The new government will present a fully-fledged budget for 2019 in February after the Cabinet was sworn in, it is learnt.

The cabinet of the UNF government would be sworn in, in the next couple of days and State and Deputy Ministers next week, former Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Gayantha Karunathilaka said today.

Former SLFP Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara today said the President had requested the 21 SLFP Parliamentarians to sit in the opposition bench when they attend the parliament session.

Vehicles parked on pavements blocking traffic and pavements would be towed away, the Police said today.

The United States and Australia have welcomed political developments in Sri Lanka.

The President could appoint only 28 Cabinet Ministers, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader MP Udaya Gammanpila said today.

The number of members in the Cabinet might have to be increased a little more than 30 if the need arises, UNP MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha said today.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today said that he will register a  new Alliance named ‘National Democratic Front’ ( NDF ).

The swearing-in of Cabinet Ministers is likely to be delayed since discussions were still underway on the assignment of portfolios to MPs joining the Government from the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), sources said last afternoon.

Most of the UNPers had insisted that the new Cabinet should be confined to 30 Ministers, UNP MP Eran Wickrmaratne said yesterday.

Chief Ministers of six provincial Councils had decided not to support the new government headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya said yesterday.

Catriona Gray from the Philippines was crowned Miss Universe on Monday, the fourth time the Southeast Asian country has won the international beauty pageant.

The Delegation of the European Union today welcomed the peaceful and democratic resolution of the political crisis in Sri Lanka in accordance with the constitution.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today he would be committed to bring back normalcy in the country and would restore development.

Special Grade official of State Administration Saman Ekanayake has been appointed Secretary to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Prime Minister's office said.

India has welcomed the resolution of the political situation in Sri Lanka, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe making a special statement today said that discussions will be held with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) to bring about a political solution in which all citizens can live in harmony in a unitary state.

President Maithripala Sirisena today said that he has given the Premiership to Ranil Wickremesinghe while honouring the parliamentary tradition and democracy.

A 23-year old Bangladeshi woman was arrested by the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) with 32 kgs of heroin valued at around Rs 388 million in Ratmalana yesterday, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to be sworn in as the Prime Minister at the Presidential Secretariat at10.30 a.m today.

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) said yesterday they had requested President Maithripala Sirisena not to appoint Rajitha Senaratne as the Heath Minster.

Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will take on the Ppposition Leader post while UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardena will take on the Chief Opposition Whip, MP S. B. Dissanayake said today.

While rejecting the claim that the Supreme Court decision on dissolving parliament had prevented the election being held, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna said yesterday the Supreme Court verdict had without doubt enshrined the franchise of the people.

Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a statement a short while ago that he resigned from the position of Prime Minister to make way for the President to form a new government. 

Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said on Thursday the EC would seek a ruling from the Supreme Court on the measures on the measures to be taken to conduct the provincial council elections in 2020.

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) said yesterday they had requested President Maithripala Sirisena not to appoint Rajitha Senaratne as the Heath Minster.

More than 2,000 police personnel in uniform and civies will be deployed in the Colombo City during the festive season, Police said yesterday.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) should decide either to ally with the United National Party (UNP) or to sit in the opposition, MP Kanchana Wijesekera said.

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed as prime minister by President Maithripala Sirisena on October 26, has informed UPFA MPs that he has resigned from PM post, MP Shehan Semasinghe said.

The Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU) today recorded statements from three members of the ‘Purawesi Balaya’ organization in connection with a statement made by its representative Saman Ratnapriya recently.

Submission on Mahinda Rajapakse’s appeal against the Interim Order given by the Court of Appeal recently restraining him and his Cabinet from functioning was concluded by the Supreme Court a short while ago.

The Supreme Court refused to vacate the interim order given by the Court of Appeal restraining Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Cabinet from functioning.

A special meeting between President Maithripala Sirisena and UPFA parliamentary group headed by Mahinda Rajapaksa was held at the presidential Secretariat, sources said.

The United National Party (UNP) today condemned the unruly incident which had taken place at Lake House on Thursday evening and said a future UNP-led government would take action against those who were responsible for it.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will take oath as Prime Minister on Sunday, UNP MP Rajitha Senaratne told BBC.