- Seventeen former Kurunegala Pradeshiya Sabha members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) have extended their support to President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming presidential election. This decision follows a meeting with the UNP Assistant Leader, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam.
- The Disaster Management Center reports that heavy rains have affected 3,243 people from 929 families across the Kalutara, Puttalam, and Ratnapura districts. The adverse weather has resulted in two injuries and partial damage to 27 houses. The Disaster Management Center has also issued red notices for several divisional secretariats in Kalutara and Ratnapura districts due to the ongoing landslide risk.
- The Colombo District Court has scheduled a hearing for January 21 in a defamation case filed by National People’s Power presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake against two members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), including MP Janaka Tissa Kutti Arachchi. Dissanayake is seeking Rs. 10 billion in compensation for alleged defamatory remarks made against him.
- Four suspects who had circulated offensive and detrimental information on Facebook about Parliamentarian Kavinda Jayawardena have been remanded till August 29, it was reported. The suspects were arrested by the Colpetty Police and produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate.
- Former President Maithripala Sirisena has completed the payments of compensation of Rs. 100 million to the victims of the Easter Sunday terror attacks as ordered by the Supreme Court. Accordingly, it is reported that the former President has paid the remaining amount of Rs. 12 million on August 16, thereby completing the total compensation payment ordered by the court.
- The ‘Sarvajana Balaya’ presidential candidate, entrepreneur Dilith Jayaweera has formally accepted the invitation to take part in the historic debate that the ‘March 12 Movement’ is hoping to organize between six candidates contesting the 2024 Presidential Election.
- Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) MPs Palani Digambaram and Velu Kumar have been caught on camera engaging in a brawl while participating in a debate on local television. Video footage of the incident shows the two MPs speaking to each other in a derogatory manner leading to a physical brawl.
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between LTL Holdings Limited of Sri Lanka and Petronet LNG Limited of India, for the development of infrastructure for the storage, regasification and supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for the “Sobadhanavi” Combined Cycle Power Plant in Kerawalapitiya.
- The world’s longest stamp, measuring 205 mm and symbolizing the historic Sri Dalada Perahera in Kandy, was released by the Postal Department of Sri Lanka
- Matthew Potts and Dan Lawrence were included for England while Milan Rathnayake is poised for Sri Lanka debut in the first match of the crucial ICC World Test Championship series.
