President Maithripala Sirisena, who was in the United States of America to attend the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), returned to the country early this morning. He left for the USA on September 22 and had addressed the UNGA on September 25. President held special discussions with several world leaders on the sidelines of the main event, including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Secretary General of Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland.

More than 380 people have been confirmed dead after a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit an Indonesian city on Friday, the BBC reported. Waves up to 3m (10ft) high swept through Palu on Sulawesi island. Strong aftershocks rocked the city on Saturday. Thousands of homes have collapsed, along with hospitals, hotels and a shopping centre. Rescue efforts are under way, though hampered by a major power cut. The main road to Palu has been blocked due to a landslide and a key bridge is out of action.

The mobs operating in the North can be contained if the Army is given the necessary powers even for a limited period of time, Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake said today. He said this to journalists after visiting the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy to seek blessings for the Sri Lanka Army on its 69th Anniversary. The Commander said the Army would fulfil its duties should the government decide to give more powers to the army.

President Maithripala Sirisena briefed the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres about Sri Lanka

Only one out of 12,191 LTTE cadres who surrendered to the military during the last stage of the war remains to be released after after rehabilitation, Vavuniya Punthottam Rehabilitation Director Colonel Asela Obeysekera said yesterday. "Nearly 12190 former LTTE combatants, who surrendered to the army underwent rehabilitation and were reintegrated into society. Only one still remains in a camp in Vavuniya," he said at an event held at the Wanni Punthottam Rehabilitation Camp where three rehabilitated ex-LTTEers were handed over to their relatives.

Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says that the Sri Lankan government is to initiate the construction of the first LNG power plant in Hambantota in October under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the government of China. Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya participating in an inspection tour of the proposed site yesterday (28) said the project will be a joint venture between the Chinese government and the Ceylon Electricity Board.

Towards the end of the Civil war in Sri Lanka, he was unaware of LTTE plans to launch Arial attacks on Colombo, said the former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. He also noted that during the last days of the war he was never overseas. He said this to BBC Sinhala service in response to a statement made by President Maithripala Sirisena last Thursday claiming that none of the leaders at the time, including former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister, Army Commander Sarath Fonseka or the Defence Secretary were in the country during the last two weeks of the war.

The Government has undertaken to expedite the cases of persons who had been held in custody or detention for a long time under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Opposition Leader and TNA Leader R. Sampanthan met Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees on Wednesday to discuss matters pertaining to the prisoners detained under the PTA and the new counter-terror legislation.

Tourism Development and Christian Affairs Minister John Amaratunga, yesterday, said the government was exploring the possibility of resuming the ferry service between Rameshwaram and Thalaimannar. Addressing the World Tourism Day official celebration at the University of Jaffna, the Minister said the government was keen to proceed with the plan as it would benefit the Northern Province.

The ten Tamil prisoners at the Anuradhapura Prison, who commenced a fast- unto-death on 14 September have sent a letter to President Maithripala Sirisena seeking unconditional release, citing punishments already suffered owing to over nine years in detention. Members of the Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners will hand over the letter to the Presidential Secretariat today (28).

In a shocking revelation, President Maithripala Sirisena said the LTTE, during the last two weeks of war, had plans to cluster-bomb Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, using aircraft's operated from Chennai. That is why, Sirisena said, some top-notch war time leaders - namely former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, former Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickremanayake and former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka - were not in the country during the last to weeks of the battle.

Referring to the remark made by President Maithripala Sirisena at the UN General Assembly that Sri Lanka should be allowed to handle its own internal affairs, former MP Sarath Weerasekara said the President

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has left for Singapore on a private visit. He is scheduled to remain in Singapore for four days and will meet Sri Lankans living in Singapore during his tour, according to an SLPP Spokesperson. He said that the former President would be accompanied by his family members and several Joint Opposition MPs on this tour to Singapore. Rajapaksa is scheduled to return to Colombo on Monday, October 01.

Talks are underway between several Tamil parties in the North to form a new coalition under the leadership of Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Vigneswaran by next month, according to former TNA MP Suresh Premachandran. Speaking to the Daily News, he said the new coalition would be formed as an alternative to the Tamil National Alliance, as the people feel that the TNA had let them down. This coalition is expected to get the support of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), All Ceylon Tamil Congress and other reputed Tamil parties.

The 31st commemoration of LTTE member Thileepan AKA Raasaiya Pratheepan, who died following a fast-unto-death- protest against the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), was held today near the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple, Jaffna under the patronage of Jaffna Mayor. Political members including members of the Tamil National People

The Fort Magistrate

The JO was of the opinion that the Police was behind the conspiracy to assassinate former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family members, JO member MP Shehan Semasinghe said today. The CID informed Colombo Magistrate's Court on Tuesday that the Indian national had claimed that there was a plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family members.

Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara today said the Indian national had not revealed any assassination plot to the CID on President Maithripala Sirisena and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa but had only spoken of a threat to several individuals following the revelation by Anti Corruption Movement

US President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump with President Maithripala Sirisena and First Lady Jayanthi Sirisena at a reception on the occasion of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly at the Lotte New York Palace in New York.

The Government has proposed life imprisonment for the offence of terrorism if such act caused any other person

An Indian national with alleged links to a plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had said there had been a conspiracy to kill the entire Rajapaksa family and President Maithripala Sirisena, the CID informed Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne, yesterday.

President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday called on the international community

The Indian High Commission in Colombo on Wednesday said the Indian national, who had been arrested in Sri Lanka over the alleged assassination attempt of President Maithripala Sirisena, his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa and family members

Mount Lavinia Additional Magistrate Lochana Abeywickrama yesterday ordered the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to conclude the investigations into the abduction and assault of former Deputy Editor of The Nation, Keith Noyahr in 2008. The Additional Magistrate also issued an order directing the CID that the extract of the investigations be referred to the Attorney General. Filing a further report, CID officials informed the Additional Magistrate that the Defence Secretary handed over the answers to the questionnaire provided by the CID.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has decided to lend its support towards the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution Bill, which was tabled in Parliament early this month, as a private member

The excavation at the mass grave in Mannar was temporarily halted for a week yesterday (24) due to urgent official duties. Consultant Judicial Medical Officer of Mannar, in charge of the dig, Dr. W.R.S. Rajapaksa told Ceylon Today that the excavations were halted due to his unavailability during that time as he is scheduled to attend several urgent High Court proceedings. According to him, the team had been engaged in the continuous excavation duties for the last 76 days.

The Government has issued the gazette of the Counter Terrorism Bill. The Bill is intended to make provision for the protection of Sri Lanka and the people of Sri Lanka from acts of terrorism and other offences associated with terrorism; for the prevention of terrorism and other offences associated with terrorism committed within or outside Sri Lanka and for the prevention of the use of Sri Lankan territory and its people for the preparation for terrorism outside Sri Lanka.

Ceylex Pvt Ltd. signed a loan agreement with the NDB bank on Friday to develop two wind power projects in Chavakachcheri, Jaffna. Driven by state-of-the-art technology, each power project will have a capacity of ten megawatts.