While congratulating UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, MP Namal Rajapaksa said today that he hoped the Prime Minister would work towards ensuring the sovereignty of the country.

Opposition Leader R Sampanthan is recovering at home after a brief illness, a close associate told The Sunday Morning. The Opposition Leader, who is also the Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), was in hospital for three days. According to sources, the Opposition Leader had been advised to rest further and is still under his doctor

Ranil Wickremesinghe has to seek the help of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to pass the 2019 Budget, Parliamentarian Rohitha Abeygunewardena said, adding that therefore, the TNA has the power and control over the new government. He expressed these views at a Media briefing held yesterday (15) at Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) head office.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has formally resigned from his disputed Prime Minister post. United People

The United National Party (UNP) says it is prepared to work with President Maithripala Sirisena again in the Government. UNP deputy leader Sajith Premadasa said that Sirisena had agreed to appoint UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister again. Premadasa said that he was not surprised that the President had agreed to appoint Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister despite taking a firm position earlier that he will not appoint Wickremesinghe.

UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has said that the appointment of new cabinet ministers would commence on Monday and conclude on Tuesday. Addressing a media briefing, he said that plans are afoot to establish a United National Front (UNF) government. Commenting on the composition of the cabinet, the UNP MP said that attempts would be made to restrict the number of ministers to 30.

Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will take on the Opposition Leader post while UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardena will take on the Chief Opposition Whip, MP S. B. Dissanayake said today. Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he said the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had no right to hold the opposition post in parliament because they were acting according to the whims and fancies of the UNP.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to submit a list of cabinet ministers to President Maithripala Sirisena today (Dec 15), according to presidential sources. Accordingly, this matter was discussed at the closed door meeting between the President, Mr. Wickremesinghe, and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, on December 13.

Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said on Thursday the EC would seek a ruling from the Supreme Court on the measures on the measures to be taken to conduct the provincial council elections in 2020. He said though political parties were levelling allegations against the EC for the delay in holding PC elections but that they were not responsible for the delay.

Supreme Court grants leave to proceed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa appeal against Court of Appeal's interim injunction order suspending him from functioning as Prime Minister. Supreme Court also refused to vacate the interim injunction issued by the Court of Appeal, further restraining Mahinda Rajapaksa and other 48 members from acting in their capacities as PM and ministers, until the cases are fully heard and concluded.

President Maithripala Sirisena and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had met last night (13), according to sources from the Presidential Media Division. The President is said to have agreed to give the Premiership to the party holding the majority in parliament after the verdict of the appeal petition filed by Mahinda Rajapaksa and the

Confusions still prevail over former Presidet Mahinda Rajapaksa's decision to resign from his position after the Supreme Court's ruling last evening. Speaking to the media yesterday, several close associates of Rajapaksa said the former Prime Minister and his party would officially step down from the government. It was also reported that Rajapaksa had met Sirisena last evening and discussed the resignation.

President Maithripala Sirisena has said that he would appoint a new government and cabinet next Monday based on the party which holds the majority in Parliament, MP Nishantha Muthuhettigama said. He made this remarks following yesterdays meeting held between the President and the MPs of the SLFP and the SLPP. MP Muthuhettigama further said the UPFA would prove its majority by Monday.

A contempt of court petition has been filed at the Supreme Court against former Chief Justice (CJ) Sarath N Silva over his defamatory statements on the judidcary at a public rally in March this year. Three petitioners including Prof. Chandra Gupta Thenuwara filed the petition which questioned as to why Mr. Silva had not been stripped off from his title of Attorney.

Two more Navy officers have been arrested over the abduction and disappearance of 11 youth. The two Navy officers were arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Former Navy Lieutenant Commander Chandana Hettiaracchi aka Navy Sampath, wis already in remanded over the abduction of the 11 youth. The 11 youth had been abducted between 2008 and 2009.

The Supreme Court today announced that the President's decision to dissolve Parliament was illegal. Delivering the final verdict, it was announced that the seven member judge bench had unanimously agreed that the President could not dissolve the Parliament before a period of four and a half years.

A female employee was reported to have been injured following a tense situation which arose at Lake House a short while ago. According to eye witnesses, a scuffle had broken out between the employees of Lake House and a mob which had arrived in a jeep and attempted to storm into the building. It is reported that police personnel have been deployed for security near the premises of Lake House.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe taking to his official Twitter handle has said that he expects the President to respect the decision of the Supreme Court. He further said the system of checks and balances between the Executive, legislature and the judiciary are vital for popular souvereignty.

A special meeting between the members of the UPFA and the SLPP is currently underway at the Presidential Secretariat. The meeting is being Presided over by President Sirisena to come to a decision on the future course of action following today's verdict issued by the Supreme Court. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is also present at the meeting.

Opposition leader R Sampanthan has refuted social media reports of an agreement signed between the TNA and the UNP. Issuing a press release, he stated that he did not sign a document of that nature while also adding that the document is "deliberately false".

MP Namal Rajapaksa taking to his official Twiitter handle shortly after the Supreme Court delivered their verdict on the dissolution gazette, has said they would accept the Supreme Court's decision despite having their reservations on the verdict. However, he further said he would stand by those calling for a parliamentary election.

MPs of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) have reportedly held a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena this morning. The meeting had taken place at the official residence of Sirisena. TNA sources said it was the President who invited TNA MPs for the meeting. At the discussion, however, Sirisena had requested TNA MPs to withdraw their support for the confidence motion on UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament today.

The motion of confidence presented in support of United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was passed in parliament with 117 MPs voting for it. The motion was presented by UNP MP Sajith Premadasa and it was seconded by MP Mangala Samaraweera. The MPs of the TNA and UNF voted for the motion while JVP MPs abstained from voting.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has notified President Maithripala Sirisena regarding the manner in which the confidence motion of Ranil Wickremesinghe was tabled in Parliament today (Dec 12). The Speaker's office, issuing a press release said the motion was put forward as per the provisions of Standing Order 27 (3) by MPs Sajith Premadasa, Ravi Karunanayake, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Lakshman Kiriella, Rajitha Senaratne, Palani Digambaram, Mangala Samaraweera, and Rishad Bathiudeen.

UPFA MP Keheliya Rambukwella said that they don

The hearing of the Writ of Quo Warranto against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his purported government has been postponed to January 16, 17 and 18th. This was the case in which the Court of Appeal issued an interim order last week preventing Rajapaksa and his government from holding office. The interim order, therefore, has been extended until the next hearing of the case. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will take up the petition filed by Rajapaksa's lawyers challenging the interim order today.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today adjourned parliament session till 1.00 pm on December 18. Prior to the adjournment, a motion of confidence was passed in support of UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. It was presented by UNP MP Sajith Premadasa.

A motion has been filed in the Supreme Court today by a lawyer against the request made by President Maithripala Sirisena asking the Chief Justice to expedite the court ruling on the dissolution of parliament. In his motion, the lawyer said such requests undermined the hearing of the case. Therefore, he requested the Supreme Court to issue a ruling after considering the motion.