Srilanka

The Ranjan Ramanayake phone recordings reveal such manipulations of judges that a presidential commission should inquire into the whole matter to redress this attack on the independence of the judiciary, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa told editors of national newspapers yesterday.

In light of the simmering tensions and instability in Iran during the last few days, Co-Government Spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella confirmed that the Ministry of External Affairs has reached out to Sri Lankans who are in Iran and will make arrangements for their return to Sri Lanka should the situation worsen.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa advised authorities to allow a group of university students to protest freely in front of the Presidentoffice in Colombo yesterday.This is a deviation from the past practice of baton charging and tear gassing protesting university students near key Government institutions.The President later also invited them for talks inside his office with a view to solving their issues.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa made a sudden observational visit to the National Hospital in Colombo, yesterday (09).The President visited the OPD building complex of the National Hospital and inquired about the activities at the OPD while engaging in cordial discussions with the patients.President Rajapaksa asked patients regarding their villages where they came from and inquired about the reasons for travelling such long distances.Those patients apprised the President regarding the prevailing issues at the hospitals located out of Colombo.During this visit, the President discussed the issues at the National Hospital with the Doctors and the staff of the Hospital.