Yesterday, ahead of Sri Lanka’s presidential election, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Basil Rajapaksa, reportedly left for the United States for “medical purposes”.

He is said to have boarded the Emirates Airline flight EK 659 fom Katunayake Bandaranike International Airport at 3.05 AM to Dubai and will board a separate flight to America.

At least five separate murders have taken place in the Colombo area of the last day, as gun violence increased around Sri Lanka’s capital in the run up to the presidential election.

There were at least five separate shootings, all of which resulted in the deaths of those targeted by unidentified assailants.

Sri Lanka’s presidential election could mark a significant milestone, as it might be the first time in history that a single candidate does not secure over 50% of the popular vote.

If so, it could make the outcome of the polls dependent on preferential voting, something that has never happened before on the island.

The Tamil common candidate for Sri Lanka's presidential elections, Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanenthiran, received overwhelming support during a rally held in Nallur, Jaffna, yesterday.

(Image courtesy: Vijitha Herath Facebook Page)

Senior member of the National People's Power (NPP), Vijitha Herath, reiterating his party's commitment to preserving Sri Lanka’s unitary state and offering privileged protection to Buddhism under an NPP-led government, just days before voting in presidential elections begins.

Sri Lanka’s State Finance Minister, Shehan Semasinghe warned of an imminent economic collapse if parliament is dissolved and a third review of the much-needed International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan is not completed.

As Sri Lanka approaches its presidential election on September 21, a new report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) highlights the stakes for the millions pushed into poverty by recent economic reforms.

The Tamil families of the disappeared have called on the Tamil community to vote for the common candidate Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanenthiran as Sinhala political leaders have failed to address the grievances of the Tamil nation. 

The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a Palestinian-drafted resolution that demands Israel end "its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory" within 12 months.

Sri Lankan police have warned Tamil candidate Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanenthiran about potential threats to his life, based on intelligence reports in a letter that has been publicly released this week.

Several more Eelam Tamil politicians have urged Tamils to support the common Tamil candidate, Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanenthiran, emphasizing that his candidacy offers an opportunity to present Tamil grievances on a united platform.