COLOMBO (News 1st)

1. Salaries of Ministers, Deputy Ministers, State Ministers and all Parliamentarians to be increased by 215%.

2. PC Nalin Ladduwahetti informs the court on false testimony, against Former MP Tiran Alles and 4 others, over the misappropriation of close to Rs 200 million.

3. The Beneficial Owner of Perpetual Treasuries Limited Arjun Aloysius and its CEO Kasun Palisena were further remanded until the 09th of August by the Fort Magistrate yesterday (02 August).

4. Minister Lakshman Kiriella calls for immediate investigation into the Rs. 10bn loan granted by People’s bank.

5. Politicians claim Minister Malik Samarawickrama’s deal with Perennial Real Estate Holdings Limited on the Land behind Shangri-La Hotel, is obscure and if government tenders were called upon, it would have been valued for much more.

INTERNATIONAL

1. Pope Francis Changes the teachings of the Catholic faith to Officially oppose the death penalty.

2. Police in New Delhi city busted an international drug racket and arrested three persons, including a Nigerian national, holding drugs worth 2.9 million.

SPORTS
1. South Africa wins 2nd ODI against the Sri Lankan team by 4 wickets, which was led by Angelo Mathews from the front unbeaten with 79 runs, while none of the other batsmen, bar one, managed to provide any sort of support for Mathews.

• Activist Bruno Divakara arrested for publishing Natasha’s content
• Sri Lankan Govt’s proposed ‘Broadcast Act’ gets stiff reception
• Sri Lanka trying new ways to suppress media?
• Natasha is not the first ICCPR arrest on threat to religious and national harmony; desist with efforts to restrict fundamental rights. – CPA
• China reiterates steadfast support for Sri Lanka