Meth & heroin worth Rs.1,180mn seized in seas off Galle

A large haul of crystal methamphetamine and heroin worth Rs.1,180 million rupees was seized by the Navy and Police Narcotic Bureau officials in the seas off Galle today.

Foreign Minister meets HR Chief, expresses intention to review PTA

Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, who is in Geneva, met UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet last afternoon and expressed government’s intention to undertake a review of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), the Foreign Relations Ministry said.

Prez Sec. has to focus more on protests than duties: President

A number of protesting groups from state institutions daily hold agitation campaigns in front of the Presidential Secretariat and as a result, the staff has to devote more time to these agitators than performing their duties, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.

General election - Posters, cut-outs banned for campaigning

Displaying posters and cut-outs during the election campaign has been banned and legal action will be taken against those who do so, Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said yesterday.

Two arrested with heroin haul in Rajagiriya

Two people were arrested while transporting a heroin haul weighing 3.257 kilograms and worth over Rs.30 million in a three-wheeler in Rajagiriya today, police said.

Hot weather - Met Dept. asks people to remain extremely cautious

The Department of Meteorology has issued a hot weather advisory to 11 districts including the North-Western, Western, Southern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces and Mannar warning people to be extremely cautious.

Bathiudeen’s wife and brother - Court calls for report on their bank accounts

In the wake of some documents relating to a financial fraud that had occurred at the Lanka Sathosa, the Mt Lavinia Magistrate Udesh Ranathunga yesterday directed the CID to submit a report after examining the bank accounts of former minister Rishad Bathiudeen’s wife and his brother.

New govt. always respect instructions of Maha Sangha: PM

The new government always respect instructions and advises of the Maha Sangha unlike the previous government, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said.

Harsha unhappy over WC indecision

UNP MP Harsha de Silva who expressed dissatisfaction over the UNP working committee’s failure to end all issues regarding the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, today said he was even contemplating bowing out of politics.

Govt. teacher uses creative methods to teach mathematics

A video of a government teacher, who teaches mathematics to his students with some creative methods has gone viral on social media.

Govt. plans pension scheme for housemainds

Considering the contribution made by more than one million Sri Lankan expatriates to the national economy, the Cabinet has decided to introduce a contributory pension scheme for them, Cabinet spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardana said today.

UNP working committee meeting ends without decision on symbol

The UNP working committee meeting ended today without a decision on the symbol to be used by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to contest the upcoming general election but unanimously approved the alliance constitution subject to some amendments.

High Posts Committee approves Beddage as ambassador to Maldives

The Government proposal to appoint veteran singer Rohana Beddage as the new Sri Lankan ambassador to the Maldives was approved by the Committee on High Posts today.

SLFA deploys helicopter to douse fire at Hatton

The Sri Lanka Air Force has deployed a Bell-212 helicopter to assist in dousing a fire that is spreading in Nallathanniya, Hatton.

Scotland could become first nation to give free pads & tampons

Scotland has moved to become the first nation to make tampons and pads free, CNN reported yesterday. The Scottish parliament advanced legislation on Tuesday that would ensure free universal access to tampons, pads and other menstrual products, in a huge stride for the global movement against period poverty.

Specifics of engagement with SL to be discussed after review: IMF

Sri Lankan authorities have expressed interest in a range of options for future engagement with the IMF but the specifics will be discussed after the next review in mid-April, the IMF said on Thursday.

Fire breaks out at construction site in Bambalapitiya

A fire has broken out from a construction site of a hotel at Bambalapitiya a short while ago, Fire Brigade said. They said five fire trucks had been dispatched to the location to douse the fire.

Proceeding with the MCC - US embassy to await SL Govt’s decision

The US Embassy in Colombo said yesterday it would await the Sri Lankan government’s decision on how it would like to proceed with the MCC grant agreement, shortly after a minister announced that the Cabinet had decided not to sign the agreement in its present form.

Two Sri Lankans arrived from Italy admitted to IDH

Two Sri Lankans who arrived from coronavirus hit Italy had been admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in Angoda with signs of fever and coughing, hospital sources said.

Four remanded over university CCTV camera removal

The three students and the Buddhist student monk who were arrested for removing CCTV cameras at the Kelaniya University premises were remanded till March 3 by the Mahara Magistrate’s Court today.

Six including Mohamed Ibrahim further remanded

The six suspects including Shangri-La Hotel suicide bomber’s father Mohamed Ibrahim were further remanded until March 13 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today.

25 students of Kelaniya Uni. suspended for removing CCTV cameras

The 25 undergraduates who were involved in the removal of newly installed CCTV cameras at the Kelaniya University premises were suspended for two years with effect from today, the Communication and Media Unit of the University said.

Govt. decides not to sign MCC

The Cabinet of Ministers has decided not to sign the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement following the recommendations made by the the committee of experts appointed to study the agreement.

Swiss authorities were aware of illegal adoptions from SL; report

The Swiss authorities had been aware of the existence of irregularities and cases of child trafficking by the end of 1981 but did not halt adoptions from Sri Lanka until 1997, Swissinfo reported yesterday.

India-Sri Lanka ferry service to take off soon: Union minister

In order to promote tourism, the ministry for shipping has mooted a proposal to start ferry service between Karaikal in the Union Territory of Puducherry and Jaffna in Sri Lanka covering a distance of 56 nautical miles (103.7 kilometres).

Sajith to contest general elections from Colombo district

Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the newly-formed Samagi Jana Balawegaya and deputy leader of the United National Party (UNP), will contest the upcoming general elections from the Colombo district, sources close to Premadasa told Daily Mirror yesterday.

Core Group on Sri Lanka expresses concerns

The United Kingdom, Canada and other members of the ‘Core Group on Sri Lanka’ informed the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday that they were ‘deeply disappointed and concerned’ over the Sri Lankan government’s decision to withdraw its co-sponsorship of a 2015 resolution.

New Govt. failed to meet its election pledges: Ruwan

The former State Minister of Defence MP Ruwan Wijewardene said that the issue with regard to the symbol under which UNP led alliance would contest the general election, whether it would be the elephant or the swan would be resolved soon,

Sajith’s invitation to Ranil, UNP: Working Committee to meet today

The UNP working committee will meet today to discuss and decide on Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s extension to Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the UNP to join the Samagi Jana Balawegaya to contest the general election.

MP or not, Basil should get a powerful role: Amaraweera

Irrespective of whether Basil Rajapaksa becomes a parliament member or not, he should be given a responsible and powerful position in the new Gotabaya Rajapaksa government to be formed after the general election, Minister and UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera said yesterday.