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Following a surge in election violence, the police have beefed up security in areas that have been identified as ‘hotspots’ where both the government and the opposition have a strong presence, the police said today.

Eastern Province Chief Minister Sinavesathurai Chandrakanthan has returned back home to Batticaloa and will restart his campaigning in the east this week after he was admitted to hospital with dengue, the TMVP said.

The body of a new born baby which was found floating in the Thalgasgoda ganga in Ambalangoda was recovered by the police late last night. The body was found put inside a polythene bag. The police have arrested the mother of the infant in connection with the death.

Ex JVP Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake says he will be questioned by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on March 23 and 24. He adds that this move is to supress the activities of the opposition. 

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is to record a statement from Anoma Fonseka, the wife of General Sarath Fonseka, reports said. However the reason for the grilling is not known. She is expected to appear before the CID next week

The child who was thrown into the Kaluganga river by his mother and was in the Intensive Care Unit at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital has died, according to the Hospital Director.

Britain disagrees with the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) that UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon is not within his right to set up a group of experts who will advise him on taking forward his concerns on human rights issues in Sri Lanka.

A small explosion in Kolonnawa due to fireworks caused a fire in which two supporters of Duminda Silva had to be hospitalised late last night. One has suffered severe burn injuries while the other supporter had to have his leg amputated.  

UNF Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has pledged to remove all unnecessary High Security Zones (HSZ) in the north while keeping only the essential ones. He said his party has also finalized plans to develop the Palali Airport into an international airport

Political party representatives criticized IGP Mahinda Balasuriya in front of Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake today, for the police’s failure to remove all unlawful election related cut-outs, posters and banners.

A conman allegedly wanted for defrauding several individuals for large sums of money in exchange for greener pastures was arrested by the Colombo Frauds Bureau this week. The hunt for the suspect had been ongoing for two years.

 

The British Foreign office has named Sri Lanka as a country of concern saying it reflects Britain’s concerns about allegations of serious conflict violations, as well as the deteriorating status of the rule of law and freedom of expression in Sri Lanka.

Justice D.S.C.Lekamvasam, a member of the Court of Appeal bench hearing the writ application seeking the release of General Sarath Fonseka declined to sit on the bench today citing “personal reasons.” He will be replaced by Justice Anil Goonarathna.

The IGP said today that the police are in contact with foreign law enforcement authorities to investigate the recent drug bust in Kalpitiya as they had information to believe that the drugs had been brought in from overseas.

A Colombo court today released Myown Mustapha on two personal bails of Rs. 1 million each. The UNP Parliamentarian had allegedly given Rs. 4.2 million to then MP Mohammed Musammil of the National Freedom Front to gain his support

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The Australian government deported four Sri Lankan asylum seekers, two Tamils, one Sinhalese and one Muslim, after their applications for refugee status were unsuccessful, the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship said.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate today released Danuna Tillekaratne’s grandmother on a cash bail of Rs3000 after she was arrested by the CID late last night for allegedly providing accommodation to Danuna last month.

Two people were injured in a clash between supporters of the United National Party (UNP) candidate for the Kandy District Mano Ganesan and a United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) candidate in Galaha a short while ago

The Health Ministry has raised serious questions over the use of Bacillus Thuriengiensis (BTI) bacteria which is used to counter the larva of the dengue mosquito stating that it could have an adverse and a dangerous impact on the environment.

The Sri Lankan government has warned that ties with the United Nations (UN) is in danger of going sour if the present conflict with UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon over his move to appoint a panel on Sri Lanka is not resolved