The petition filed by UPFA parliamentarian Vasudeva Nanayakkara against the impending leasing of the Hambantota Port and 15,000 acres of land to two Chinese companies was dismissed in limine by the Supreme Court.

Colombo High Court Judge Piyasena Ranasinghe granted bail to Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and two others for their alleged involvement in laundering money amounting to Rs.30 million through Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Limited between 2013 and 2014.

The gang rape and murder trial of girl student Sivaloganathan Vidya is scheduled to commence in Jaffna today before a three member bench Trial at Bar. The three member bench appointed by the Chief Justice is chaired by High Court Judge Balendran Sashi Mahendran. The other members are Judges Annalingam Premashankar and Illanchelian.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lal Ranasinghe Bandara has issued orders restraining three protests in Colombo. They are in relation to protests by the Sri Lanka Nurses’ Association, Inter University Bikku Federation (IUBF) and the Student Union of the University of Aesthetics Studies.