Four police officers arrested for extortion in Colombo

The Modara Police have arrested four police officers for allegedly threatening a household in Colombo 15 and extorting Rs. 1.4 million, police said.

Hezbollah vows to punish Israel after pager explosions across Lebanon

Militant group Hezbollah promised to retaliate against Israel after accusing it of detonating pagers across Lebanon on Tuesday, killing nine people and wounding nearly 3,000 others who included fighters and Iran’s envoy to Beirut.

Won’t hesitate to take action even if Ranil is found guilty for abetting to corruption: Sajith

Opposition leader and the Presidential candidate of the Samagi Jana Sandhanaya, Sajith Premadasa vowed that he would take legal action against anyone responsible for major scams in the recent past and would not hesitate to take action against the incumbent President if he too is found to be responsible for aiding and abetting to crimes.

“If we deviate from the current economic reforms, the economy will be worse than 2022” - Ranil

Independent candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday stressed that Sri Lanka’s economy will be worse than 2022 if the country deviates from current economic reforms.

Presidential Election campaign ends midnight today

As the campaign period for the upcoming Presidential Election will end tonight (18) at midnight, those engaging in illegal campaigning after the given deadline could face arrest and legal action, the Election Commission warned.

Presidential Election: Eleven rallies today

Around 11 election rallies are to be held before the campaign deadline for the Presidential Election which ends midnight today.

Will create governance free of fraud, corruption and misuse: AKD

National People’s Power (NPP) presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged people to vote for him to form a government free of fraud, corruption and misuse.

Voting for Sajith, Namal will ultimately help Anura: Ranil

If you vote for either Sajith Premadasa or Namal Rajapaksa, it will ultimately help NPP candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake, independent candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

This election is not about selecting the best speaker, entertainer, or announcer - Namal

’’This election is not about choosing the best speaker, entertainer, or announcer. It’s about creating a free and safe country, easing the burden of taxes, securing a bright future for your children, and improving business prospects for the future,’’ presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa said in a rally organized in Ratnapura today.

EC warns of arrests for campaigning after silent period

The campaigning period for the upcoming Presidential election will end at midnight tomorrow (18).

Another suspect arrested over Club Wasantha’s murder

Another suspect who was taken into custody today in connection with the double murder at a tattoo centre in Athurugiriya was produced before Kaduwela Acting Magistrate D.G.P. Karunaratne and detained for 48 hours for further questioning.

President inaugurates vehicle assembly plant in Kuliyapitiya

President Ranil Wickremesinghe inaugurated a new vehicle assembly plant, the Western Automobile Assembly Private Limited (WAA), in Kuliyapitiya today.

Will uphold Article 9 of Constitution: NPP assures ACBC

The National People’s Power assured that a future NPP government will not change Article 9 of the Constitution which states that the Republic of Sri Lanka shall give the foremost place to Buddhism.

Boxes of matches distributed with candidate’s image in Nuwara Eliya: PAFFREL receives reports

PAFFREL has received reports from the Nuwara Eliya area over a group distributing boxes of matches featuring a Presidential candidate’s picture and election symbol on either side.

Rally in Nuwara Eliya damages environmenal beauty

Extensive damages have been caused to the environmenal beauty of the Nuwara Eliya town by the participants in a propaganda rally organised by the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) in support of the candidacy of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council officials claimed.

Politics has become a business, causing trouble for everyone: Janaka Rathnayaka

Over the past 76 years, politics in the country has turned into a massive business, causing widespread hardships, Presidential candidate Janaka Rathnayaka said.

NPP has not filed any applications against Deshabandu - Upul Jayasuriya

Past President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), Upul Jayasuriya PC, in a letter to President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne, stated that neither the JVP nor the NPP has filed any applications opposing the appointment of IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon.

GMOA to launch trade union action tomorrow

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has announced a trade union action tomorrow (18), targeting hospitals across the country, GMOA spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said.

Special telephone numbers released to report violations of election laws

The Election Dispute Resolution Unit of the Election Commission has introduced several special telephone numbers for reporting election law violations and disputes.

Use of aircraft for Presidential campaigns only on payment basis: SLAF clarifies

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has clarified that it provides aircraft for Presidential candidates’ campaigns only on a payment basis, in line with standard procedures.

Antibiotic resistance could cause over 39 million deaths by 2050, study says

More than 39 million people could die of antibiotic-resistant infections between now and 2050, according to a study published Monday in The Lancet.

Grade Five scholarship exam paper leaked

Six teachers, including a school principal in an examination centre in Anuradhapura, who had allegedly shared the first question paper of the Grade Five scholarship examination using a mobile phone, were taken into custody by the officials of the Examinations Department.

This could be the last democratic election in Sri Lanka-Patali

United Republican Front (URF) Leader MP Patali Champika Ranawaka who is backing Presidential Candidate and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa fears whether this will be the last democratic election that will be conducted in Sri Lanka.

Universities: Females outnumber males, graduates look for greener pastures abroad: Prof. Athukorala

Professor of Economics at the University of Peradeniya Wasantha Athukorala, said many university students leave Sri Lanka in search of better opportunities abroad, which poses a serious issue to the economy. “Taxpayers pay money to educate them, but they leave. At the end of the day, it is a big setback to the country,” he said.

Global warming alters bird migratory pattern to Sri Lanka: Dr. Jagath Gunawardana

The effect of climate change on migratory patterns is a further focal point to consider as an assumed 84% of birds listed on the CMS face threats due to global warming, according to environmentalist and lawyer Dr. Jagath Gunawardana.

Jumbo threat to voters: election, wildlife authorities ready to deter elephants

In its bid to ensure that voters can reach polling stations safely on September 21, the election authorities have taken steps to liaise with the Department of Wildlife Conservation to prevent any threat from wild elephants, an official said.

Will stabilise the dollar; ensure continuous gas, fuel supply: AKD

Claiming that independent Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe was striking fear among the people by threatening of the re-emergence of gas, fuel and electricity crisis if he is not elected, NPP Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today that an NPP government will ensure the continuous supply of gas, fuel and electricity while stabilising the US dollar in relation to the Sri Lankan rupee.

Police warn of legal action over sharing misleading 2022 Aragalaya videos

The Sri Lanka Police said that legal action will be taken against individuals who share misleading videos related to the violent events, especially during the Aragalaya protests in 2022, for political advantage.

Refrain from using investor names in campaigns: Namal urges candidates

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Presidential candidate Namala Rajapaksa requested other candidates to refrain from using the names and details of investors as part of their election campaign slogans.

We will not issue official results to them: EC Chairman

Highlighting the utmost importance of media houses sticking to the guidelines issued to them by the Election Commission of Sri Lanka, Commission’s Chairman R. M. A. L. Rathnayake warned that they will not issue official results of the Presidential Polls to such defying media houses.