Sirisena  

Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said the airport built with Indian assistance marks an important development for the region as well as the whole of Sri Lanka. Alliance Air (the subsidiary of Air India) launched a flight to the airport with invitees from the aviation industry

The Sri Lankan apex court's order came after it took into consideration a number of petitions filed against the president's order, that termed the order as a violation of the fundamental rights of the convicts
 

A month after the Easter Sunday blasts that claimed the lives of 258 people in Sri Lanka, the country’s police and authorities are still making arrests. The most recent is that of five people, who are suspected to have links with the local Islamist group National Thowheed Jamaath.

In his tweet, Trump not only got the name of the leader wrong, but also the day he made the call. Trump reportedly tweeted stating that he called Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday.

The Supreme Court verdict on Tuesday overturned President Maithripala Sirisena's controversial decision to dissolve Parliament and halted the preparations for snap polls on January 5.

Sri Lanka’s main parties today challenged in the highest court the President’s sacking of Parliament, a move which has escalated a political crisis and deepened international alarm.

The 72-year-old Mahinda Rajapaksa received the membership of the SLPP on Sunday. The party was launched by his supporters last year. In February this year, the party won two-third of the total 340 seats in the local council polls

The political crisis in the country began when Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and named former President Mahinda Rajapakse as the premier on October 26. However, Wickremesinghe has refused to leave the official residence

Political turmoil in the island nation was triggered late on October 26 when Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena appointed his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister. It was opposed by Ranil Wickremesinghe, who insists he's still in charge. The two are now set to face off in parliament in a confidence vote.

Former PM Wickremesinghe, who has termed his sacking as unconstitutional, claimed that he is still the legally appointed Prime Minister with parliamentary majority.  

 "No one knew it better than me," said Sirisena, who was the acting defence minister during the last two weeks of the civil war with the LTTE in May, 2009 when the rebels were eventually defeat