of heroin and 50kg of Crystal Methamphetamine (‘Ice’) have been seized from Galle sea, says the Navy Spokesperson.

Former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has said that the decision to co-sponsor Geneva Resolution 30/1 was taken by the yahapalana government under the leadership of then President Maithripala Sirisena.

Two Sri Lankans arriving from Italy were admitted to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (IDH Hospital) in Angoda with signs of fever and cough yesterday.

Two suspects have been arrested at Rajagiriya with more than 3 kg of heroin, says the Police Narcotics Bureau.

The Government proposal to appoint veteran singer Rohana Beddage as the new Sri Lankan ambassador to the Maldives was approved by the Committee on High Posts today.

The Cabinet of Ministers has decided not to sign the Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC) based on the recommendations of the expert committee, says Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardena.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa says those responsible for the controversial Treasury bond transactions should not be allowed to walk free.

The power blackout, on 03 February, could have been avoided, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the electricity sector regulator has said in a special investigation report titled, “Report on Rotational Load Shedding Carried Out on February 03”, released yesterday.

UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet today expressed regret over the new Sri Lankan Government’s decision to withdraw from the UN Resolution 30/1 and said she was not convinced of yet another Commission of Inquiry as domestic processes have consistently failed to deliver accountability in the past.