Hizbullah and Salley hand in resignations

President’s Media Division stated that the President accepted the resignation letters of the governors.

A discussion was held at the Presidential Secretariat between President Sirisena, MPs of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Governors Hizbullah and Salley regarding the titles of the governors.

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 10 wickets

New Zealand kicked off their World Cup campaign with a 10-wicket thrashing of Sri Lanka in Cardiff on Saturday.

Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson both took three wickets for New Zealand as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 136 despite an unbeaten 52 from captain Dimuth Karunaratne.

Martin Guptill and Colin Munro hit unbeaten half-centuries in New Zealand’s run-chase as the 2015 World Cup runners-up cruised to 137 without loss in 16.1 overs.

Passport fees jacked up

Fees charged for issuing passports have been revised with effect from yesterday (31).


Accordingly, the fee for obtaining a passport has been increased from Rs. 3,000 to Rs 3,500 for the normal service.


The one-day service fee, which was previously Rs 10,000 has been increased to Rs. 15,000.

Laws to regulate social media soon

The Oversight Committee on National Security is seriously contemplating on imposing new laws to regulate social media, UPFA MP Lasantha Alagiyawanna said.

The MP, who took part in the National Security Oversight Committee meeting in Parliament yesterday, said a lengthy discussion took place on the proposed laws to regulate social media.

Speaker summons Parliament

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday, said in a media statement, that Parliament would meet today at 10 am as per the gazette notification issued by President Maithripala Sirisena on Nov, 04 convening the new session of parliament.

All MPs have been informed by the Speaker to attend today’s session.Meanwhile, parliament sources said that the Speaker had summoned a party leaders’ meeting at 8.30 am in his office at the parliamentary complex.

SC suspends dissolution

The Supreme Court yesterday issued an interim order suspending, till Dec. 07, President Maithripala Sirisena’s gazette notification dissolving Parliament and calling a general electioni and granted leave to proceed with all the fundamental rights violation petitions filed against the recent dissolution of Parliament.

At the outset Attorney General, Jayantha Jayasuriya President’s Counsel told the Supreme Court that Article 33/2/C of the Constitution empowered the President to exercise his executive powers, to prorogue, dissolve or summon Parliament and Article 70/1, explained the procedure he was bound to follow, in dissolving Parliament and fixing the dates for the nomination and the election.

PM Rajapaksa obtains SLPP membership

A number of individuals including PM Mahinda Rajapaksa obtained membership of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) earlier today.

The event took place at the Wijerama residence of Mahinda Rajapaksa. Chairman of the SLPP Prof. G.L. Peiris was also present at the occasion.

The other individuals who obtained membership were Mahindanda Aluthgamage, Rohitha Abeygunawardene, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Jhonston Fernando and Namal Rajapaksa.

71 ex-MPs to miss out on pension

The sudden dissolution of the Sri Lankan Parliament means that over 70 of its former members are not entitled to the pension scheme provided members who have served the Legislature for a certain period.

This is due to the parliamentary pension law stating that only a person who has served as a Member of the Legislature for a minimum period of five years in the aggregate shall be entitled to monthly payment of a pension.