The Army will conduct a special investigation into the fleeing of Anti Corruption Front Director, Namal Kumara from the Army. Army officials said this probe will be initiated following the conclusion of the CID's investigation into the incident. According to Army sources, action will be taken against Mr.Kumara in a manner that is no different to any soldier who had fled the Army. The CID has already confirmed that Mr. Kumara once served as a member of the Army following which he had fled the troops.

Questions are being raised about the abrupt suspension of investigations by a committee to probe whether negligent provincial irrigation officials contributed to the recent floods in Kilinochchi.The committee, appointed by former Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray, was headed by Prof S.S. Sivakumar of the Jaffna University

The TNA, at their coming Parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday (8), will discuss steps they would take on the Opposition Leader

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that they would not allow anyone to divide the country, which was rescued from the LTTE, through a Constitution.

The Constitutional Council (CC) will meet tomorrow holding its first meeting for the year, during which it will consider and recommend the nomination sent by President Maithripala Sirisena for the vacant posts in the Supreme Court, a member of the Council told the Sunday Observer yesterday. This appointment is for the vacancy that arose with the retirement of former Supreme Court Justice Eva Wanasundara. Constitutional Council members are irked that despite the Council forwarding nominations to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, the President has still failed to make the appointments.

During the 12-month period, January-December 2018, the most number of tourists visited the country in December (253,169), followed by January (238,924) and February (235,618) according to Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) sources. However, December 2018 recorded a slower growth compared to December 2017, with an increase of 3.5 per cent in the number of tourist arrivals. March is considered as the best performing month in terms of growth (24.1%).

The Government is expected to take a decision on the future of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) this week. Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Arjuna Ranatunga told The Sunday Morning that he hopes to have a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe this week regarding MRIA. When asked if the Government will go ahead with an earlier decision to sign a deal with India to manage the airport, Minister Ranatunga said, he is in the process of studying the proposal and will take a decision together with the President and the Prime Minister.

Sri Lanka-born Khamshajiny Gunaratnam, who is the current Deputy Mayor of Norway

Astrologer Sumanadasa Abeygunawardena, yesterday, admitted, before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) on irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka, that Mahin Air had spent Rs. 8.2 million and bought a car for his use, on the instruction of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2007. Abeygunawardena was President Rajapaksa

The UPFA is planning to move a motion in the House seeking a two-thirds majority to dissolve Parliament. UPFA senior MPs had already commenced talks with other parties to solicit their support to secure the two-third majority, a UPFA MP told The Island. The MP said that some UNP MPs, too, had expressed their willingness to support the motion and the JVP was also of the opinion that Parliament should be dissolved.

Allies of the new alliance led by the United National Party (UNP) will meet on Sunday to take a final decision with regard to the new alliance, an MP of a political party, which is expected to join the Democratic National Front (DNF) said yesterday. He told Daily Mirror that a symbol for the DNF has not been selected as yet. The new alliance will include the UNP, SLMC, TPA, ACMC and several other minor parties.

According to the GCE Advanced Level Examination 2018, result it is reported that 4,912 students have obtained three

President Maithripala Sirisena is preparing to announce an early presidential election, Asian Mirror reliably learns. The President has already discussed the matter with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, informed political sources told Asian Mirror. While speaking to the media last week, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa also indicated that there might be an early Presidential election.

President Maithripala Sirisena appointed five new Governors today including Azath Salley who was appointed as the Governor of the Western Province. Others appointed today included Maithri Gunaratne as the Governor of the Central Province, Sarath Ekanayake as the Governor of the North Central Province, Peshala Jayaratne Bandara as the Governor of the North Western Province and M. L. A. M. Hizbullah as the Governor of the Eastern Province.

Ministry Secretaries have been told to comply with a circular issued by the President

Former Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara has been appointed as the new General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). The SLFP Central Committee unanimously decided to appoint Jayasekara as the General Secretary of the party at its meeting held today. Professor Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa who was appointed to the post in June last year had tendered his resignation. Jayasekera identified party reorganization and uniting warring factions as one of his main priorities.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya told the party leaders meeting that he stood by his stance on recognizing former president Mahinda Rahapaksa as the Opposition Leader in Parliament. The party leaders met the Speaker today to discuss the agenda for the next week. Party leaders such as Mano Ganesan and Rauff Hakeem disputed Mr. Rajapaksa's eligibility hold this post.

State-run Airports Authority of India (AAI), which plans to build airports abroad, is yet to get the Ministry of External Affairs

Former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said yesterday an anarchic and dangerous situation could arise in the country as there was no cabinet minister in the House to present Acts and Bills of the state institutions which come under the purview of the President. Responding to our inquiry, Dr. Rajapakshe said it was certain that the country

Former civil servant Devanesan Nesiah officially returned the

A High-level government delegation led by Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera together with Treasury Secretary Dr. R. H. S. Samaratunga is to visit Washington DC in late January to revive the grant of US$480 million (approximately Rs. 87 billion) from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the Daily Mirror learns.

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday agreed to place the State Banks under the purview of Public Enterprise Development Minister Lakshman Kiriella, Daily Mirror learns. n assigning subjects and responsibilities to the Ministers, the President gazetted the State Banks under Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera. However, Mr. Kiriella, who held them previously, protested the move. He also said it was a revengeful act by the President. The President told the Cabinet yesterday that he did not intend to take revenge from anyone in this case.

Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems has secured an order to build Sri Lanka

The army conducted a search operation, yesterday, soon after the recovery of four hand grenades, a pistol, ammunition and several hand phones at Pudur, Puliyankulam in the Vavuniya District. The army was called in after an unidentified person fled the area leaving a bag behind on seeing the police. The Special Task Force (STF) assisted the operation.

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera will present the Appropriation Bill for 2019 to Parliament on 5 February, while the Budget will be presented on 5 March.

The first cabinet proposals for 2019 were approved when the cabinet met with President Maithripala Sirisena today. The first cabinet meeting for the year took place at the Presidential Secretariat today. United National Front Parliamentarian, Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka said that all the proposals submitted at the cabinet meeting were approved by the President today. He said that most of the proposals were related to the Finance Ministry.

Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said the government has not given promises harmful to the country to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) with the aim of receiving its support. The Minister was addressing a gathering organised to welcome the New Year at Mahara recently. Answering questions raised by journalists, the Minister said that even he will not be ready to work with the government anymore, if the government paves the way for separatism or acts that arouse ethnic divisions.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to have a discussion with President Maithripala Sirisena on the latter