In a twitter message, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said the intervention by the Police Commission to prevent the arbitrary executive action of transferring a police officer was an important result of the independent commissions introduced by the 19th Amendment.

More rains can be expected over the island with the low pressure area in the Southern Bay of Bengal likely to intensify into a depression and move westwards, the Department of Meteorology said.

A man had thrown chilli powder at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal outside his office at the Delhi Secretariat today, the NDTV reported. The attacker, identified as Anil Kumar, has been taken into custody, officials said.

The Australian High Commission today warned Sri Lankans not to be fooled by false advertising through social media or by people smugglers that it was possible to get to Australia illegally by boat. 

Steps have been taken to block access to websites with pornography and social media from the computers of the Western Provincial Council (WPC) Chamber after some councillors had reportedly watched porn during the Budget presentation, Chief Minister Isura Devapriya said today.

The transfer of the CID’s Organised Crimes Investigation Unit OIC Inspector Nishantha Silva to the Negombo Division, was cancelled with effect from yesterday, the Police said.

The late Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge’s daughter, Ahimsa in a letter to President Maithripala Sirisena over the removal of Inspector Adrian Nishantha Silva from the Criminal Investigation Department has said "Make no mistake, Mr. President. If you try to stand in the way of justice for my father & other victims of brutality, you will fail."

The CID’s Organised Crimes Investigation Unit OIC Inspector Nishantha Silva who was transferred to the Negombo Division, had appealed to the National Police Commission (NPC) over his transfer.

UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella yesterday urged that MPs who had damaged Parliament property be penalized.

The communiqué was signed by its Chairman Ven. Diviyagaha Yasassi Thera, Joint secretaries Mahanayake Ven. Trincomalee Ananda Thera of Amarapura Sri Dharmarakshitha Nikaya, and Prof. Ven. Agalakada Siri  Sumana Thera.

It is time to put aside one’s self interests in order to resolve the present political crisis, UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa said today.“Appointing a new Prime Minister and new party leaders is not a solution to the present political crisis. This is a time to work selflessly and without self-interests,” Mr. Premadasa

President Maithripala Sirisena today called for an investigation into the case where teargas was fired on a group of Buddhist monks holding a protest near the presidential secretariat.

The UNF has handed over a motion to suspend the expenditure head of the newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, UNF member and Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Rauff Hakeem told a media briefing today.

House Leader Dinesh Gunawardane said today it was the government which could move a financial motion whereas the opposition handed over a motion to the Speaker limiting the Prime Minister's expenditure.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has sought a report from the authorities concerned on the violence in Parliament including brawls, name calling, spraying of chili powder and damaging properties, a statement from his office said today

The parliament session which was commenced at 1 pm today was adjourned soon after till 10.30 am on Friday by Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri.

Visitors except for media personnel would not be allowed to enter parliament gallery during the today’s session which would commence at 1 pm today, officials said.

Inspector of Police (IP) Nishantha Silva of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been transferred to the Negombo Division with immediate effect on service requirements, sources said.  

A female passenger was apprehended by the officials of the Customs Narcotic Control Division at the Arrival Lounge at the Bandaranaike International Airport Katunayake while attempting to smuggle in 273 cartoons of foreign cigarettes containing 54,720 sticks valued at RS. 27, 30,000 packed in her traveling bag.

A 55-year-old woman and her 61-year-old husband were found dead in the garden behind their house at Akmeemana last night, police said.  

A Party Leaders Meeting commenced at the Parliamentary complex a short while ago to finalise today’s agenda in Parliament.

The United National Party (UNP) today said it would show their majority yet again in Parliament tomorrow.The UNP said this after the All Party Meeting which was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena this evening.  

At least 51 people including 42 women were arrested following an eight-hour raid on brothels carried out in several areas in the Gampaha district on Saturday.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today informed President Maithripala Sirisena that he would not attend the all-party conference scheduled for this evening at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has also decided not to attend the all-party conference scheduled for this evening with the President, MP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said.

A 33-year-old suspect had been arrested with 2.79 kg of heroin valued more than Rs. 25 million at Kotahena last night by the officials of the Colombo Division Crimes Prevention Unit.

England beat Sri Lanka by 57 runs in the second Test in Kandy on Sunday to clinch the three-Test series 2-0.

A complaint has been lodged with the Welikada Police stating that 40-year-old Damitha Chandrasiri, the editor and script writer of the ‘Koombiyo’ tele drama has been missing for few days.

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has concluded Saudi’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was behind the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, The Washington Post reported Friday, citing people close to the matter.

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was inaugurated on Saturday as the new President of the Maldives after the Opposition united to dislodge pro-China strongman leader Abdulla Yameen in September elections.

The United National Party has requested Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg to protect  the US firm not to cooperate with Rajapakse's administration to refrain from disclosing information about Sri Lankan users of the platform with any officials of the ‘illegal government’ of President Maithripala Sirisena unless it is sanctioned by a court of law in the country.

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe last evening said President Maithripala Sirisena should immediately resolve the present crisis based on the no confidence motion passed in Parliament yesterday.

The United States have underscored the importance of increasing shared regional interests with Japan, India and Australia to achieve an outcome to political developments in Sri Lanka which is consistent with democratic principles.

The Frontline Socialist Party should first put into words as to why they want to work with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and should accept us as leftists, JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti said.

UPFA Kalutara District Parliamentarian Kumara Welgama said yesterday that it was questionable for the UPFA to remain in the government by force without the support of 113 members of the House.