The Police today released a photograph of 40-year-old Damitha Sagara Chandrasiri, the missing editor and scriptwriter of the ‘Koombiyo’ teledrama and sought public assistance to locate him.

Former Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran said yesterday that the current political crisis could be resolved by forming a national government with the involvement of President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which pledged its support to the United National Party (UNP) to form a government has, however, assured President Maithripala Sirisena that it will not support any motion to impeach him, it is learnt.

The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), which is an ally of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), has resolved that any form of support given to the United National Party (UNP) to form a government should be based on a written agreement to address the issues concerning Tamils, a party official said yesterday.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in a special statement today said that ‘only way to restore stability to a destabilized democracy will be through a general election.’

The meeting between President Maithripala Sirisena and the United National Front (UNF) party representatives which was scheduled to be held this evening (2), has been postponed 8 pm, tomorrow (03), MP Mano Ganesan said  

UNP MP Wasantha Senanayake has rejected reports that he had once again joined with the Mahinda Rajapaksa led government. 

President Maithripala Sirisena and members of the United National Front (UNF) would have a special discussion this evening, sources said.

A three member committee has been appointed by Governor of Northern Province Reginald Cooray to investigate a financial fraud allegedly committed by former Minister of the Northern Provincial Council Ananthi Sasitharan.

A 38-year-old suspect Thisitha Maduranga alias ' Matara Malli' has been arrested yesterday in connection with a robbery of gems and diamonds in Pannipitiya last month.

A total of 2,891 police personnel had been promoted to various ranks by IGP Pujith Jayasundara following interviews, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

An eleven-year-old elephant that lived in Udawalawe National Park, had been shot dead in the Udawalawe Reservoir area yesterday morning, Rangers of the Department of Wild Life Conservation said.

Three-wheel taxis would reduce the fare for the first kilometer by Rs. 10 with from midnight today, the National Three-Wheeler Federation said.

A 48-year-old suspect was arrested in connection with the murder of the two police constables in Vavunathivu, Police said.

The Litro Gas Lanka has paid a monthly allowance of Rs.95,000 to Ven. Dambara Amila Thera since 2015, it was revealed at the Special High Court (SC) established to hear cases of large-scale corruption.  

Two Indian Coast Guard Ships, CGS Samar and Aryaman, would arrive in Sri Lanka on Saturday furthering the cooperation between the two Coast Guards of India and Sri Lanka, the Indian High Commission said yesterday (30).

JVP MP Vijitha Herath said even though a month had gone by, the President had still not appointed to the Supreme Court the two Justices whose nomination were approved by the Constitutional Council.

UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa said yesterday he had no intention of accepting the post of Prime Minister at this point in time but indicated that he could be the party's prime ministerial candidate at a future general election.

Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said yesterday there would be three elections within the next two years.

The term of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCOI) appointed to investigate irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, Mihin Lanka & SriLankan, has been extended till February 15, 2019.

George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States and the father of the 43rd, was a steadfast force on the international stage for decades, from his stint as an envoy to Beijing to his eight years as vice president and his one term as commander in chief from 1989 to 1993.

The Lanka IOC has also reduced fuel prices of Petrol (Octane 92/95), Auto Diesel and Super by Rs.5 per litre with effect from midnight today 

During the hearing on the Quo Warranto Writ Petition against holding of the posts of Prime Minister and other ministers by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and MPs supporting him, Senior Counsel Gamini Marapana PC yesterday contended that the Court of Appeal could not grant interim relief prayed by the Petitioners as the matter is pending in the Supreme Court.

All three Nikayas have decided to advise the rulers to go for general election to elect the most suitable representatives to put an end to the current political deadlock, the Secretary General of the Asgiriya Chapter of the Shyamopali Maha Nikaya Ven.Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera said.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya told Parliament that the gazette notification pertaining to the appointment of a new prime minister had value till the new administration was defeated by a no-confidence motion on November 14.

President Maithripala Sirisena, who held discussion with the UNF leaders this evening, had agreed to have another round of discussion on Sunday, UNP MPs said.

The term of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka is likely to be extended by a period of another three months, sources close to it said yesterday.

Two police constables aged 28 and 35 were found dead at a checkpoint at Vavunathivu in Batticaloa this morning, police said.

JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake yesterday said two Parliament Select Committees (PSCs) should be appointed to recover the losses and damages caused to the country by the political coup.  

Temple Trees is currently run the funds of the UNP and the assistance given by sponsors, UNP MP and ousted Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament today.

Minister and Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardane said today a motion on financial matters should be approved by the cabinet before presenting it in parliament according to section (152) of the constitution and said such a motion should be presented in the House only by a minister.

Lanka had borrowed a loan of Rs.500 million from Airport and Aviation Services Limited (AASL) in November 2008 and settled the full amount of Rs.615 million including the interest in 2010 using funds from the Government Treasury, a top official said.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has appointed a committee to look into the recent incidents that took place in Parliament. As per the announcement made by the Speaker, the committee comprises his deputy Ananda Kumarasiri, predecessor Chamal Rajapaksa and MPs Ranjith Madduma Bandara,

UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday said he had declined to oblige President Maithripala Sirisena when he offered him the post of Prime Minister ten times.

Three female passengers were killed and 19 others were injured when a Colombo bound Jaffna luxury bus toppled into the Hamilton canal at Nattandiya this evening.