A move by a section of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)  MPs to install former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Opposition Leader in Parliament is reported to have hit a legal snag.

UNP MP Ruwan Wijewardena is to be appointed as the Deputy minister of Defence, reports say.

The Central Bank is said to be in crisis following the resignation of its head Ajith Nivard Cabraal and the absence of a successor in his place to authorize and issue directions in the functioning of day to day affairs.

The government is to initiate a special probe to ascertain whether the former President and former defence secretary had attempted to remain in office through a military coup and conspiracy instead of accepting the public mandate, UNP media unit chief - MP Mangala Samaraweera says.

Although media reports cited that newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena had ordered to remove all blocks imposed on websites while the Rajapaksa regime was in power, state owned Sri Lanka Telecom is yet to comply, the Professional Web Journalists' Association (PWJA) says.

Sri Lanka Freedom Party General Secretary  and former minister - Anura Priyadarshana Yapa says that Mahinda Rajapaksa remains the chairman of the party.