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Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he would establish an office to protect the peaceful protesters and support them.

"I will not allow any kind of prejudice to the peaceful activists," said the President while noting that some groups are trying to spread huge propaganda through social media that he is hunting down the protesters, which is not true.

If any injustice occurs to a peaceful activist, that person can call the 24-hour dedicated line and file a complaint, he said while adding that a Committee headed by a retired judge will examine the complaints and take necessary measures, accordingly.

If there are individuals who have participated in such illegal activities either unknowingly or due to the influence of others, a plan will be prepared to act sympathetically towards them.

"However, if there are individuals who intentionally violate the law and engage in violent and terrorist acts, legal action will be taken against them. I will not allow anyone to act outside the law. The law is the same for you, me, and everyone," said the President.

The law will be applied equally to the people who attacked the peaceful protesters on 09th May and those who are engaging in violence and terrorism under the guise of the struggle. "I will ensure that there is no political intervention in this process," he added.

"The struggle that started all over Colombo expecting system change was later centralized in Galle Face. This was expanded to several major cities in the island. This struggle was conducted on a non-violent basis and creative manner. These activists did not commit any act of violence. Therefore, families joined the struggle to express their protests. Parents were not afraid to even bring children to the places of protest," he commented on the original protests dating back to April 2022.

"Protesters once digitally illuminated the walls of the Presidential Secretariat, without any harm. Although, later this non-violence was suppressed and violence emerged, with certain politicized groups that became stakeholders. By indulging in violence the protests turned towards terrorism," he noted.

The President said he will not allow violence and terrorism. However, will protect non-violence and democracy. The peaceful struggle is a fundamental right. I accept those rights, he noted.

Chairman of Litro Gas informs that the price of domestic gas will be reduced from 5 August.

Speaking to the media today (1), he said that the gas price in the global market is expected to be reduced by 5 August. In line with this, the prices of Litro domestic gas cylinders will also be reduced.

He hinted that gas prices will be reduced by more than the recent increase.

“We will reduce the price by more than the last increase. We increased it by around Rs. 50. But we will definitely reduce it by a lot more.”

The General Secretary of Ceylon Teachers’ Union Joseph Stalin had been arrested by the Police.

It’s reported that he was arrested for conducting a protest violating a court order.

MP Patali Champika Ranawaka says that they have not received an invitation to join an all-party government.

The former minister stated this while speaking to the media after attending an event held at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo.

Asked why they are still holding back despite being invited to join an all-party government, he said that in the letter sent by the President, he has not invited to join an all-party government.

“In this letter, he has asked for our opinion on a constitutional amendment based on the 19th amendment and the oversight committee to be created before the parliament. We will provide answers to that,” he said.

“He has not invited to form an all-party government,” Ranawaka said, referring to the President’s letter.

He said the President has sought their opinion on the aforementioned two matters for a common programme.

The parliamentarian said they hope that President will present the Throne Speech and present his views on the economic and political program and the democratic programme that he is going to implement.

Trust in the government will not build under the ongoing programme, he said.

Social activist and YouTuber Rathindu Senaratne, popularly known as ‘Ratta’, has been granted bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.

He was arrested by officers of the Colombo Crimes Division - Colombo Central on Monday (Aug 01), for allegedly violating a court order during a protest at Bank of Ceylon Mawatha in Colombo on 21 May.

Senaratne had arrived at the CCD, earlier on Monday, to record a statement regarding the protest staged near the Polduwa Junction on July 13.

Meanwhile, the Colombo Fort Magistrate has also issued an order barring three persons including social activist Rathindu Senaratne from traveling overseas.

President Ranil Wickramasinghe visited the historic Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy this morning (30) and engaged in several religious activities.

This marks the first time that the President visited the Dalada Maligawa after assuming Presidency.

President also took steps to visit the Chief Prelates of the Malwathu-Asgiri Sects today.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has requested citizens to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine in the face of rising cases.

Issuing a special statement, the President pointed out that the Ministry of Health has issued health guidelines with regard to COVID-19, and requested the public to follow the health regulations properly, emphasizing that the spread of COVID-19 in the country should not be allowed again.

