In response to ongoing situations in certain regions, the Election Commission of Sri Lanka has issued a new gazette notification outlining a special procedure for voters who fear they may be unable to cast their vote at their designated polling stations.

State Minister for Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said that if the number of Presidential candidates increases, leading to higher costs, there will be no financial issues as there are reserves for unforeseen circumstances.

our candidates have officially submitted their cash deposits for the 2024 Presidential Election today (26). The Election Commission confirmed this in a statement. The candidates who placed their deposits are:

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has decided to nominate a candidate who aligns with its policies for the upcoming Presidential Election. A senior party spokesman said that their Presidential Candidate will be MP Dhammika Perera.

The Presidential Election would be conducted on Saturday, September 21, the Election Commission has officially proclaimed, putting an end to long speculations and debates. The Gazette Notification said that the nominations would be accepted on August 15, while the election would be held on Saturday, September 21.

The stay order issued by the Supreme Court preventing Deshabandu Tennakoon from functioning as the IGP is illegal, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told Parliament today. "Tennekoon still functions as the IGP," he said.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today challenged President Ranil Wickremesinghe to step down, if he cannot appoint an Acting IGP as per the Supreme Court Order. He told Parliament that the President must uphold the Injunction Order issued by the Supreme Court and appoint an Acting IGP. "The President cannot get away from this issue,” he said.

The Speaker and Chairman of the Constitutional Council (CC) said today that removing the IGP requires a special procedure and the situation with regard to the IGP cannot be resolved by the President, and the matter must be sorted out in court if necessary.

Ronald Perera PC, placed a cash deposit on behalf of President Ranil Wickremesinge as an independent candidate for the forthcoming Presidential election. This was confirmed by the President's media a short while ago while Minister Manusha Nanayakkara also announced it at a function.

While welcoming the announcement of the Presidential election, the United States said they look forward to free and fair elections that empower Sri Lankan citizens to determine their future.

The Election Commission announced that an extraordinary gazette notification will be issued tomorrow (26) to announce the date of the Presidential Election.

Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe officially announced his candidacy for the upcoming Presidential Election. He made this announcement during a special press conference held today (25).

New Sama Samaja Party leader Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne has passed away at the age of 81. He was born on March 8, 1943 in the Lunugala area. He received his primary education from Ananda College, Matugama and his secondary education from Ananda Vidyalaya, Colombo.

Former Sri Lanka Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has formally declared his candidacy for the upcoming Presidential election.

An Acting IGP must be appointed without killing time while upholding the Supreme Court verdict on the IGP, Opposition MPs argued in Parliament today.

SLPP National Organizer Namal Rajapaksa has criticised President Ranil Wickremesinghe for dividing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna despite the party completely supporting President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Speaking to reporters, SLPP MP Rajapaksa said

The Supreme Court today issued an interim order restraining Deshabandu Tennakoon from functioning as the Inspector General of Police. The order will be effective until the final determination of nine Fundamental Rights Applications filed challenging his appointment as IGP.

Pronouncing its order pertaining to the Fundamental Rights petitions challenging the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Supreme Court held that the President may or should consider appointing a suitable person as the IGP in accordance with the law during the period of operation of the interim order.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for an urgent Cabinet meeting, which is currently underway.

Claiming that no Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP except Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and Rajitha Senarathne, will join Ranil Wickremesinghe' faction at the Presidential election, SJB MP Thushara Indunil today urged the President to resolve the issue of getting the support of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) without betraying SJB MPs.

State Minister of Media Shantha Bandara today called for the granting of postal voting rights for journalists. “There are 17 TV channels and 52 radio channels in Sri Lanka. Journalists attached to these institutions do not get the opportunity of voting as they are engaged in duty. Therefore I propose that journalists be given postal voting rights,” the State Minister said.

The Cabinet decided today to grant a special monthly allowance of Rs. 3000 to pensioners starting from September. It will be done till their salary anomalies are ironed out.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed yesterday (22) between the Tamil National parties and the Tamil People’s Council, to field a common Presidential candidate, for the first time in history, in the upcoming Presidential Election. According to Tamil Makkal Kootani (TMK) Leader Justice C.V. Wigneswaran, a subcommittee will be appointed, including members of civil society and the national parties, to finalise the candidate. This candidate could be a Tamil politician or even a member of civil society.

In the wake of the death of former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R. Sampanthan, the TNA of the Parliamentary Opposition is yet undecided on a potential successor.

The Election Commission (EC) is to inform the President's Secretary to hold public meetings related to programmes such as 'Urumaya' and 'Jayagamu Sri Lanka' without the participation of politicians, as the Presidential Election is to be declared soon.

The Supreme Court yesterday (22) granted leave to proceed with a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition, challenging the Gazette notification issued by Wildlife Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, to de-gazette a section of the Vidataltivu Nature Reserve in Wilpattu to allocate it for a prawn farm project.

Sri Lanka's inflation increased to 2.4 per cent in June from 1.6 per cent reported in May, according to the national consumer price index, the Department of Census and Statistics said on Monday. The inflation in the food category, which was reported at 0.5 per cent in May, rose to 1.9 per cent in June, according to the department, Xinhua news agency reported.

The General Election are tipped to have a larger representation from the medical field contesting from several political parties, Ceylon Today learns. According to the political sources, President of the Government Medical Officers Forum (GMOF), Dr. Rukshan Bellana, has been appointed as the United National Party organiser for Colombo.