Details of a disinformation campaign to discredit the government by making allegations of asking a bribe from a Japanese company engaged in the construction work of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) expansion project have been exposed.

Sajith Premadasa and Dullas Alahapperuma, two aspirants for the presidency, this afternoon (18) had a round of talks that was reported to be inconclusive.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP Gevindu Kumaratunga requests all presidential hopefuls to immediately explain reasons behind their candidacies and to declare their individual vision and programme to rebuild the country.

Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed the security forces to investigate incidents where individuals are engaged in exerting undue pressure through social media, which would affect the election of the next President.

The United States does not impose sanctions against countries in the global south on the import of Russian oil, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung said.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo collapsed on the street in the western city of Nara while making a speech for an election campaign.

A vendor waits for customers at a vegetable market place in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Photo | AP)

In what seemed to be a barb directed at Minister Dhammika Perera's recent remarks at a press briefing where he said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe should step down from the finance portfolio, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Dr. Nalaka Godahewa said that one should focus on fulfilling his own commitments rather than trying to oust the Premier which should be left to politicians.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said Wednesday (06) he had spoken with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to seek credit help in order to import fuel.