UPFA Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa engaging in a conversation with a shop owner in Ranna.

This plaque, which identifies Sri Lanka as the "Domestic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka", portrays the true state of affairs in the country for nearly a decade.

Chief Justice K Sripavan, who is the 44th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, took oaths yesterday (30) in front of President Maithripala Sirisena.

Minister of Buddha Sasana, Public Administration and Democratic Governance Karu Jayasuriya and Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala De Silva engaging in a conversation following the interim budget statement.

A day after Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake proposed that all ministries and departments to stop the publication of political advertisements in news papers with immediate effect, several advertisements were carried in today’s papers in appreciation of Karunanayake who, according to advertisers, presented a “people-friendly” budget.

Although the advertisements seemed like private ones, they reflected badly on the Finance Minister who was very specific in his guidelines to the state sector on press advertisements. The advertisements did not lack political rhetoric dubbing Karunanayake as the Minister who ensured the dawn of a “hunger-free” era to the country.

In the final analysis, Karunanayake, in his capacity as the Finance Minister of the country, is assigned with the task of presenting the budget and discharging duties coming under his position does not warrant special appreciations, especially in the form of highly expensive press advertisements.

Karunanayake, in his interim budget statement which was made in Parliament yesterday said, “the publication of newspapers advertisements by government institutions based on political rhetoric seems to be excessive in many instances.”

“It appears that many advertisements so publicized with a political background are only creating a burden to the government expenditure.  Hence, I propose that all Ministries and departments should immediately stop the publication of political advertisements in news papers, except in specific situations where they can publish with the approval of the Secretary to the relevant line Ministry,” he also added.

The Finance Minister further proposed that all the Chairmen and Boards of Directors of the public institutions not only should refrain from publishing such newspaper advertisements with political rhetoric but also they will be held personally responsible for any cost on unauthorized advertisements, which will have to be borne by them in the event they had approved same.

President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister of Plantation Industries Lakshman Kiriella During the presentation of interim budget proposals in Parliament yesterday (29).

President Maithripala Sirisena posing for a picture with newly weds at the Independence Square where the President goes for his usual morning jog. 

A group of lawyers and civil society members protesting outside Supreme Court complex demanding the resignation of Chief Justice Mohan Peiris.

Veteran civil servant and former Defence Secretary Austin Fernando being appointed as the Governor of the Eastern province

SriLankan Airlines’ new Chairman Ajith Dias assumed duties in the presence of Minister of Ports and Shipping, Arjuna Ranatunga and State Minister of Aviation, Faizer Mustapha, at the SriLankan Airlines Office in Colombo today.