(REUTERS) The Saudi king's absence from a regional summit to be hosted by President Barack Obama shows how Gulf states, displeased by what they see as US indifference to Iranian meddling in the Arab world, may hesitate to bless any nuclear deal with Tehran. Analysts and diplomats in the Middle East described King Salman's decision to skip the meeting at Camp David this week as a snub, despite denials from US officials and some Saudi insiders. Riyadh announced the monarch's no-show on Sunday, only two days after the White House had said he would attend the summit of Gulf Cooperation Council states - some of which have long doubted Obama's commitment to confronting Iranian backing of Shi'ite Muslim militias across the region. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who has strong ties with the US political and security establishment, will represent Saudi Arabia at the May 13-14 gathering along with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Defence Minister. Since Salman took power in January, the pair have determined most aspects of Saudi policy
Several shops were damaged in a major fire that broke out in a shop on the third floor of a building at First Cross Street in Pettah, Colombo, today evening.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today warned that Ceylon Electricity Board Employees would have to make a choice in the next two months.
The number of Buddhist monks who were killed following the accident at the Na Uyana Theravada Buddhist Monastery (Na Uyana Aranya Senansenaya) in Pansiyagama, Melsiripura, Kurunegala currently stands at nine , with four injured, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Prof. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi told Parliament this morning. He revealed that two of the injured Buddhist monks are being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, addressing the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, said that both inequality and poverty ought to be regarded as a worldwide catastrophe that requires urgent attention.
The opposition has renewed its demand for a long delayed forensic audit into the controversial e-visa deal, following the sentencing of former Controller General of Immigration, Harsha Ilukpitiya, for contempt of court.
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