Recovering from the challenging situation that Sri Lanka is currently facing requires a significant emphasis on the accountability of public officials in matters such as financial control, anti-corruption measures and adherence to the rule of law, Chief of Staff to the President Sagala Ratnayaka said.

Chandima Weerakkody was the only lawmaker to have voted in favour of a regulation to hold Law College examinations in the English medium only.

Tamils in Jaffna took to the streets in protest against chief-of-defence- staff Gen. Shavendra Silva at a religious function at a Buddhist temple on March 18.

A government that cannot afford Rs. 9 billion to hold local government polls had printed as much as Rs. 113.5 billion worth of currency notes on a single day on March 15, charged MP Udaya Gammanpila.

The government is working to gradually lift import restrictions on essential goods, medicines, and tourism-related goods, as the foreign exchange situation in the country improves, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is coming under strong pressure by ruling MPs against granting a service extension for incumbent police chief C.D. Wickramaratne after he retires on March 25.

The SJB is prepared to support the government if it adopts a proper economic policy that protects the poor and the working class, said its MP Eran Wickramaratne.

SLPP general secretary Sagara Kariyawasam says both mechanisms for power devolution now come under the indirect control of the president.

The New Lanka Freedom Party has replaced its general secretary Thilak Waragoda with Peshala Jayaratne, a former chief minister of the north central province.

The executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday (20) approved a 48‑month extended arrangement under the extended fund facility (EFF) with an amount of SDR 2.286 billion (395 percent of quota or about USD 3 billion).