Travel ban on Cabraal further extended

The Colombo Chief Magistrate's court today further extended its order preventing former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal from leaving the country until May 2.
 
On April 7, the Court had issued notices directing Cabraal to appear in court today. However, Cabraal was not present in Court but he was represented by senior counsel Jeewantha Jayatillake. He submitted to court that previous court order does not require his client to be present in court since he is appearing for the respondent.

New State Ministers sworn in before the President

 
Several new State Ministers have been sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the President’s Media Division confirmed.

Accordingly, a total of twenty-one state ministers have been appointed by the President today.

Full list of new state ministers:

President appoints 17 new Cabinet ministers

Sri Lanka has appointed a new 17-member Cabinet of Minister of Monday (18).

SJB to handover no confidence motion against govt. on Tuesday

Samagi Jana Balawegaya ( SJB) is to handover the no confidence motion against the government to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene on Tuesday April 19 2022, an SJB MP said today.

SJB MP Mujibur Rahman told DailyMirror that the motion will be handed over to the Speaker on Tuesday .

Stock market temporarily closed next week

The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Sri Lanka has directed the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) to temporarily close the stock market for a period of five business days commencing from the 18th of April.

Basil still in Sri Lanka

Former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa who was rumored to have left Sri Lanka via the Ratmalana Airport today morning is still in the country and in hospital, after he was infected with the COVID-19 virus, airport sources have confirmed . 

Sri Lanka proposes new law on fake news

(AFP) Sri Lanka’s government will introduce five-year jail terms for those caught spreading fake news and hate speech on social media, the government said, following a surge in online vitriol and disinformation after the Easter suicide attacks.

The cabinet of ministers approved a proposal by the acting justice minister, which will also see offenders fined one million rupees ($5,715), the government said in a statement.

Three nabbed with 17,400 SIM cards, 402 iPhones

Three suspects have been arrested along with various telecommunication equipment including 17,400 SIM cards, over 402 iPhones and 60 internet routers.

The raid was carried out this morning at Etthukala, Negombo based on information received by the Police Special Task Force, said the Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara.