Asanka Nawaratne, the leader of the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party, has announced that his party will support President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming Presidential Election.

Presidential candidates will be barred from lavish spending unchecked this time because the Election Commission is slated to introduce a ceiling on spending on campaigning in respect of each voter according to the new law enacted this time, an official said.

The tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka maintained momentum in August, as within the first eight days of the month, over 53,000 international visitors entered the country. The provisional data showed that the island nation welcomed a total of 53,150 tourists from August 1 to 8, bringing the year-to-date international arrivals to 1,252,209.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has decided not to appoint new MPs for the moment in place of Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara who lost their seats following their expulsion from the SJB which was upheld by the Supreme Court yesterday.

Moments after the Supreme Court judgement determined that the decision to expel Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara from the SJB was legally valid, President Ranil Wickremesinghe met Harin and Manusha last morning and thanked the two for their support and requested them 'not to worry'.

The Supreme Court, in two landmark judgments today, determined that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya's (SJB) decision to expel Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara from the party is legally valid.

Bandulalal Bandarigoda is to fill the vacancy created after Manusha Nanayakkara lost his seat following the Supreme Court decision that the latter's expulsion from the SJB was legal. MP Buddika Pathirana told the Daily Mirror that party seniors will meet soon to decide who would enter Parliament through the national list in place of MP Harin Fernando.

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka resigned from the post of SJB Chairmanship today. SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said Fonseka has submitted his resignation letter.

The Supreme Court today issued an order quashing the findings and recommendations made by the Commission of Inquiry appointed by former President Gotabaya Rajapakse in respect of nine petitioners including former High Court Judge Padmini N. Ranawaka and President's Counsel Upul Jayasuriya.

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles requested the people to apply for passports only if they are urgent and advised those who can wait to delay their applications till October, when new e-passports that meet international standards will be available.

The Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation (STC) today announced that the import of eggs will resume within the next 10 days. STC chairman Asiri Valisundara said the related procurement activities are currently underway. Accordingly, it is planned to import 30 million eggs per month, he said.

A collective of Tamil parties has nominated former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP for the Batticaloa district, P. Ariyanethran, as the common Tamil candidate to contest the presidential election, former MP M.K. Sivajilingam said.

Several political parties signed an agreement today to form an alliance as the 'Samagi Jana Sandanaya'.

Irrigation, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi today said that she will support President Ranil Wickremesinge at the upcoming Presidential election.

Independent Presidential candidate Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka is to make a special statement tomorrow (Friday August 9). Field Marshal Fonseka told journalists at the Bandaranaike International Airport that his special statement will be on his political future. Fonseka arrived in the island after a tour of India where he had met Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

Some 52 essential drugs are still in short supply in the country whereas there is no shortage of life saving drugs, Health Minister Ramesh Pathirana said today. He told Parliament that substitutes are available for the essential drugs that are in short supply.

Former Minister Arjuna Ranatunga joined the SJB led Samagi Sandanaya alliance that is expected to back Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa at this year's Presidential election.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has officially announced MP Namal Rajapaksa as its Presidential candidate for the upcoming election. SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam made the announcement at the party's headquarters at Neluma Mawatha, Battaramulla a short while ago.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the SLFP faction led by MP Dayasiri Jayasekara signed an MOU today. Accordingly, the Dayasiri faction will support SJB candidate Sajith Premadasa at the Presidential election 2024. The MoU was signed by SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Dayasiri Jayasekara on behalf of the two parties.

The Sri Lanka Navy recovered a parcel containing 4 kgs and 740 gms of gold during a special search operation conducted at the Thorayadi Lagoon in Kalpitiya.

The Election Commission is poised to host a spate of discussions with multiple organizations including election monitoring organizations today.

Some heads of the military were trying to stage a coup during the Aragalaya in 2022 and wanted the political leaders to give way for the same, MP Madhura Withanage told Parliament today. “Did these military leaders tell you to keep away during the aragalaya,” he questioned Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana.

India’s Alliance Air completed its 500th flight to Jaffna International Airport in Sri Lanka on Tuesday (Aug 06). According to the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd, the milestone was celebrated via a ceremony at the Jaffna International Airport.

National People's Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake placed his deposit to contest the Presidential election 2024. NPP MP Vijitha Herath, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala arrived at the Election Commission to place the deposits on behalf of Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), led by Mano Ganeshan, has announced that they will support Samagi Jana Balawegaya Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming election. Mano Ganeshan made this announcement at a press briefing in Colombo.

National Organizer of the SLPP, Namal Rajapaksa in a meeting held with SLPP MPs and district leaders said that their party’s focus must be to ensure victory at the September Presidential Polls and to take on SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa as their main opponent.

The Election Commission has reported a total of 99 complaints during the period from July 31 to August 05, related to the upcoming Presidential election. According to a media release by the Commission, all complaints were categorised under breaches of election laws, with no reported incidents of violence or other types of complaints.

India which offered over US $ 62 million grant assistance for the development of the Kankesanthurai Port has sought to operate it for 30 years under an agreement, an official said.