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Police sources have said that legal action was being initiated based on information uncovered that there was no progress in the murder investigation from 2010-2015 when the case was handled by the former TID OIC.

While the CID investigation into the murder had uncovered many leads, the case has been quite dormant after the TID had taken over the probe in 2010.

The CID investigations revealed that after the TID took over investigations no progress had been made until the case was handed back to the CID in 2015.

Rajapaksa has yesterday (7) posted an image on his official Facebook account of him greeting Premadasa at the National Elections Commission after handing nominations.

“Meeting and greeting Mr. Sajith Premadasa, the UNP presidential candidate today at the Elections Office endorses my genuine belief that; contenders can and do disagree on principles and policies but still remain respectful of one another. Ultimately, it’s the People and the Nation who must be victorious,” Rajapaksa has said in the Facebook post.

One of the petitioners, Chandragupta Thenuwara said the petitioners were awaiting the court’s reasons for dismissing the case on Friday (4).

“We were not given reasons. The court only gave the verdict of dismissal. I’m of the opinion that once we receive the reasons, we will talk with our lawyers and appeal the verdict,” he has said.

He further noted that he was confident that the petitioners did have a valid case against Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his citizenship.

“From how the written submissions and the argument went, it was clear that we had a strong case. It is puzzling why the case was dismissed. We shall wait and see what reasons the court provides for dismissing the case and then take the necessary steps,” he has told the media, adding that there was still time to achieve a different legal outcome.

He added that if the evidence they have prove correct and Rajapaksa was allowed to contest, it would have serious implications for the country.

He held several important ministerial portfolios under former presidents Chandrika Bandraranaike Kumratunge and Mahinda Rajapaksa as well us under Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

He also served as the Governor of the Eastern Province under President Maithripala Sirisena's good governance government.      

After taking this political decision, Bogollagama said that Sajith Premadasa is the only leader with the ability to build a united nation and that is why he has decided to support him.

He noted that all communities could live in unity and peace under a Sajith Premadasa presidency and UNF government.

He reiterated that the triumph of the UNF candidate Sajith Premadasa and the UNF in the presidential election is a foregone conclusion under the present socio-political and cultural circumstances and in accordance with the wishes of the people.  

He said the cost has increased due the record number of candidates who have come forward to contest the presidential elections.

A total of 35 candidates have handed over nomination papers for the presidential elections, the Elections Commission announced.

The “chair” symbol belongs the People’s Alliance (PA), under which former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge contested the 1994 presidential election.

Spokesperson for SLPP presidential candidate, MP Dullas Alahapperuma said the SLPP could not agree to contest the presidential election under the chair symbol as proposed by the SLFP.

“The SLFP proposed the chair as a common symbol for us to contest as an alliance. But we could not accept it for this presidential election,” he said, adding that the SLPP was open to contesting under a common symbol with the SLFP at future elections following the presidential election.

He added that the SLPP had accepted a memorandum of understanding (MoU) presented by the SLFP containing 20 separate points while SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa had also accepted the MoU presented to him by the SLFP.

The district based rallies in support of Sajith Premadasa will begin on the 13th, a front line organiser of the campaign said.

Over 200,000 UNP supporters from all corners of the island are expected to attend the inaugural rally of Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa. "We expect to pack the Galle Face Green that would be a clear indication that he is the first choice of the people.

Security has also been beefed up with the deployment of hundreds of policemen to prevent any unruly incidents.  

One of the petitioners, Chandragupta Thenawura says that he has received death threats over the phone soon after the court verdict was given.

“I can confirm that I received two phone calls threatening my life straight after the court verdict was issued. Prior to that, I had to endure a lot of hate speech and profanities,” he said.

He said that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) had told him that he could request for security.

“The IGP told me that if my life was in danger and I needed security, to inform him of the matter,” he said.

Thenuwara said that he would take additional measures if the situation escalated.

The other petitioner, Gamini Viyangoda, said that while he had not received direct death threats, his social media was full of hate speech and calls for his death.

“On social media, I see various persons condemning. Some have said that I should be killed while others have said that I should be made to suffer. This is all because of the court case we filed,” he said.

Meanwhile, several Facebook posts threatening the two petitioners were seen during the past few days.

The Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) is the provider of the free “Shilpa Suraksha” insurance cover to Sri Lankan craftsmen.

In phase I of this project, 5000 Lankan craftsmen will receive a free insurance cover annually. This is the first time in Sri Lanka’s history that our craftsmen get insurance cover, that too free of charge.

The government announced that it is also keen on introducing hi-tech design tools to its craftsmen so that their intricate work could garner better global attention.

“Very soon there will be demands by our craft sector to start work with latest technological advancements,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen when he addressed the Shilpa Abhimani 2019 Presidential Handicrafts Award Ceremony at the BMICH.

There are more than 20000 registered Sri Lankan craftsmen with the National Craft Council NCC. Crafts and designs are a very competitive sector. It is increasingly market driven.

With the support of the NCC they are continuously trying to bring out new designs and creations. the government will be introducing  new technologies which are becoming part of craft design work across the world to  promising and award winning craftsmen too.

New technologies, such as 3D printing and laser operated design setups can help  craftsmen to go global much faster, Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said.

A new project commenced to establish District Craft Councils (DCCs) in Sri Lanka for the first time in NCC’s 35 year history.

Sri Lanka’s arts, crafts, and handicraft traditions widely differ from region to region, span across many sub-sectors and spring from diverse sources–including pottery, wood-carvings, mural creations, lacquer painting, metal works and jewelry making.

The Elections Commission has made this call in order to bring an end to the strike action being followed by several trade unions in order to facilitate the forthcoming elections.