The Supreme Court today issued an order directing the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to appear before the Court in person for his failure to implement the Supreme Court's order, which had suspended the Cabinet decision granting approval related to online and expat visa operations in Sri Lanka.

Additional Solicitor General Viveka Siriwardena, appearing for the Attorney General, informed court that the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration had notified the practical difficulties in implementing the court order.

The Supreme Court three-judge bench, comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Kumuduni Wickremasinghe, and Achala Wengappuli, observed that the failure to implement the court order amounted to contempt of court.

President's Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran and Sanjeeva Jayawardena PC, appearing for the petitioners, reiterated the importance of issuing a rule against the respondent for failing to implement the Supreme Court order.

The Supreme Court made this order pursuant to several Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the procedural violations and abuse of public trust by officials in the procurement of private entities to handle the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system for issuing visas to tourists visiting Sri Lanka, was taken up for support. M.A. Sumanthiran PC, Rauff Hakeem and Patali Champika Ranawaka made their oral submissions while appearing in person. Upul Jayasuriya PC with Sithara Sampath Wijewardane appeared for Parliamentarian Ashoka Abeysinghe. Sanjeeva Jayawardena PC with Rukshan Senadheera appeared for Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda and Chandra Jayaratne. Senior Counsel Suren Gnanaraj appeared for the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators and several other petitioners. Senior Counsel Senani Dayaratne appeared for Transparency International Sri Lanka.

Dilrukshi Dias Wickremasinghe PC with Vishwa De Livera Tennakoon appeared for Attorney-at-Law S.M. Dissanayaka. Additional Solicitor General Viveka Siriwardena appeared for the Attorney General.

The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) has announced a trade union action tomorrow (18), targeting hospitals across the country, GMOA spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said.

Six teachers, including a school principal in an examination centre in Anuradhapura, who had allegedly shared the first question paper of the Grade Five scholarship examination using a mobile phone, were taken into custody by the officials of the Examinations Department.

Over the past 76 years, politics in the country has turned into a massive business, causing widespread hardships, Presidential candidate Janaka Rathnayaka said.

SJB presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, addressing a rally, pledged to provide targeted fuel subsidies to essential workers, including farmers, fishermen, three-wheeler drivers and school van/bus operators.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the presidential candidate of the National People’s Power (NPP), has pledged to completely remove VAT on essential sectors such as food, education, and healthcare.

PAFFREL has received reports from the Nuwara Eliya area over a group distributing boxes of matches featuring a Presidential candidate's picture and election symbol on either side. Executive Director of PAFFREL, Rohana Hettiarachchi, said he has informed the Assistant Commissioner of Elections for the Nuwara Eliya district about this issue.

The Public Security Ministry said that there are currently no plans to impose a curfew on election day and that all security measures are in place, with the armed forces on standby if necessary.

NPP MP Vijitha Herath hinted that the Prime Minister could be a female in a National People's Power (NPP) government. Speaking at a meeting in Minuwangoda, he said after the victory on September 21, a new Cabinet will be appointed with the powers vested with the President under Article 47.3 of the Constitution and parliament will be dissolved.

MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, leader of the United Republic Front, urged voters planning to support Ranil Wickremesinghe or the SLPP not to waste their votes.

Claiming that Sri Lanka has not established any new consulates nor made additional honorary consul appointments in Israel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry said Sri Lanka continues to maintain its official embassy in Tel Aviv, which has been the sole diplomatic mission in Israel since 2000.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has pledged to bring in a legislation to ban corporal punishment soon.

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) has officially reached a final decision to endorse Sajith Premadasa, the presidential candidate of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), at the upcoming presidential election. The announcement came after a party meeting held this morning (Sep. 16) in Vavuniya, where the party’s central committee made the final decision.

An investigation has been launched after a back-up helicopter escorting President Ranil Wickremesinghe made an emergency landing on Saturday. The Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 412 (SUH 522) made an unplanned landing in a paddy field in Eppawala yesterday due to a technical issue.

National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that his government would cancel Indian conglomerate Adani’s 450 MW wind power project in Sri Lanka if elected. He claimed the agreement was corrupt and skewed against Sri Lanka’s interests.

Opposition leader and SJB presidential candidate, Sajith Premadasa, has reiterated his commitment to implementing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

The Constitution has provisions for the new President to rule the country if Parliament is dissolved by President Ranil Wickremesinghe soon after the Presidential election on September 21 as speculated, president's counsel Upul Kumarapperuma said while claiming that it could create detrimental repercussions to the people and the country.

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, expressed her eagerness to work closely with the president elected by the Sri Lankan people. In a post on X, she highlighted the importance of ensuring a free and fair election, calling it a critical step for democracy in Sri Lanka.

The Election Commission (EC) has disallowed diplomats of European Union (EU) missions in Colombo to be part of its monitoring team during next week’s presidential election.

Presidential candidate Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has revealed that political parties are taking the services of manpower agencies to supply people to attend their election rallies.

A luxury house worth Rs. 100 million, located in Bambalapitiya, was forcibly seized by Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, the Colombo Magistrate’s Court heard on Thursday.