President and opposition leader have struck a broad deal on constitutional changes, chief of which is a plan to return the nation to a leadership by an executive prime minister. Pro Democratic people have welcomed this bi-partisan approach. However, DNA has accused the UNP saying that it has fallen into the trap of the UPFA.With a big parliamentary majority, he needs only six opposition votes to change the constitution. It's worth noting that a similar deal failed in 2000 when the main opposition, headed then as it is now by United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, pulled out. SLMC/NUA leader late M.H.M. Ashraff made a long opening speech after presenting this draft constitution which was his last speech in parliament.

Presidential advisor on Muslim Affairs Mohamed Niyaz Moulavi passed away this morning, during his visit to hill country. President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed Mohamed Niyaz Moulavi in 2008 as the Coordinating Secretary to the President on Muslim Religious Affairs. Niyas Moulavi was the founder member of Majlisul Ulama Foundation, founder President of Sri Lanka Muslim Peace Council and the member of Jamiyathul Ulama and the founder director of Ihsaniyya Arabic College, Colombo 12.

The first phase of the Oluvil Port project comprising a commercial and fisheries harbour will be completed in September, according to a spokesman for the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). He said work on the building in the commercial and fisheries harbour areas and the internal and access road are in progress. Construction work on sheet piling and the quay wall at the fisheries harbour have been completed and yard filling is in progress. This port project is the brainchild of late ports minister M.H.M.Ashraff.

The SLMC wants the government to devolve most of State powers to Provincial Councils except monetary, defence and foreign affairs. Participating in the budget debate, SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem said that the government should strengthen provincial councils under a united country. For example, the central government could impose a cap on the provincial budget deficits.

The Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives announced this week that an indicative budget of Rs.8.4 billion (EUR 60 million) has been allocated in grants as the second part of the European Union (EU) Country Strategy for Sri Lanka spanning the 2007 - 2013 period, for new operations to be committed for 2011 - 2013.

The Government focused special emphasis on the Eastern Province by implementing over 70 percent of foreign funded projects during the last three years, said Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa. He said the all other provinces in the country implemented 30 percent of all foreign funded projects.

A Qur'an Madarasa and a small mosque (Thaikka) functioning for long time in Vattarathenne, in Kandy were closed down due to sudden conflicting situation created there.  Earlier the Thaikka was attacked recently by a group under the influence of liquor. The Police have arrested a few suspects involved in this incident and produced them to the courts on a complaint made to the Police.