Madrasas to come under Education Ministry

21 May 2019 - 0     - 507

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday Madrasas would be placed under the purview of the Education Ministry.

Foreign influence on domestic appointments

21 May 2019 - 0     - 919

Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said foreign nations influenced Sri Lanka when making certain appointments in the country.

Controversy swirls around efforts to defer presidential poll

21 May 2019 - 0     - 437

Controversy swirls in political circles about reports on President Maithripala Sirisena’s move to seek an advisory opinion from the Supreme Court (SC) in terms of Article 129 whether he could serve in office till June 20, 2020, thereby postponing the presidential election otherwise scheduled for later this year.

NCM against Bathiudeen Debate date to be fixed today

21 May 2019 - 0     - 62

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader and MP Udaya Gammanpila said the debate date on the no-confidence motion against Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen would be discussed today at the party leaders’ meeting chaired by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.

Spokesman for Chinese embassy: Defence pacts solely cover training, security equipment supply

21 May 2019 - 0     - 277

The defence agreements inked with China will only cover basic aspects such as the supply of security equipment and training for military personnel, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy said yesterday.

JVP to hand over NCM against Govt. today

21 May 2019 - 0     - 75

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) will hand over a no-confidence motion (NCM) against the government today owing to its failure to avert the Easter Sunday bombings despite prior warnings, its leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a press conference held yesterday.

NUTA writes to Prez: Inappropriate to seek SC advisory opinion on tenure

21 May 2019 - 0     - 84

The National University Teachers’ Association (NUTA) informed President Maithripala Sirisena in writing that it would be inappropriate for him at this hour to seek an advisory opinion from the Supreme Court (SC) on the date in which his term would end.

Surveillance cameras to beef up security in schools

21 May 2019 - 0     - 34

As an additional security measure, CCTV cameras will be installed in schools countrywide, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said yesterday.

Send children to school without fear

21 May 2019 - 0     - 10

Asserting that the national security situation had been strengthened, Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake requested parents to send their children to school from today onwards.

Presidential poll between Nov. 9 and Dec. 9: EC

21 May 2019 - 0     - 7

The Elections Commission (EC) was determined to announce the presidential poll in mid-October and hold the election between November 9 and December 9, its Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said.

Concerns over purchasing 400MWs of power from Turkish firm

21 May 2019 - 0     - 74

Controversy surrounds Power and Energy Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s move to award another 400MWs of emergency power to a Turkish company, learns.

Madumadawa absconds from Minuwangoda Police

21 May 2019 - 0     - 189

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) deputy leader Madumadawa Aravinda has failed to appear at the Minuwangoda Police Station at two instances – yesterday and last Sunday – despite summons being issued to be present to provide a statement in connection with his alleged presence during a tensed situation that erupted on May 13 in Minuwangoda, police said.

Not raided, employee arrested at an undisclosed location: Virtusa

18 May 2019 - 0     - 1004

With reference to recent news reports, Virtusa Ltd., yesterday making a clarification said its facility was not raided but a single employee was taken into custody while at an undisclosed location.

PC polls: EC wants Govt. to intervene

18 May 2019 - 0     - 597

The Elections Commission wants the government to directly intervene for the conduct of the provincial council polls before the presidential election and has sought a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena to take a final decision on this matter.

vesak messages

18 May 2019 - 0     - 412

President Maithripala Sirisena said in his Vesak message that people must recollect the teachings of the Buddha to build a society with boundless peace by shunning all attempts to destroy each other for greed for power.

Decade of peace marred by resurgence of terrorism

18 May 2019 - 0     - 1233

A decade of peace, which was an occasion worthy of celebration, has been marred by the resurgence of terrorism in Sri Lanka which has impacted all of us once again, former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.

Shariya Uni in Batticaloa Sectoral committee suggests conversion into public-private institute

18 May 2019 - 0     - 401

Sectoral oversight committee on Education and Human Resource Development has discussed the conversion of the Shariya University in Batticaloa into a public-private institution with the University Management yesterday.

Soldier in Nattandiya video not at fault: Army Commander

18 May 2019 - 0     - 584

Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake said on Thursday the soldier seen in a CCTV video as having made a hand gesture to a mob during a violent incident that occurred in Nattandiya in Thummodara last Monday was found not at fault.

Police sieze 21 bags of Ammonia Nitrate

18 May 2019 - 0     - 73

Twenty one bags of Ammonia Nitrate which had been hidden inside a cage at the Asgiriya Police kennels was seized yesterday by the Kandy police. During investigations the police were informed that the ammonia nitrate was used as coconut fertilizer.

Wellampitiya copper factory employee re-remanded

18 May 2019 - 0     - 17

An employee, of the Copper Factory owned by Insaf Ahmad, one of the Shangri-la suicide bombers,was re-remanded till May 30 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage yesterday.

Fight against terrorism US assures strong support for SL

18 May 2019 - 0     - 118

US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, who met Foreign Affairs Minister Tilak Marapana, has reiterated strong US support for Sri Lanka in its fight against terrorism.

Principal and teacher linked to NTJ arrested

18 May 2019 - 0     - 214

Two suspects alleged to have close links with the National Thowheed Jama’at (NTJ) were arrested at Horowpathana on Thursday, Police said.

Govt. won’t allow terror groups to disrupt Vesak: PM

18 May 2019 - 0     - 50

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has assured that the government will not allow any terror group to disrupt today’s celebration of Vesak.

Peace has been restored Those creating unrest will be punished: Police

18 May 2019 - 0     - 16

Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said yesterday that peace had been restored in the entire country and warned that stern action would be taken against anyone who sabotaged the calm environment that now prevailed.

Much less imminence of a second spate of attacks

17 May 2019 - 0     - 392

Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake yesterday assured that there is much less imminence of a second spate of terrorist attacks.

Release of suspect arrested over Easter Sunday attacks It was a mere request by Minister Bathiudeen

17 May 2019 - 0     - 1351

Responding to reports that Minister Rishad Bathiudeen had influenced Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake to release a suspect arrested over the Easter Sunday attacks, the latter said yesterday no one had influenced him but that the minister did make a request.

Carbon and Energy Footprint of Tea Manufactured in Sri Lanka

17 May 2019 - 0     - 170

No-faith motion against Bathiudeen submitted to Speaker

17 May 2019 - 0     - 211

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, who met President Maithripala Sirisena, has said that China would soon take steps to assist Sri Lanka’s strategic capabilities to combat international terrorism.

Prominent Muslim leaders call for Sri Lankan identity

17 May 2019 - 0     - 232

While expressing solidarity with the victims of the Easter Sunday terror attacks and those affected by the recent spate of violence, prominent Sri Lankan Muslim leaders yesterday called for one united Sri Lankan identity.

President to decide on fate of Governors

17 May 2019 - 0     - 156

President Maithripala Sirisena will soon take a decision on Governors Azath Salley and A.L.M. Hizbullah, former Minister Duminda Dissanayaka said.