Woman dies in wasp attack, seven injured

A 55-year-old woman died and seven others were injured in a wasp attack while they were plucking tea leaves at an estate in Lindula this evening, police said.

291 Lankans stranded in Singapore return

A total of 291 Sri Lankans stranded in Singapore due to COVID-19 pandemic, arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) today, the Airport Duty Manager said.

Printing ballot paper for General Elections commences

The printing of 17 million ballot papers for the General Elections commenced today, Government Printer Gangani Liyanage said.

Dissolution of Parliament and election date: SC dismisses FR petitions

The Supreme Court Bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya as Chairman and Justices Buwaneka Aluvihare, Sisira de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardene and Vijith Malalgoda today on a unanimous decision refused to grant leave to proceed to the seven fundamental rights petitions challenging the dissolution of Parliament and on the general election date.

Another leopard trapped in snare dies in Neluwa

Hot on the heels of the death of a rare black leopard in Nallathanniya, another leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya), that was trapped in a snare at a private land in Neluwa, Galle was found dead today, Wildlife Conservation Department Director General M.G.C. Sooriyabandara said.

Public transport back to normal from Monday

Ministry of Passenger Transport Management said today that public transport services would resume from Monday (June 8) after reviewing the public behaviour and in line with health authorities’ instructions on Covid-19.

Fast bowler Shehan Madushanka further remanded

Sri Lanka’s fast bowler Shehan Madushanka, who was remanded on charges of possessing heroin, was further remanded till June 9 by the Kuliyapitiya Magistrate today.

George Floyd death: Trump threatens to send in army to end unrest

US President Donald Trump has threatened to send in the military to quell growing civil unrest in the US over the death of African American George Floyd in police custody, BBC reported today.

Decision on issuing arrest warrant on ex-Welikada OIC tomorrow

The decision whether to issue an arrest warrant on former Welikada Police OIC ASP Sudath Asmadala for allegedly fabricating evidence in the 2016 Rajagiriya accident, will be made tomorrow, the Colombo Additional Magistrate said.

Two soldiers killed in head-on collision

Two soldiers were killed when a motorcycle they were travelling in collided head-on with a bus at Damanayaya in Bakamuna this morning.

One health officer to each polling station: EC

Elections Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said yesterday the commission expected to deploy at least one health officer to each polling station and a team of officials to monitor a cluster of polling stations at the forthcoming parliamentary election.

Opposition concerned over risks faced by security forces: Ruwan

The opposition is concerned over the continuous risks faced by the security forces when it comes to COVID-19, the humiliation they suffer and growing tendency of using them for political purposes, UNP Deputy General Secretary Ruwan Wijewardene said yesterday.

Tissue samples sent for histopathology : DWC

Although the postmortem was conducted on the black leopard on Saturday (May 30) the cause of death is yet to be revealed as tissue samples have been sent for histopathology, said Dr. Tharaka Prasad, Director – Wildlife Health at Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Maj. Gen. Gunawardena assumes office as new Army Chief of Staff

Major General Jagath Gunawardena assumed office as the 55th Chief of Staff of the Army yesterday during a simple ceremony at his office in the Army Headquarters, amid religious observances, greetings and best wishes.

ICTA denies alleged irregularities alluded to by Dr. Weerawarana

Responding to the resignation of Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana from the board of the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), the ICTA yesterday denied the alleged irregularities alluded to by Dr Weerawarana and said it is considering what actions it should take in this regard.

I placed signature 21,000 times to extradite Mahendran from Singapore: MS

Former President Maithripala Sirisena said that as the head of state, he placed his signature 21,000 times, over a period of three days, on documents compiled by the Attorney General in order to prepare for the extradition of the former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran from Singapore.

Carcass of black leopard to be sent to Colombo Museum

The body of black leopard, who died after being rescued in the Laxapana Estate, Nallathanniya while trapped in a snare, is to be sent to the Colombo National Museum, Wildlife Conservation Department Director General M.G.C. Sooriyabandara said.

Criminal operations by underworld kingpins from prisons must end – Prez

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has emphasized that crimes operated by underworld kingpins and drug mafia from prisons must be put to an end without delay.

Faulty method washed away millions of rupees- fmr UNP MPs

Former State Minister of Environment Ajith Mannapperuma, along with former MPs S.M. Marikkar and Hirunika Premachandra, said today the true reason for the washing away of the Mount Lavinia beach was the use of a faulty method to fill up the coast.

Colombo South beach nourishment project a success: CCD

Despite severe backlash from environmentalists, the Coast Conservation Department (CCD) reiterated today that the Colombo South beach nourishment project was a success.

President and PM take the lead in dengue prevention

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa issued directives to Governors and Local Government authorities to prepare a mechanism to control imminent dengue outbreak with the receding of prevailing rainy weather conditions, President’s Media Division said.

Decision on granting leave for FR petitions against elections date tomorrow

The decision on whether to grant leave for the Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the General Elections date, to be announced by the Supreme Court at 3pm tomorrow.

Liquor shops to be closed on June 5, 6

The countrywide sale of liquor and all alcoholic beverages will be banned in view of Poson Poya on June 5 and 6, the Excise Department announced. It said the order will prevail on all wine shops, bars, restaurants, taverns and hotels around the country.

AG directs CCD to arrest ex-Welikada Police OIC

Attorney General Dappula De Livera directed the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) Director to obtain a warrant and arrest Former OIC of the Welikada Police ASP Sudath Asmadala for allegedly fabricating evidence in the Rajagiriya Accident Case of 2016, the AG’s Coordinating Officer State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said.

Sri Lankan rejected at home, makes it to US Army

Anuj Pujitha Gunawardena, a Sri Lankan who was rejected by the Sri Lanka Army twice, is currently serving in the Advanced Attack Helicopter Divison in the US Army.

PCR tests for all those arriving at BIA from today: Minister

Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said today the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test would be conducted on all passengers arriving in the country from today ( June1) at the Katunayaka airport and that all those who come to Sri Lanka will be either hospitalized or sent for quarantine following the result of the test.

Pakistan has cheapest fuel cost in South Asia: Imran Khan

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday said that Pakistan now has the cheapest fuel cost comparing other states in South Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, Dunya News reported.

All temporary residents in Colombo must register with Police

All temporary residents in Colombo and its suburbs should register with the nearest police station, Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon said.

PM sworn-in as Social Empowerment Minister

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was sworn in as the Minister of Social Empowerment and Estate Infrastructure Development, the portfolio previously held by late Minister Arumugam Thondaman.

Indian Navy ship arrives to repatriate 700 stranded Indians

Indian Navy ship INS Jalashwa arrived at the Colombo Port this morning to bring back 700 stranded Indians under the second phase of Operation ’’Samudra Setu’’ as a part of the ’’Vande Bharat’’ mission.