He further stated that 1,731 COVID-19 patients were reported in April, with 26 COVID-19 deaths. This situation decreased to 472 patients in May, with 13 deaths, and decreased further in June, with 283 patients and 3 deaths.

However, in July, President says that the number of COVID-19 patients has increased to 1,616 with 35 deaths, and 28 of these 35 deaths occurred after July 18th.

While 17 million were vaccinated in the first round, it was reduced to 14 million in the second round and in the third round it was reduced to 8 million people.

The President said that only 22,623 people have been vaccinated in the 4th round, adding that people should be redirected for proper vaccination, with emphasis on Western Province.

"There are currently 8 million vaccines in Sri Lanka. This stock can be used till October. Those 8 million vaccines cannot be completed after October, and therefore, a part of the stock has to be given to another country. The vaccine was brought for you. Therefore, I request all those who have not received the vaccine to obtain the vaccine as soon as possible," he said.

President has also mentioned that the Ministry of Health has given its attention to the "Monkeypox" epidemic, which has not arrived in Sri Lanka as of yet.

However, President said that the first step has been taken to prevent the disease from coming to Sri Lanka and plans are being made to provide treatment if necessary.

"We all should think of public health and act accordingly. I request all parties not to give another chance to the COVID-19 pandemic in this country," he added.

The man who stole the President’s official flag and used it as a bedsheet has been remanded until the 05th of August.

The suspect was produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court earlier today.

He was taken into custody after he surrendered to the Wellaweediya Police last morning.

On the 09th of July, people in large numbers thronged Colombo to take part in the mass demonstrations against the government over economic mismanagement and corruption.

As the demonstrations made strides, the protesters stormed the President’s House in Colombo among several other state buildings and continued to occupy the premises for several days.

Trade union leader Saman Ratnapriya has been appointed as the Director General of Trade Unions to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The President’s Media Division stated that the President has appointed him to this position under Article 41 (1) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

The relevant letter has been issued by the Secretary to the President, Saman Ekanayake.

Ratnapriya is the President of Government Nursing Officer’s Association.

The World Bank Group is deeply concerned about the dire economic situation and its impact on the people of Sri Lanka.

Issuing a statement, the World Bank noted that to date, nearly USD 160 million has been disbursed to meet urgent needs, while other ongoing projects also continue to support basic services, the delivery of medicine and medical supplies, school meals and tuition waivers.

“To help alleviate severe shortages of essential items such as medicines, cooking gas, fertilizer, meals for school children and cash transfers for poor and vulnerable households, we are repurposing resources under existing loans in our portfolio.

We are working closely with implementing agencies to establish robust controls and fiduciary oversight to ensure these resources reach the poorest and most vulnerable. We will continue to monitor this closely. We are also coordinating closely with other development partners to maximize the impact of our support for the people of Sri Lanka”, the statement read.

However, they noted that until an adequate macroeconomic policy framework is in place, the World Bank does not plan to offer new financing to Sri Lanka.

“This requires deep structural reforms that focus on economic stabilization, and also on addressing the root structural causes that created this crisis to ensure that Sri Lanka’s future recovery and development is resilient and inclusive”, they said in this regard.

After amending the fuel prices, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has taken measures to reduce the price of a litre of Lanka Auto Diesel by Rs. 10 with effect from 10.00 pm today.

Accordingly, the new retail price of a litre of Lanka Auto Diesel will be Rs. 430.

Meanwhile, there will be no changes in the prices of petrol, kerosene and other diesel varieties.

The retail price of a litre of Lanka Petrol 92 Octane is Rs.450, Lanka Petrol 95 Octane Euro 4 is Rs.540, Lanka Super Diesel 4 Star Euro 4 is Rs.510 and Lanka Kerosene is sold Rs.87.

Social media activist Pathum Kerner has been arrested in connection with the unruly incidents reported at the entry road to the parliament near Polduwa Junction earlier this month.

Kerner was taken into custody by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD).

According to the police, he had been summoned by the CCD on the 18th of July, however, he had informed via his attorney that he is unable to appear before the CCD citing ill-health.

Reporterly, Kerner had assembled people to the Polduwa Junction on the 13th of July and breached the barricades set up for the security of the parliament.