Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today said that he hoped to renew and strengthen the relations between China and Sri Lanka this year. In a message sent to Xinhua, greeting the people of China for the Chinese New Year which falls on Feb. 8 this year, Wickremesinghe said that he was pleased to offer his greetings for a peaceful and prosperous New Year to the Chinese people on behalf of all Sri Lankans.

At the National Defence Council, the president and the prime minister have sought information with regard to the arrest of Navy Lt. Yoshtha Rajapaksa, second son of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.Top defence officials have explaiend that the arrest was made after a year-long investigation, which confirmed, through the perusal of around 12,000 email messages that he had functioned as head of CSN television channel. The president and the prime minister have stressed that the accuracy of the allegations against politicians and their family members should be verified before arrest.

A group of Tamils in Vavuniya held a black flag campaign this morning saying the Tamils in the Northern Province were unable to celebrate the 68th Independence Day in freedom. The protest was launched by the Collective of the Families of Disappeared Persons and the citizens committee in the Vavuniya district.

President Maithripala Sirisena today made a pledge to protect National interests when addressing concerns over the war and implementing the UN Resolution on Sri Lanka. The President made this pledge while addressing the nation at the 68th Independence Day anniversary event at Galle Face today. He said that the UN Resolution would not have been submitted to the UN Human Rights Council last September if efforts were taken to address key issues soon after the war ended in May 2009.

A Tamil-language version of Sri Lanka

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra

Ex-President in his Independence Day message laments the increasing interference by foreign powers in the affairs of the country since the last presidential election. He vows to fight for the country

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday congratulated Sri Lanka on the 68th anniversary of the founding of country. In a message addressed to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Xi said that China-Sri Lanka relations, with a long history, have grown ever stronger and that both peoples have benefited from friendly cooperation between the two countries. Xi recalled that during President Sirisena's visit to China in March 2015, the two sides reached many agreements on the further development of bilateral relations in the new situation. Xi said that he attaches great importance to China-Sri Lanka ties and that he is willing to work with President Sirisena to further promote the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The Democratic Party (DP) led by Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka on Wednesday joined the United National Front (UNF) after signing an MoU with the UNP- the leading party of the alliance. Though there were strong speculation that Field Marshal Fonseka was to be appointed to Parliament to fill the vacancy created by the demise of Minister M K. A. D. S. Gunawardene and would be given a Ministerial portfolio, both parties said no final decision had been taken on these matters.

Members of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and other Buddhist organisations held a demonstration outside the Buddhist Affairs Ministry this evening obstructing the traffic demanding the release of BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, who is in remand custody. After the demonstration, the members marched towards the President

The Minister of External Affairs of India, Sushma Swaraj will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from February 5-6 for the Ninth Session of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. The India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission, co-chaired by Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera and the Minister Swaraj will be held on February 5 in Colombo. The India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission was established in 1992 as an effective mechanism to address matters pertaining to bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

A Sri Lankan-born man received an 18-month suspended sentence in Germany Tuesday for membership of the rebel group the Tamil Tigers which Germany considers a terrorist organisation, the AFP news agency reported. The 53-year-old German national, identified only as Yogendran G. by the court in the northern city of Hamburg, was convicted of having raised funds in Germany from 2007-2009 for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).The LTTE committed a string of attacks against civilian targets and national infrastructure during Sri Lanka

This week

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today slammed the decision to sing the National anthem in Tamil during the independence day celebrations on Thursday. Rajapaksa claimed that the Government had decided to sing the National anthem in Tamil to please India.He said that the National anthem should be sung in one language and not two or three languages. The former President noted that even in India where several languages are spoken, the National anthem is sung only in one language. Rajapaksa also said that he has not been formally invited for the independence day celebrations. He also confirmed that the joint opposition will boycott the event.

An impeachment motion could be brought against President Maithripala Sirisena if he allows the National Anthem (NA) to be sung in Tamil violating the Constitution, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila said today. He said according to Section seven of the 1978 Constitution currently in force, the National Anthem could be sung only in Sinhala.

