Chartered flights for MR: UL not paid Rs 122.3 mn

The Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs owe SriLankan Airlines Rs. 122.3 million for chartered flights between 2009 and 2014 for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) on irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka was informed yesterday.
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SLFP to support no-confidence motion against Azath Salley

A no-confidence motion against western province governor Azath Salley will be tabled at the PC’s meeting today (22), said its opposition leader Manju Sri Arangala.

There are seven counts of accusations against Salley, including financial misappropriation, Arangala said, adding that appointing such a person as the governor was an insult to the WPC.
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Record temperatures in Nuwara Eliya

The lowest temperatures recorded in recent history was reported during the past 24 hours from 8.30 am yesterday (20) in the Nuwara Eliya District.

According to the Met Department, the recorded temperature was 4.6 degrees Celsius.

This is a 5 degree Celsius drop from the usual temperature in the district. The lowest temperature was recorded in the district in 1914, which was -3.7.
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Ashley backs Chrishantha’s candidacy with false documents

CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket - Ashley de Silva has reportedly submitted false documents of Chrishantha Kapuwatta to election committee, reports cricketage.in.

According to the website, the documents submitted by the SLC CEO state that Mr. Kapuwaththa has played U-23 cricket during the eighties. However, sources say that he had never played cricket at any level and his club was not even part of the tournament mentioned.
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President leaves Philippines after 5-day state visit

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena left the Philippines on Saturday afternoon after a five-day state visit, a first for a sitting Sri Lankan head of state in the country.

Sirisena left the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 2 p.m., foreign media reported.

Prior to his flight, the Sri Lankan leader was given departure honors by members of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet.
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Gazette released : nothing new for Kiriella!

Although the UNP said that the discrepancies in allocating subjects of the current cabinet would be rectified and a new gazette would be released, there has not been a significant change in the new gazette issued by the President on January 16th.
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Mahinda Rajapaksa assumes duties at Opposition Leader’s Office

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has assumed duties at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo this morning (18), said Ada Derana reporter.

Chairman of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna G.L. Peiris, MP Susil Premajayantha, MP Gamini Lokuge and several other parliamentarians had joined this event held at the Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 07.
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US citizenship, a personal matter - Gota

Former Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said his US citizenship status was a personal matter to him, which he can decide to keep or relinquish.

Mr. Rajapaksa was responding to a number of questions posed by journalists, after appearing before the Permanent High Court Trial at Bar yesterday (17).
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2 new varieties of Wood apple

The National Agriculture Information and Communication Centre (NAICC) says that two new varieties of Wood apple have been introduced.

The new varieties, known as ANK-1 and ANK-2, will increase the number of Wood apple varieties in Sri Lanka to 176.
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Sri Lanka says has $300 million loan offer from Bank of China, may increase to $1 billion

Sri Lanka is considering an offer from Bank of China (601988.SS) for a loan of $300 million, which could be raised to $1 billion, to help it meet repayments in coming months, junior finance minister Eran Wickramaratne told Reuters on Tuesday.

He also confirmed that Sri Lanka had started negotiations to increase the amount of a swap deal with India’s central bank to $1 billion, up from a previously negotiated $400 million.
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