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.

Udayanga returns, arrested by CID over MiG deal

Former Sri Lanka Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga, who returned to Sri Lanka this morning was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning.

Yoshitha denies reports using state funds

The Prime Minister’s office yesterday denied reports that Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, had used state funds or travelled with his wife to India when the Prime Minister had undertaken an official visit there last week.

Govt. increases borrowing limit to Rs.1,088bn

The Attorney General (AG) has given clearance for the government’s move to increase the borrowing limit to Rs.1,088 billion from Rs.735 billion envisaged in the Appropriation Act in a bid to raise money to settle bills for transactions done by the former regime, Leader of the House and Minister Dinesh Gunawardane told Daily Mirror yesterday.

Sajith to meet UNP MPs to discuss party symbol

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa is to meet all UNP MPs and organizers at Parliamentary complex today to discuss on the symbol under which the party is to contest the next general election, an MP close to Mr. Premadasa said yesterday.

UNP invites SLFP to join their new alliance

The United National Party (UNP) extends an invitation to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to join the new alliance led by Sajith Premadasa and contest the upcoming parliamentary elections, UNP MP Harshana Rajakaruna said yesterday.

SL lauds China’s efforts to contain coronavirus

The government has expressed its satisfaction on preventive measures taken by the Chinese Government and its embassy in Colombo to contain the spread of novel coronavirus in Sri Lanka, an official from the Chinese Embassy told Daily Mirror yesterday.

Navin won’t contest without elephant

UNP National Organiser Navin Dissanayake told a press conference held yesterday that he would not contest the upcoming general elections if he were not allowed to contest under the elephant symbol.

Bim Saviya completed in 700,000 lots so far: Surveys Dept.

The Survey Department of Sri Lanka (SDSL) had completed surveying 1,470,688 lots of land consisting of a total area of 3,555 square kilometres under the ’Bim Saviya’ programme but titles have been issued only for half of that amount, SDSL Senior Deputy Surveyor-General K.D. Parakum Shantha said.

Gammanpila to go eco-friendly for election campaign

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader, MP Udaya Gammanpila said he had decided to use paper material made out of free-growing plants to print the cards for the upcoming general election.

Cabinet nod for pending promotions of PCs, Sergeants, SIs, IPs

The Cabinet recently approved a proposal submitted by Minister Chamal Rajapaksa to promote officers from the positions of Police Constable to Inspector of Police who had been denied of promotions for an extended period of time. Accordingly, the proposal seeks promotions for PCs, Sergeants, Sub-Inspectors and Inspectors.

Probe purchase of 78 vehicles during Yahapalanaya: JVP to CID

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today requested the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to launch an investigation into the purchase of 78 vehicles at a tune of Rs.1.6 billion during the previous government.

Entire Govt. stands for the brave lady officer

Minister Bandula Gunawardana said the entire government stood for the brave District Forest Officer Devani Jayathilaka who had a crosstalk with State Minister of Inland Fisheries Industry Sanath Nishantha Perera last Monday over protecting the Kadolkele mangrove at the Negombo lagoon.

I will proceed with the project whatsoever: Sanath Nishantha

State Minister of Inland Fisheries Industry, Sanath Nishantha Perera said yesterday that he would proceed with the project to construct a playground at Kadolkele mangrove in the Negombo lagoon despite objection from the Gampaha District Wildlife Officer.

Japan confirms 1st coronavirus death; taxi driver, doctor also infected

A Japanese woman in her 80s infected with the new coronavirus died Thursday, becoming the country’s first confirmed fatality, the health minister said, as more cases of infection were reported besides hundreds on a quarantined cruise ship near Tokyo.

Permission given to use calculators for local exams

Permission had been granted for candidates to use non-programmable calculators for the first time in local examination history for those who face the Financial accountancy paper one and two at the Sri Lanka Accountants’ Service (Grade III) examination, the Examination Department said.

Indian cabinet approves DTAA with Sri Lanka

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to the existing double tax avoidance agreement with Sri Lanka, a move aimed at curbing tax evasion.

MR's family members used no State funds: Bandula

Cabinet spokesman, Minister Bandula Gunawardana said today the family members who accompanied Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on his visit to India last week had spent their own money for air tickets and accommodations.

Free visas for tourists extended by 3 months

The Cabinet today approved the issuance of free visas by another three months from the February 1 to April 30, 2020.

Two suspects arrested with counterfeit notes

Two suspects were arrested with 90 five thousand and 47 thousand rupee counterfeit notes in Anuradhapura last evening, the Police said.

China officials fired as coronovirus deaths surge past 1,300

Health officials in China’s hard-hit central province of Hubei reported on Thursday that 242 more people died from the coronavirus COVID-19 as of Wednesday - the highest in a single day and more than twice the previous record high - pushing the death toll across the country to 1,355.

One arrested with 1Kg of heroin in Mt. Lavinia

A suspect was arrested with one kilogramme of heroin during a raid carried out by the Special Task Force in Mount Lavinia last night, police said.

Sajith to offer Ranil national list seat if he agree’s to heart

Opposition Leader, Sajith Premadasa, who on Wednesday registered a new political alliance to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections, said would offer UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe a national list seat if he agrees to settle the ongoing rift between them and contest under the new ’Heart symbol’, senior UNP members told Daily Mirror yesterday.

Sanath Nishantha oblivious to Wildlife Protection Act: Chandrasena

Referring to the incident in which the Gampaha District Forest Officer rejected the proposal to construct a playground at the Kadolkele mangrove in Negombo, Environment and Wildlife Resources Minister S.M. Chandrasena said State Minister Sanath Nishantha Perera would have been ignorant of the Wildlife Protection Act when dealing with the situation.

India likely to agree to PM’s request

India is likely to respond positively to the request by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to grant a moratorium for the repayment of loans obtained, Daily Mirror learns.

SriLankan Airlines summoned before COPE on Feb 19

Officials of the SriLankan Airlines have been summoned before the COPE Committee on February 19 to discuss the issue with regard to the Airbus deal, Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Chairman Sunil Handunnetti said yesterday.

7,366 Armed force absentees reported during amnesty period

A total of 7,366 armed forces personnel, including 20 officers who were considered as Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) have reported to their respective service centres as of February 11, the Defence Ministry said.

Tremor felt in Galle, Matara, Colombo: DMC

The tremor of the 5.4 magnitude earthquake which struck the North Indian Ocean last morning was felt by the people in Galle, Matara and Colombo districts, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.