The latest decision by the Cabinet to increase the salary of public sector employees by Rs.25, 000 from 2025 could have a serious influence on the free vote of the government workers in the Presidential Election, the independent observers have complained to the Election Commission.

The government weighs whether to move a vote an account to seek parliamentary approval to seek allocations to cover expenditure during the remainder of this year or to present a fully-fledged budget after, State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe said yesterday.

Prevailing showery condition are expected to continue in the south-western part of the island due to the low-level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka.

With as many as 39 candidates in the presidential race , ballot paper is expected to be the longest ever with 27 inches in length and five inches in width if it is designed in a single column format, a source said .

A request made by former President Maithripala Sirisena to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential election was rejected by the President. Former President Maithripala Sirisena made his request to the President through an intermediary.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) spokesman MP S.M. Marikkar said the news that former President Maithripala Sirisena has joined the SJB is far from the truth. He refuted the story being circulated that former President Maithripala Sirisena has joined the SJB.

The second term of the 2024 school year for all government and government-approved private schools ends today, the Education Ministry said. While issuing a notice the Ministry said the third school term will begin on August 26.

It was revealed that only 230,000 people had migrated in 2023 whereas one million passports had been issued in the same year. This was revealed during the meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Open and Accountable Government held in Parliament recently.

Proposals for providing tax relief to taxpayers have been submitted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Once the IMF approves, the tax relief will be granted, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

The Elections Commission announced that the nominations of all 39 candidates have been accepted for the 2024 Presidential election. Despite three objections being submitted, they were rejected for not being in accordance with the relevant provisions.

The Election Commission has assigned the 'Gas Cylinder' symbol to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is contesting this year's Presidential election as an independent candidate.

Sri Lanka, once again, protested with the Canadian authorities over the plan to construct a ‘Tamil genocide monument’ in the area called Brampton in Canada, Daily Mirror learns.

A special gazette notification has been issued bringing three Ministerial portfolios under President Ranil Wickremesinghe Accordingly, the Ministerial portfolios of Tourism, Lands, Sports and Youth Affairs as well as Labour and Foreign Employment have been brought under the President.

MP Velu Kumar who met President Ranil Wickremesinghe has pledged his support to him at the Presidential election next month.

National Democratic Front’s presidential candidate Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe criticized the Election Commission for failing to maintain discipline during the process of handing over nomination papers earlier today.

The window for placing cash deposits for the upcoming presidential election closed today at 12 noon. As of this morning, 40 candidates had made their deposits.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe signed the nomination papers for the upcoming presidential election at his political office on Flower Road today.

The government has proposed to the IMF an adjustment in Personal Income Tax slabs from Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 720,000, aiming to provide relief to mid-level taxpayers affected by the recent tax reforms, the President's Media Division (PMD) said.

As the 2024 Presidential Election approaches, the Election Commission has announced detailed arrangements for the nomination process, scheduled for August 15, 2024.

Around 25 MPs, Ministers and State Ministers announced the revival of the People's Alliance (PA) under the leadership of MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa. The symbol of the alliance will be the chair.

Namal Rajapaksa, the presidential candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and Member of Parliament, has signed his nomination papers to contest in the upcoming Presidential Election. The signing took place at the residence of former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, located on Wijerama Road, Colombo 07.

A total of 320 complaints related to the upcoming Presidential election have been received by the Election Commission as of yesterday evening. The Commission said that the complaints were received during the period from July 31 to August 10. They said that 51 complaints reported just yesterday were related to violations of election laws.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna's Gampaha District MP Sudarshini Fernandopulle has announced her support for Samagi Jana Balawegaya Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming presidential election. She made this declaration at a press conference in Colombo this morning (11).

The tally of dengue cases recorded for 2024 has topped the 34,000 mark with 16 deaths related to dengue being reported, according to the Epidemiology Unit. As of August 11, a total of 34,053 cases have been reported in 2024, with the highest number being from the Colombo district, which stood at 8,201.

A fire broke out onboard a cargo ship anchored in the port of Colombo this morning. A senior Sri Lanka Ports Authority official said that port staff, including the fire fighting unit, successfully brought the blaze under control. While the extent of damage to the ship has not yet been assessed, significant damage to both the cargo and the vessel has been reported

United Republican Front (URF) leader MP Patali Champika Ranawaka said that no room should be left for the fate that befell Bangladesh to befall Sri Lanka, no matter what.

A Sri Lankan national who arrived on the shores of Thal Deka (Kadawatha), Wennappuwa by an Indian fishing boat was arrested during a coordinated operation by the Sri Lanka Navy and Police.

SLPP Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa met TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran today where the two discussed issues facing the North and East as well as the development of the districts if Rajapaksa secures victory in the September 21 Presidential Election, Geethanath Cassilingham, Politbureau Member of SLPP representing the Northern Province told Daily Mirror.