COLOMBO (News 1st)

1. Sri Lanka has been named as the best country in the world to visit in 2019 by Lonely Planet.

2. The Constitutional Council is due to convene at the Parliamentary premises today (October 25) with Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in attendance, to discuss several matters including the appointment of new members to the National Police Commission.

3. All faculties of the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka were closed temporarily following a student protest.

4. Three spill gates of the Parakrama Samudraya have been opened due to heavy rainfall experienced in Polonnaruwa.

5. Chief Minister of the Northern Province C.V. Vigneswaran has announced the formation of a new party known as the Tamil People Alliance.

6. Two people died and four others suffered injuries when a prison bus traveling from Anuradhapura to Wariyapola collided with a van traveling in the opposite direction.

7. A father of two died in a shootout that occurred in Hakuruwela, Makulduwa in Weeraketiya.

8. Five women were rushed to hospital yesterday (October 24) after they were struck by lightning while plucking tea leaves in an estate in Bogawanthalawa.

9. Estate workers from all over the country carried out a demonstration yesterday (October 24) at Galle Face Green demanding that the daily wage of workers be increased to Rs. 1000.

10. Interdicted DIG Nalaka De Silva summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department for the fifth day.

INTERNATIONAL

1. Saudi Arabia’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman vowed that the killers of Jamal Khashoggi would be brought to justice.

SPORTS

1. UFC fighters Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor has their suspensions extended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

• Recent tax amendments are harmful; 6.2% inflation projected in 2020-Asia Securities
• Prices of Samba and Nadu reduced
• Convention on Biological Weapons in 2020 to be chaired by Sri Lanka
• Financial Institution Sen-Hiru defrauds Rs 800mn of deposits
• South Asian Games conclude: Sri Lanka clinches 3rd place