- Cash deposits have been placed for a total of 17 candidates so far to contest the 2024 Presidential Elections. Three candidates had placed bonds at the National Election Commission yesterday(05) to contest the elections. SJB Chairman Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka and former JVP MP Siripala Amarasinghe are among those on behalf of whom cash deposits were made.
- Responding to allegations that some Rs. 70 million had been spent on foreign trips, National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said only Rs. 3.37 million had been spent on his overseas trips. Dissanayake said he spent only Rs. 3,378,500 for his visits to South Korea, Australia, USA, Canada, Sweden, UK and Japan. He said costs of all his visits were borne by the migrant workers attached to the NPP branch in those respective countries.
- The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) says that its presidential candidate will be announced on Wednesday (Aug 07). However, many constituency meetings of the SLPP are passing resolutions in order to back incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe during the 2024 presidential election.
- The Ministry of Public Security is poised to make a critical decision regarding the issuance of visas to tourists arriving in Sri Lanka. The move comes after the Supreme Court recently issued an interim order halting the implementation of a Cabinet decision that granted e-Visa services to two foreign companies. Ministry Secretary Viyani Gunathilaka confirmed that discussions are underway with officials from the Immigration & Emigration Department.
- The Supreme Court dismissed a contempt of court petition filed against former state minister Diana Gamage. The petition was taken up before a three-member Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Yasantha Kodagoda and Shiran Gunaratne.
- The deadline to accept postal voting applications, which was scheduled to end at midnight today (05), has been extended, the Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake said. Accordingly, the relevant deadline has been extended until 12.00 midnight on August 09 (Friday).
- The Leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena is slated to lead the new political alliance formed by the combination of political parties and groups supporting President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the upcoming Presidential Election. A decision has been reached in this regard, sources said.
- In response to the upcoming elections, the Sri Lanka Police has taken significant steps to ensure the smooth functioning of district election offices and address election-related incidents. A total of 11 police officers each have been assigned to each of the 22 district election offices across the country. Relevant officials have been deployed specifically to investigate election complaints and ensure efficient coordination of activities within the offices.
- CCB introduces a new hotline number 1916 to answer the problems of coconut cultivation in all three languages. The Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB) has introduced a hotline number and a phone application called Coconut App to provide solutions to all the issues related to the diseases faced by the growers related to coconut cultivation, to make the cultivation successful and to get a high yield.
- Sri Lankan all-rounder and Women’s Team captain Chamari Athapaththu has been nominated for ICC Women’s Player of the Month for July 2024 after leading her country to a historic maiden win in the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 over seven-time champions India. Athapaththu has been nominated alongside the Indian duo of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma.
