Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna today remanded till January 2 the OIC of the Police Field Force Headquarters for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs.50,000 from an Inspector of Police who had been interdicted, to provide a recommendation letter to reinstate the inspector.

The hydrographic survey ship “Jamuna’ of the Indian Navy arrived at the Colombo harbour today to undertake hydrographic surveys in Sri Lankan waters, the Navy said.

A 32-year-old man was arrested by the STF while transporting 153 kilogrammes of Kerala Ganja worth Rs.23 million on a motorcycle in Kilinochchi this evening, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Kabir  Hashim was sworn in as Minister of Highways, Road Development and Petroleum Resources Development while Ranjith Maddumabandara as Public Administration & Disaster Management.

Daya Gamage was sworn in as Minister of Labour, Trade Union Relations, and Social Empowerment while Mano Ganesan was sworn in as Minister of National Integration, Official Languages, Social Progress and Hindu Religious Affairs.

Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was sworn in as Minister of Education while P. Harrison as Minister of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development.

The Vote on Account to cover the expenditures of the first four months of 2019 will be presented in Parliament tomorrow, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said today.

President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have decided to retain the Law and Order ministry under the defense ministry, Government sources said.

Rajitha Senaratne was sworn in as the Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine while Ravi Karunanayake was sworn in as the Minister of Power, Energy and Enterprise Development before President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat a short while ago

Rishad Bathiudeen was sworn in as Minister of Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons and Co-operative Development while John Amaratunga was sworn in as the Minister of Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs.

Mangala Samaraweera was sworn in as Minister of Finance and Mass Media and Thalatha Athukorala was sworn in as Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms.

Daya Gamage was sworn in as Minister of Labour, Trade Union Relations, and Social Empowerment while Mano Ganesan was sworn in as Minister of National Integration, Official Languages, Social Progress and Hindu Religious Affairs.

Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was sworn in as Minister of Education while P. Harrison as Minister of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development.

The United States has praised the restoration of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and voiced eagerness to work with him, NDTV reported on Tuesday.

A driver of a private passenger bus had been killed following an assault by a driver of an SLTB bus crew in Welimada this afternoon, the Police said. 

President Maithripala Sirisena had informed UPFA MPs that the new Cabinet would be sworn in tomorrow morning, UPFA MP Gamini Lokuge said today.  

President Maithripala Sirisena should exercise Executive Powers, not for his own benefit, but for the benefit of the country, JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake said today.

Several UNP and TNA MPs had submitted a letter to the Speaker requesting to put on hold the appointment of a new Opposition leader, MP Ranjan Ramanayake said.

Sri Lanka battled to a rain-affected draw in the first Test against New Zealand on Wednesday after the Black Caps were unable to break an epic stand by Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews.

The country's Constitution is not a document to be used or abused according to the whims and fancies of three people - President Maithirpala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem said yesterday.

The United National Party (UNP) Working Committee is likely to approve the resolution to form the Democratic National Front (NDF) in alliance with like-minded parties, UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said yesterday.

The United National Party (UNP) is said to be facing a dilemma when it comes to preparing the list of Cabinet ministers because there are more aspirants than the number of slots available.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today moved an adjournment motion to abolish the executive presidency claiming that a majority of the people of the country were in favour of doing so.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is expected to give a ruling on Friday on the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire whether the MPs including Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, who obtained Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP) membership can remain in Parliament.

The United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) today countered the argument raised by the government and TNA that newly-appointed Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajappaksa and the others who had obtained SLPP membership, said Mr. Rajapaksa could hold the post because the group he belongs to is the second largest in the House.

Sri Lankan star cricketer Lasith Malinga was sold to Mumbai Indians for 20 million Indian Rupees (INR) during the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction a short while ago.

Former minister and SLFP MP Vijith Wijayamuni Soysa said today he and the two other SLFPers had not joined the United National Party (UNP) but joined the government to stabilise it.

The Chinese Government today said China, as a traditional close neighbour and a most important development partner, welcomed the peaceful and proper resolution of recent political situation in Sri Lanka by all related parties.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the UNF parliamentary group that the Cabinet will have to be limited to 30 ministers and that some will have to voluntarily give up aspirations of holding posts.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said MP Lakshman Kiriella was appointed as the Leader of the House while MP Gayantha Karunathilaka was appointed the Chief Government Whip.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has informed the Parliament that UPFA MP Mahinda Rajapaksa had been appointed as the Opposition Leader replacing Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R Sampanthan a while ago.

Former LTTE cadre and the leader of a political party of militants, Ganeshalingam Chandralingam alias Thulasi had been summoned to the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) tomorrow to record a statement.

Sri Lankan cricketer Lahiru Kumara has been fined 15% of his match fee and has also received one demerit point after being found guilty of using an audible obscenity during the third day’s play in the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington on Monday, the ICC said.

The Commonwealth Organisation and the Government of Canada welcomed the resolution of the political crisis in Sri Lanka. In a tweet, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said the resolution of the political crisis in Sri Lanka highlights

Parliament would debate a motion calling for the abolition of Executive Presidency today when it meets on the first occasion after the reappointment of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister, sources said.