Parliament sessions commenced a short while ago under Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. The UNF, JVP and the TNA will today vote on a motion to cut funding to ministries to pay the salaries and perks of all Ministers, Deputy Ministers and State Ministers of the Rajapaksa Government and their personal staff. Funding cuts will apply to salaries, air travel and other privileges and expenses. The UPFA has again decided to boycott today's Parliament sittings.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has visited Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne at the Welikada prison today (Nov 29) This was confirmed by Mr. Rajapaksa's Media Secretary Rohan Velivita. Mr. Velivita further said that the former President had also visited Gnanasara Thero and Duminda Silva who are serving sentences in prison.

The Finance Ministry would reduce the prices of all kinds of fuel from Rs. 5.00 with effect from midnight today, Labour, Foreign Employment & Petroleum Resources Minister Gamini Lokuge said. Accordingly, the prices of Lanka Petrol (Octane 92 and 95), Lanka Auto Diesel and Super Diesel would be reduced by Rs.5.

Minister S.B. Dissanayake said yesterday there would not be any change of government and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa would continue in his post. He told a news conference held at the parliament complex that the prime minister would not be replaced. "There are no vacancies for a Prime Minister or ministers in the government. No other person will be appointed to that post. This government will continue," Mr. Dissanayake said.

The TNA has written to President Maithripala Sirisena urging him to appoint a Prime Minister who commands the confidence of Parliament. The letter comprising 14 signatures claimed that the Prime Minister appointed on October 26 has yet to prove the majority although he has been in office for over a month. The TNA said further that this situation cannot go on and all its members pledged to support the UNF.

In the course of discussions between Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and President Sirisena which took place today regarding the current political deadlock, the President agreed to hold discussions with the Opposition Leader and leaders of the United National Front tomorrow (Nov 30) inorder to come to a resolution.

The motion to cut off funding to the Prime Minister's office was passed in Parliament a short while ago with 123 MPs voting in favour. No votes were cast against the motion, with United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MPs deciding to boycott today's sittings as well.

Making a special statement in Parliament, MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe stated that those who have the majority in Parliament must be allowed to form a government. Mr Rajapakshe appealed to the Speaker to hold discussions with the President in a bid to end the current political deadlock.

The purported Government

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Ravindra Wijegunaratne, who was remanded yesterday was transferred to the Welikada prison from the Magazine Prison last night, Commissioner General of Prisons Nishan Dhanasinghe said. He said the CDS was transferred to the Welikada Prison due to security reasons because there are possible threats from LTTE carders detained at the Magazine Prison.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Ravindra Wijegunaratne, who appeared before the Colombo Fort Magistrate

A fundamental rights petition challenging the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister has been filed at the Supreme Courts by Ven. Dambara Amila Thero today (Nov 28). The petition requested the Supreme Court to disband the gazette notification issued by President Maithripala Sirisena to appoint Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister while ousting Ranil Wickremesinghe from the said position.

Several photo journalists and cameramen who were at the Fort Magistrate

Cabinet spokesman Mahinda Samarasinghe has said that Keheliya Rambukwella will be removed from the position of co-cabinet spokesman with effect from today (Nov 28). MP Samarasinghe also noted that MP Rambukwella would be removed as State Minister of Mass Media and Digital Infrastructure since the positions of Deputy Ministers and State Ministers are considered invalid during the tenure of an interim government.

Responding to a statement made by President Maithripala Sirisena that he will not appoint him as the Prime Minister again; UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said the President has to offer the post to anyone chosen by Parliament. Mr. Wickremesinghe expressed this sentiment at a public rally in Kalutara last evening.

The Sri Lankan Rupee further depreciated against the US Dollar today. According to the exchange rates of the Central Bank, the Rupee was selling at Rs.182.27 against the US Dollar.

Eelam Tamils across the world come together to remember and pay tribute to the Maaveerar - those who gave their lives for the struggle for liberation. In the North-East, recent weeks saw local residents, former LTTE cadre and families of the Maaveerar Naal clearing and renovating the Thuyilum Illams (LTTE cemetries or resting homes), which were destroyed by the Sri Lankan military, in preparation for the event.

The excavations at the mass grave, which was discovered near the old CWE (Sathosa) building in Mannar, have been resumed, according to the Judicial Medical Officer in charge of the inspection Dr S. Rajapaksa. He stated that the 105th day of the excavations is to be resumed from today (27) after it temporarily came to a halt recently. Under the instructions of the Mannar Magistrate

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Ravindra Wijegunaratne again failed to report to the CID this morning, officials said. The CDS was asked to report to the CID to record a statement over allegedly harbouring Lieutenant Commander Prasad Hettiarachchi alias Navy Sampath. He was first summoned to the CID in September but failed to appear as he left for Mexico. This was the second time he was summoned to the CID.

All parliamentarians of the government today boycotted the parliament session which commenced a short while ago. The government has decided to boycott the session following a decision was taken at its parliamentary group meeting.

On a request made by Iran, Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had given clearance for an Iranian involved in the Uma Oya project to take USD 53,455 out of the country, on humanitarian grounds. The Finance Ministry rejected reports that the Customs Department was pressurised to release the money.

United National Party (UNP) MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka today requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to summon IGP Pujitha Jayasundara to Parliament within 48 hours, over the recent remarks made by the President with regard to the alleged assassination plot. The MP said President Maithripala Sirisena had recently said that

Chief Justice Nalin Perera today appointed a seven-member judge bench headed by him to hear the fundamental rights petitions filed against the dissolution of parliament. The bench comprises of Chef Justice Nalin Perera, Buwaneka Aluvihare, Sisira de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardana, Prasanna Jayawardana, Vijitha Malalgoda and Murdu Fernando.

The United National Party (UNP) today insisted that President Maithripala Sirisena cannot decide who can be the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, based on his personal vendettas. UNP Chairman Kabir Hashim said noted that the President is reported to have said that he will not appoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister in his life time even if legally proven that he commands the confidence of the majority in the house.

The Sri Lankan Rupee depreciated to over Rs. 181 against the US Dollar today. The SL Rupee sold at Rs 181.54 against the US Dollar today.

Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal today fixed for support on November 30 the petition challenging Mahinda Rajapaksa's premiership. As many as 122 parliamentarians of UNP, JVP and TNA on last Friday (23) filed a Writ of Quo Warranto in the Court of Appeal challenging Mahinda Rajapaksa on what authority he continues to hold the office of Prime Minister after a no confidence motion had been passed in Parliament against him.

A key witness in the police investigations into the Chief of Defense Staff Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne's role in sheltering the main suspect in the abductions of 11 youths has been threatened, the police said. According to the Fort Police, the witness, identified as Lieutenant Commander Laksiri of Sri Lanka Navy has lodged a complaint that he was assaulted and threatened by a group of people.

Former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranaike