UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa will be officially named as party’s presidential candidate with the blessings of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in a week’s time, Minister Mangala Samaraweera said yesterday. Speaking during a public rally in Matara Mr. Samaraweera said Mr Premadasa will be introduced to the people at a massive rally in Galle Face green soon.

“The whole party will come together to name Premadasa as the candidate. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe will propose Sajith’s name while Speaker Karu Jayasuriya will second it” Mr. Samaraweera said. He added that constituent parties of the UNF will back Mr Premadasa. “Accordingly leaders such as Rauff Hakeem, Rishad Bathiudeen, Mano Ganesan and Rajitha Senaratne will back our Deputy Leader,” he said.

Minister Harin Fernando said he and others have decided to back Mr Premadasa following a remark made by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe in the past that he will hand over the party to young leaders in 2020. “Mr Wickremesinghe was the leader of the UNP when I did my GCE O/L exam in 1994 and he is still the leader now when my daughter is about to do her ordinary level exam,” Minister Fernando said. At the same time, he said Mr. Wickremesinghe has been able to safeguard the party during difficult times.

Minister Ajith P Perera in his speech refuted speculations that those who back Mr. Premadasa including him are planning to team up with President Maithripala Sirisena and form a new government.“we don’t have such plans as we only want to field Mr Premadasa as our party’s candidate” he said.

Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has been acquitted from the case filed against him over allegations of money laundering related to the purchase of a house in Colombo.

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has filed a revision application in the Court of Appeal challenging the legality of the enjoining order issued by Colombo District Court preventing him from functioning as the Acting Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said today President Ranil Wickremesinghe invited her on several occasions to take up a position and support the government. Ms Kumaratunga told reporters that she refused the invitation, claiming that she could not take up any position until thieves were there in politics.

Conducting coaching or tuition classes aimed at the 2023 (2024) G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination aspirants will be prohibited from tonight till the exams are concluded, the Department of Examinations said.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara today hit out at the party's Organizer Gamini Vijith Vijithamuni Soysa who has been critical of the party leadership lately. Former MP Soysa was reported to have complained that he has been sidelined by the SJB leadership.

State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe expressed confidence in exceeding the $ 5 billion mark by year-end, driven by the strong growth in the tourism sector.

A man in Mullaitivu District claimed to be the tallest person in Sri Lanka. According to BBC Sinhala Service, Gunasingham Kasenthiran, a former cadre of the proscribed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who lives in Kaiveli, Puthukudiruppu is seven feet two inches tall.

In an effort to nip any discord with India in the bud, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) faction led by Nimal Siripala de Silva as acting chairman called on Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and disassociated itself from remarks by its former Chairman Maithripala Sirisena implicating alleged Indian involvement in orchestrating the Easter Sunday attacks, an informed source said.

The Sri Lankan Rupee has depreciated slightly against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (Apr 29) compared to last week. According to Seylan Bank, the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar are unchanged at Rs. 290.50 and Rs. 301, respectively.

An attempt to send a 17-year-old boy abroad on forged travel documents was foiled and two women suspected of their involvement in the racket were arrested by the Border Surveillance Unit of the Department of Immigration and Emigration at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has expressed serious concern over recent remarks made by Minister Tiran Alles, and urging President Ranil Wickremesinghe to remove him from the portfolio of Public Security.

Political tremors are expected on May Day (Wednesday) as members of a few political parties are expected to appear at the UNP May Day rally, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said over the weekend.

The Anuradhapura High Court on Friday passed a death sentence on five police officers who were found guilty of killing eight Tamil civilians at the Bharathipuram village in Kantale 26 years ago. The sentence was passed by High Court Judge Manoj Thalgodapitiya.

Former Army commander Sarath Fonseka told Parliament today (April 26) that the person who had groomed the main Easter Sunday suicide bomber – Zahran Hashim, is the current head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Maj Gen (Rtd.) Suresh Salley.

Sri Lankan-born Rt Rev Anashuya Fletcher was recently ordained and installed as Assistant Bishop of Wellington, New Zealand. The event was held at the Wellington Cathedral of St. Paul and was attended by over 600 well-wishers.

Australia has decided to donate an aircraft to support maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) including Sri Lanka.

More than 7,000 soldiers who deserted the Sri Lanka Army have received legal discharge during an amnesty period declared by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence.

The Sri Lankan Government has rejected a request for an American research ship to enter Sri Lankan waters. This decision is in line with the Government’s policy of not allowing any research vessel to enter Sri Lankan waters.

Alexis Taylor, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), together with U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung, met with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and other senior government officials to discuss USDA support for Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector, a statement from the US Embassy said.

Refuting reports that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa avoided meeting visiting Iranian President Dr. Ebrahim Raisi, SJB MP Nalin Bandara said yesterday that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa did not get an appointment from the Iranian Embassy to meet the Iranian President.