COLOMBO (News 1st) -

Your Thursday Morning Brief

1. President Maithripala Sirisena declares that he is against SOFA and other agreements that would expose Sri Lanka to US forces. 2. Former Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, Tamara Kunanayakam noted that the signing of ACSA and SOFA agreements would mean that the country is no longer "non-aligned". 3. Another round of discussions between Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna ended without an agreement yesterday. 4. Despite the media release by the Ministry of Finance noting that there are no plans to privatize the People’s Bank, the Bank Services Trade Union alleges that the risk of privatizing the People’s Bank has not diminished. 5. The President stated that he signed the death penalty decree on several drug-related convicts in order to protect the children of the country. 6. The veterinarian in charge of the Maskeliya area Deshapriya Senadeera testifying before the presidential commission said that the imported heifers were infected with "Mycoplasma bovis" and they were already infected when they were imported to Sri Lanka. 7. Nine defendants who

were

charged with the murder of 5 persons in Samithpura, Mattakkuliya, were acquitted and released from all indictments. 8. Journalists were asked to leave the session of the Parliamentary Select Committee when Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka began to question Army Commander Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake on sensitive intelligence matters. 9.  Police headquarters announced that security personnel had seized 1029 kilograms of heroin so far this year along with 20,309 suspects. 10. A fatal motor accident in Kilinochchi 55th mile post area has claimed the life of another soldier and the surviving soldier continues to receive treatment at the Jaffna Hospital.

Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.