The Defence Ministry has informed the Navy Commander to take legal action against Lieutenant Yoshitha Rajapaksa for allegedly touring foreign countries at his own discretion without seeking permission from the Navy Commander while he was attached to the Presidential Secretariat. Yoshitha Rajapaska has allegedly toured a number of countries during the time he was attached to the Presidenital Secretariat. Investigations conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy have revealed threat Lt. Rajapaksa had not sought such permission from the Commander. Rajapaksa has not made any request from the Navy Commander in writing or verbally about such foreign tours.

Former President Rajapaksa yesterday urged the government to hold local government elections. Else, legal action would be taken against it, he warned. The ex-president was answering queries by the media after paying homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Sri Dalada Maligawa. Rajapaksa said the government did not seem keen to hold the LG polls. "During our administration we held elections one after the other. There were plenty of elections." The government which had pathetically failed to make good on its promises was maniacally focussed on harassing his family to cover up its failure, Rajapaksa said.

Four suspects including Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa

Democratic Party Leader Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka is expected to join the United National Front (UNF) tomorrow. Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Harsha De Silva said today that the details were being finalized at discussions between the Field Marshal and the party general secretary.

Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva today called government to disban Finanacial the Crime Investigations Divission(FCID) saying that it has not been set up legaly, Mr de Silva adressing a news Conference at the Information Departmeent said that it was similar to bringing judges from over seas to hear our cases.

The Tamil People

Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardana today said singing the National Anthem at the 68th Independence Day celebrations at Galle Face in Sinhala and Tamil was not an issue because the Constitution clearly states that Sinhala and Tamil are national languages and as such it could be sung in both languages at any State function. He told the media at the Prime Minister

The Colombo Special High Court today removed the arrest warrant and 'Red Notice' issued on former LTTE top ranked leader Emil Kanthan after he assured to surrender to the Court within two weeks.

A group of activists affiliated with the Rajapaksa group have planned to stage a protest in Colombo on February 3, a day before the Independence Day ceremony. The protest is expected to be staged near the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo 1 against the arrest of BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera and action taken by law enforcement authorities against some top - notch members of the previous regime.Initial discussions in this regard had taken place last week at the Abayaramaya in Colombo with the participation of some Buddhist monks supporting the former President. Abhayaramaya Temple Head Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera was also seen at the discussion, political sources said.

A Sergeant Major and a Corporal arrested in connection with journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda

Yoshitha Rajapakse and five others who were arrested on Saturday have been given additional security but no additional privileges, Prisons Spokesman Thushara Upuldeniya said. Making a statement to the media, Prison Commissioner Upuldeniya said the suspects were in normal prison cells, except for Kavishan Dissanayake who was admitted to the Prisons Hospital for treatment.The Department has however taken measures to reduce unnecessary visitors to the premises.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the remand prison at Welikada to see his son Yoshitha Rajapaksa.Yoshitha Rajapaksa and four others were remanded yesterday over allegations of fraud at Carlton Sports Network. Rajapaksa is being kept in Ward J of the remand prison.Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the prison with MPs Namal Rajapaksa, Lohan Ratwatte and Johnston Fernando.Visitors are not allowed in the remand prison on Sundays. However, Members of Parliament have the right to visit the prison at any time of the day without prior approval.

Following the arrest of his brother Yoshith Rajapaksa, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's third son Rohitha Rajapaksa warned the 'Yahapalana' government with a Facebook post."Dear Yahapalanaya..... You just stood on the tail of THE lion, now don't expect the lion, not to rip u in to parts" he said on Facebook, sharing a picture of Yoshitha Rajapaksa in handcuffs. Meanwhile, he updated a profile picture which shows him with his two brothers, Namal and Yoshitha. Yoshitha Rajapaksa was remanded yesterday over alleged fraud at Carlton Sports Network. He was charged under the Money Laundering Act.