Sri Lankan arrested over fraudulent purchase of 40,000 liters of fuel in Japan

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a male national of Sri Lanka who is suspected in the fraudulent purchase of nearly 40,000 liters of fuel in Ibaraki Prefecture last year, TBS News reported.

China toll leaps past 1,600 as new cases slow

The number of new cases from China’s coronavirus epidemic dropped for a third consecutive day on Sunday, as the World Health Organisation chief warned it was “impossible” to predict how the outbreak would develop.

SL summons US ambassador over Shavendra’s travel ban

United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Relations tomorrow (16) to inform the Sri Lankan government’s objection to the imposition of travel restrictions on Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva and his immediate family members.

US Congressmen meet PM discuss enhancing ties

US Congressmen Ami Bera and George Holding met Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo and discussed the strengthening of relations in a few sectors including counter terrorism, tourism & energy sectors.

Gold worth over Rs.100mn taken into naval custody

Sri Lanka Navy apprehended two persons with 14.35 kg of gold worth over Rs.100 million being smuggled in the sea area of Madagal, Jaffna yesterday, the navy said.

Udayanga Weeratunga admitted to prison hospital

Sri Lanka’s former Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga, who was arrested and remanded until February 17 over the controversial MiG deal, has been admitted to the prison hospital, informed sources said.

Joint authority for Palk Bay - Modi favourable to proposal

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the visiting Sri Lankan delegation that he would look favourably on the proposal by Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda to set up the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar Joint Marine Fisheries Resources Management Authority.

Prez wants speedy completion of Central, other expressways

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed relevant officials to expedite the completion work of Central and other expressways, President’s Media Division said.

Ranil to visit India this month

Amid a deepening rift in the United National Party (UNP), party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to travel to India on a two-day visit later this month to take part in an international conference at the Hindu Huddle, a senior UNP MP told Daily Mirror yesterday.

Legal committee to study use of elephant by alliance

Crucial talks involving the leaders of the two factions of the United National Party (UNP) ended yesterday with the decision to consult the legal advice on the possibility of the alliance using the elephant symbol at the general elections.

Fuel - Price reduction if world market trends continue

If the fuel price in the global market continues to drop, the government will consider a price reduction in the domestic market, Power, Energy, and Commuter Transport Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said yesterday.

Excavation of skeletal remains at Mankulam suspended

Mankulam Police said excavations have been stopped until the report of the Judicial Medical Officer of Kilinochchi was received on the skeletal remains found at the premises of the Mankulam hospital new ward complex in Mullaitivu.

Sajith only following D.S. principles: Vijithamuni

No one has gone against United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe other than emphasizing the need for unity to win the most number of seats at the general elections, MP Gamini Wijith Wijeyamuni de Soysa said today.

SL takes strong objection to US travel ban on Shavendra Silva

The Sri Lankan government takes strong objection to the imposition of travel restrictions on Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva and his immediate family members by the United States government, based on independently unverified information, Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry said.

Forensic audit - CB submits its observation to CPF

The Central Bank’s observations on the Forensic Audit on the Central Bank bond scam have been sent to the Parliament Committee on Public Finance (CPF), sources said.

US bans visits by Sri Lanka army chief over war crimes

The United States said Friday it would refuse entry to Sri Lanka’s Army chief over what it said “credible” evidence of human rights violations in the 2009 finale to the civil war in Sri Lanka.

Heroin addiction on the rise: Nimal Siripala

The cases filed against heroin addicts have increased by 64% in 2019 and the drug menace has to be controlled before it becomes a national disaster, Justice, Human Resources and Legal Reforms Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said.

Udayanga Weeratunga remanded until Feb.17

Former Sri Lanka Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga, was remanded until February 17 by the Fort Magistrate Court Ranga Dissanayake today.

3kgs of ice recovered from sea off Tangalle

Three kilos of drugs suspected to be ice or methamphetamine worth more than Rs.30 million were found floating in mid-sea off Tangalle this morning, police said.

Southern expressway up to H’tota: Opening on Feb.23

With the completion of the 145-kilometre distance of the Southern Expressway (E-01), the Godagama to Barawakumbuka stretch of 96 kilometres will be open for public on Sunday, Southern Expressway Deputy Director R.A.D Kahatapitiya said.

Guinea-Bissau President meets Prime Minister at Temple Trees

President of the Republic of Guinia-Bissau, Umaro Cissoko Embalo, accompanied by Ms. Suzi Barbosa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guinea-Bissau who made a brief visit to Sri Lanka this morning en route to Spain called on Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees.

Nigerian Navy arrest 7 Sri-Lankans over oil theft

The Nigerian Navy has handed over seven Sri-Lankas, 46 Nigerians and two Ghanaians who were crew members on board seven vessels that were arrested between December 3, 2019, and December 30, 2019, over alleged illegal bunkering, to the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for prosecution.

Six including Mohamed Ibrahim further remanded

Six suspects including Shangri-La Hotel suicide bomber’s father Mohamed Ibrahim were further remanded until February 28 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Court today.

External timelines lack ground realities and will only hinder reconciliation: SL to UN

Speaking at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Thursday, Sri Lanka said that timelines evolved externally to achieve transitional justice in the country would only hinder the reconciliation process as such timelines would lack any ground realities.

Galle Road opposite Presidential Secretariat closed due to protest

The Galle Road has been closed opposite the Presidential Secretariat due to a protest staged by the teachers and Principals.

33 students quarantined at Diyatalawa camp released

The thirty-three Sri Lankan students, who returned from Wuhan, China and quarantined at the Diyatalawa Army Camp were released this morning, Army spokesman Brigadier Chandana Wickramasinghe said.

2009 Lahore terror attack taught me about my character: Sanga

Former Sri Lanka skipper and current Marylebone Cricket Club’s president Kumar Sangakkara has said that the 2009 Lahore terror attack taught him about his own character and values.

Bid to smuggle ganja to SL foiled, 661 kg seized

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Wednesday night foiled an attempt to smuggle 661 kilos of ganja, worth over Rs 1 crore, to Sri Lanka.

No instruction received to obtain arrest warrant: CCD OIC

The Officer in Charge of the Colombo Crimes Division, Chief Inspector Neville de Silva said before Nugegoda Magistrate U. Harsha Palpola that he was not notified to obtain an arrest warrant on interdicted Embilipitiya High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya, since there was no notification received to arrest him.

Ranil-Malik-Mangala discuss elephant symbol

Fresh efforts have been initiated to prevail upon the UNP leadership to allow the new alliance ‘Samagi Janabalavegaya’ led by opposition leader Sajith Premadasa to adopt the elephant symbol with MPs Malik Samarawickrama and Mangala Samaraweera talking to party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in this regard, Daily Mirror learns.