The ulterior motives of China’s geopolitical and diplomatic moves in relation to Sri Lanka over the years now seems to be exposed to the world in the light of the fact that the Chinese Ambassador in Colombo has hastily announced his decision to meet with the Maha Nayaka Theros of both the Asgiriya and Malwatte chapters in Kandy this week with convoys of food items purported as relief assistance under the current economic crisis.

The Supreme Court today (11) upheld the verdict issued by the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar on former President Maithripala Sirisena’s Chief of Staff and the former Chairman of the State Timber Corporation (STC), and confirmed their jail sentences over charges of accepting a bribe of Rs. 20 million.

The leader of the 43rd Brigade Patali Champika Ranawaka says that neither the Ministry of Power and Energy nor the Cabinet have the power to increase electricity tariffs according to the Electricity Act and the Public Utilities Commission Act.

The Election Commission of Sri Lanka last night fired off a letter to all returning officers reminding them of their duties after a directive was issued by the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs Neil Bandara Hapuhinna earlier in the day instructing District Secretaries to stop accepting deposits from parties expecting to contest at the upcoming Local Government election. 

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the Cabinet that all ministries will have to cut 5 percent of the money allocated in this year’s budget, Cabinet spokesperson Bandula Gunawardena said.

Canada has imposed sanctions on four Sri Lankan state officials, including former presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa, over human right violations, the Canadian foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday (10).

Women wait near an empty fuel station hoping to buy kerosene oil for cooking in Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 26, 2022. © 2022 AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena

With the 2023 World Cup preparations entering its final stages, hosts India have a lot of firming up to do and a problem of plenty at hand as they take on gutsy Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series beginning Tuesday (10).

The United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) are scheduled to meet for talks today (10).

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Freedom People's Congress, Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya and several other political parties and groups have reached an agreement to contest the local government election under the 'helicopter' symbol, it is reported.