Indian Navy’s frontline Warship INS Mumbai, will arrive Colombo on August 26, 2024 on a three-day visit, Indian High Commission in Colombo said. The ship will be received in a ceremonial manner by the Sri Lanka Navy, a statement issued by the High Commission said.

"INS Mumbai is the third of the Delhi class destroyers, indigenously built and commissioned into the Indian Navy on 22 January 2001. The Ship was built at Mazagon Dock Limited in her namesake city Mumbai. The ship completed it's mid-life upgrade and joined Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam on 08 December 2023. This is INS Mumbai’s first visit to any port in Sri Lanka and will be the eighth port call by Indian Ships this year. INS Kabra, Karanj, Kamorta and Shalki visited this year in addition to Indian Coast Guard ships Samarth, Abhinav and Sachet," it said.

"INS Mumbai will be bringing essential spares for the Dornier maritime patrol aircraft operated by Sri Lanka Airforce. The Dornier aircraft provides a unique and critical capability of surveillance over the Sea Area of Responsibility (AOR) of Sri Lanka since induction two years ago. This has also greatly enhanced the Search and Rescue capability in Sri Lanka’s vast EEZ. In addition to training the SLAF Pilots, Flight Navigators, Indian Navy is supporting the maintenance of this aircraft with a Technical team and spares. Indian Ship visited earlier this year, also brought in material assistance. INS Kabra and later ICGS Sachet had brought spares parts for Sri Lanka Coast Guard ship Suraksha.

During the stay in Colombo, INS Mumbai will conduct familiarization tour onboard for Sri Lanka Navy personnel aimed at sharing best practices between both the Navies. It can be recalled that visit for Long specialization course student officers and Cadets of Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee was organized onboard the submarine Shalki, during port call earlier this month, adding value to their training. Indian Navy also provides various specialist courses including in core area of Hydrography in India for capacity building of the Sri Lanka Navy.

On arrival, Commanding Officer will Call on the Commander of the Western Naval Area Rear Admiral W.D.C.U Kumarasinghe at Western Naval Area Headquarters. The ship will also undertake joint activities with Sri Lanka Navy such as sports fixtures, Yoga and beach cleaning.

It has been customary for Indian Naval Ships to make Port call at Sri Lankan ports, when transiting between Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal. The visit is categorized as an Operational Turn Around (OTR), wherein the ship will also replenish fuel and provisions. The crew will find time for rest and recuperation and also an opportunity to visit few places of importance in the city and some popular tourist attractions in Colombo and Galle," the statement added.

INS Mumbai will depart Sri Lanka on August 29, 2024.

The Returning Officer for the Galle district has officially announced that the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha election will be held on October 26, 2024

Director of Military Intelligence Brigadier Chandika Mahathanthila has filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) against a YouTuber who allegedly made a hate speech claiming that there is a plan to create unrest in the country before the upcoming Presidential election.

The Election Commission of Sri Lanka has expressed serious concerns over recent decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers, some of which are perceived as clear endorsements of a candidate. Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake stated that the Commission has no authority to halt any decisions made by the Cabinet.

A young man who managed to pass all security checkpoints at the Katunayake International Airport and attempted to surreptitiously board a Chennai-bound flight early today was arrested by the airport police. Police said the suspect was wearing trousers, a shirt and slippers. The 23-year-old, a resident of Grandpass, had been living with his father in Chennai and had travelled abroad twice before.

President’s Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran, representing the Ilangai Tamil Arasu Party (ITAK), has confirmed that the party’s decision to support Sajith Premadasa remains unchanged. This statement comes amid calls from Mavei Senadhiraja and M. Sreedharan to reconsider the party’s stance.

Child Protection Authorities in Anuradhapura district expressed concern over the escalation of child abuse in the district. District Child Protection Officer Mahendra Dasanayake said 491 complaints on child abuse have been received during the last six months and that there could be more incidents that have gone unreported.

The Election Commission announced that postal voting for the 2024 Presidential election will conclude tomorrow (11). Hence, government employees who missed their chance to vote on September 4, 5 and 6 can still cast their postal votes today (11) and tomorrow (12).

Pesident Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed MP Seetha Kumari Arambepola as the Minister of State for Health, Women's & Child Affairs. This announcement was made today by the Presidential Media Division (PMD).

Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe's campaign team has strategically reduced the number of public rallies from 92 to 84, Harin Fernando said.

Sri Lanka protested with the UK Home Office regarding the display of LTTE emblems during a demonstration organized by the Tamil Diaspora activists, an official said.

Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and three other suspects, implicated in the alleged importation of substandard human immunoglobulin vials, have been released on bail by the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court.

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi initially decided to support Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming presidential election. However, the party’s leader, Mavai Senadhiraja, announced that a discussion was held today in Vavuniya to reconsider this decision. Senadhiraja stated that the party’s final decision will be officially presented on the 14th and 15th of this month.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has removed five State Ministers, including Geetha Kumarasinghe, with immediate effect, the President's Media Division (PMD) said.

The Convener of the Inter-University Student's Federation (IUSF) and several other demonstrators were arrested this afternoon near the Fort Railway Station during a protest march in Colombo. The rally was against government policies affecting higher education and the rising cost of living.

Around 80 SLPP MPs have booked tickets to leave the country because of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s action of promoting NPP candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake, SJB MP Mujibur Rahman said.

Conducting coaching or tuition classes targeting at the 2024 grade five scholarship examination will be prohibited from tomorrow midnight (11), Examinations Department Commissioner General H.J.M.C Amith Jayasundara said.

The government has objected to the Comprehensive Report on Sri Lanka by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressing surprise that the report steps far out of its mandated sphere of human rights to comment on macroeconomics as well as financial and budgetary issues under sovereign parliamentary purview.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has no secret pact with NPP presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake, UNP Assistant Leader Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today.

TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran, who defended NPP Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake over a controversial statement he is said to have made in the north, said he never thinks that Dissanayake uttered those words with a view to expressing any racist feelings.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called on NPP Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake, to apologize to the Tamil people of the North following controversial remarks made during his recent visit to Jaffna. Speaking at a rally in Udupitti, Jaffna, President Wickremesinghe criticized Dissanayake’s comments, accusing him of using coercion to pressure the Northern population.