Everything you need to know today

COLOMBO (News 1st) - 1.CBSL points out that the trade deficit of the country continues to widen amidst export earnings exceeding a billion dollars for the second time this year. 2. The Minneriya National Park has been temporarily closed following an incident where a group of wildlife officers were assaulted.  3. Notice was issued on Former Secretary of defense, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and six others to appear before the new special high courts, in connection to the misuse of state funds for the construction of the D.A. Rajapaksa museum and memorial. 4. A bus had fallen into a 75-foot precipice yesterday (August 27) killing one while 37 others had suffered injuries in Alugolla, Badulla. 5. Studies carried out by the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) reveals that children as young as 12 years of age have become addicted to drugs in Sri Lanka. At present, around 0.05% of the countries population is addicted to illegal narcotics. 6. The railway strike that was scheduled for the 29th August (Wednesday) was called off by trade unions following discussions held with the President last evening (August 27). 7. The CMC has approved a proposal to utilize a sum of over Rs. 350,000 to clean the official residence of the Mayor of Colombo. A two-year contract worth Rs. 08 mn has been signed with a private company for this purpose. 8. Open warrants have once again been issued by the Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne yesterday (August 27) for the arrest of Former Sri Lankan ambassador to the US, Jaliya Wickramasuriya. He has been charged for the criminal misappropriation of 132,000 USD during his tenure as ambassador. 9. Details on the safe house located in Baduwatte, Dompe that had been used to torture journalist Keith Noyahr has surfaced. 10. Former Army commander, Rohan Daluwatte passed away yesterday (August 27) at the age of 77. INTERNATIONAL 1. U.S. senators paid tribute to the life and legacy of John McCain on Monday (August 27), saying a powerful and independent voice had gone silent. SPORTS 1. Japan's turbulent Asian Games basketball tournament, which saw four players sent home in disgrace, came to an end on Monday (August 27) when they were beaten 93-67 by Iran in the quarter-finals. Japanese Olympic Committee revoked four players' accreditation after they were found to have spent the night with women in a Jakarta hotel.