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by Staff Writer 01-02-2019 | 8:42 AM

COLOMBO (News1st) -

President Maithripala Sirisena speaking at an event in Punchi Borella on Thursday (Jan 31) hinted that this election year will be one which gives birth to a new Government.
The acting chairman of the Court of Appeal Justice Deepali Wijesundara recused herself from examining the petition filed against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe citing personal reasons.
It was revealed at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry that former Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, Nishantha Wickremesinghe circumvented an official tender procedure when awarding the contract for the construction of the flight kitchen at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport. The project was worth Rs 201mn.
The Permanent High Court Trial at Bar said that it would deliver an order on the 11th of February after considering the preliminary objections raised by the defense in the case against Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and six others which cited that the court had no jurisdiction to take up the matter.
Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Finance H.G. Sumanasena appointed as the Acting Director General of Customs.
UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa claims that the Speaker, the Prime Minister, and the constitutional council refuses to accept the proposed names for the position of President of the Court of Appeal. He said that this refusal is because those individuals are not their NGO goons.
University Grants Commission extends time period granted to apply for universities till the 08th of February.
A prison sergeant who attempted to smuggle 20g of heroin into the Welikada prison was been arrested on Thursday (Jan 31).
OIC of the Kokkadichcholai Police who was arrested for soliciting a bribe of Rs.25,000 remanded until the 08th of February.
Ajith Mannapperuma was sworn in as the State Minister of Environment and Mahaweli Development in the presence of President Maithripala Sirisena.