Lotus Road closed due to protest

The Lotus Road in Colombo has been temporarily closed due to a protest march carried out by unemployed graduates, police said.

Basketball great Bryant dies in helicopter crash

US basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna are among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the city of Calabasas, California.

Next meeting last chance: Ranil

Former General Secretary of the United National Party, Tissa Attanayake has taken the responsibility of arranging a meeting between UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa and Karu Jayasuriya.

No restrictions for travelers to visit SL: Foreign Ministry

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Ministry yesterday said that there were no restrictions on issuing visas to Chinese travelers to Sri Lanka, but the Daily Mirror learns that all those arriving from the areas affected by the coronavirus will have a special mark on their ETA so that they will be subjected to quarantine upon their arrival.

Vulnerable people warned as poor air quality looms in Colombo

Vulnerable people are advised to be mindful of the unhealthy air quality expected in the Colombo area in the coming days especially on January 28, 29 and 30 the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) Air Quality Unit Senior Scientist H.D.S. Premasiri said.

Debate on forensic audit report on Feb. 18, 19

The political party leaders have decided to have a two-day debate on February 18 and 19 on the forensic audit report regarding the Central Bank bond scam.

CC to summon AG over arrest warrant on Judge Pilapitiya

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is to summon Attorney General Dappula de Livera following a decision made by the Constitutional Council (CC) that Speaker should summon him to question about the directive he had given to arrest Judge Gihan Pilapitiya, Parliament source said yesterday.

Prez appoints NAC to prevent spreading coronavirus in the country

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, yesterday instructed the Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi to appoint a National Action Committee (NAC) to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Sri Lanka.

Politicians influence Police for their personal agendas

Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara, who has been sent on compulsory leave, on Saturday (25) informed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the Easter Sunday terror attacks that politicians influence the police for their personal agendas.

Willing to establish unity within UNP: Sajith

Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa yesterday said he is willing to establish unity within the United National Party (UNP) and to lead an alliance which includes UNP as well but that unity should be useful.

Another two passengers suspicious of coronavirus detected at BIA: BIA medical Unit

Another two more passengers, suspected to be infected with corona-virus, was detected yesterday evening at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), BIA medical unit Dr. Chandika Bandara Wickramasuriya said.

SL requests to land aircraft in Wuhan to airlift 32 students

On the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Beijing has today submitted an application to land a Sri Lankan Airlines aircraft in Wuhan Airport to airlift 32 Sri Lankan students including their family members, the Foreign Relations Ministry said today.

No one in bond scam would be penalised: Hirunika

No one involved in the bond scam would be penalised despite the disclosures in the forensic audit report as Perpetual Treasuries Chief Arjun Aloysius and former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran were good friends of seniors of the main parties, Member of Parliament Hirunika Premachandra said today.

SriLankan Airlines facilitates return of SL students in China

On the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, SriLankan Airlines has taken steps to facilitate the return home of Sri Lankan students who are currently in China, the airlines said.

Corona Virus: Use face masks, precautionary steps, public urged

While claiming that there was no need to panic over the Corona Virus, the Health Ministry has advised the general public to wear face masks as a safety measure.

US official highlights shared values with SL

A top US official on Friday said that the standard partnership with Sri Lanka will replicate both parties good fortune in strengthening shared values, together with at the important factor of therapeutic the injuries of Sri Lanka’s civil battle.

Speaker to summon AG following requests by CC

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is to summon Attorney General Dappula de Levera following a decision made by the Constitutional Council (CC) over the directive he had given to arrest High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya.

150 Sri Lankan students to be repatriated from China within 48hrs

Steps had been taken to bring back 150 Sri Lankan students from Chengdu in Sichuan Province, China through a special flight within the next 48 hours, the President’s Media Division said.

Suspected Corona Virus patients recovering under observation

The four patients who had been admitted at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in Colombo on suspicion of Corona Virus infection had been kept under observation although they were recovering and the initial reports were negative, Senior Epidemiologist of the Epidemiology Unit Dr Sudath Samaraweera said.

India confers Padma Shri Awards on Dr. Chitrasena, Prof. Dassanayake

The Government of India has decided to confer Padma Shri Awards on Deshabandu Dr. Vajira Chitrasena and Late Prof. Indra Dassanayake for their pioneering contributions in their individual fields of work and for strengthening India-Sri Lanka ties, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said.

Sri Lankan man, on Sabarimala pilgrimage, kills sister for hiding liquor

In a shocking case, a 50-year-old man murdered his sister under the influence of alcohol. R Tharageshwari, a Sri Lankan native, was staying at a rented house in Valasarvakkam, Chennai with her mother and son, the Indian Express reported.

China coronavirus deaths rise to 56

The death toll in the outbreak of a new coronavirus in China has risen to 56 state media said on Sunday, as the country stepped up efforts to contain the infection and President Xi Jinping warned the country was facing a ’’grave situation’’.

President instructs Foreign Ministry to get back all SL students in Wuhan, China

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the Foreign Relations Ministry to get back all Sri Lankan students in Wuhan, China as soon as the Chinese authorities lift the travel restrictions to the province.

Coronavirus; SL in close consultation with Beijing on SL students

The Sri Lankan students in Wuhan, China, have been advised to adhere to health precautionary instructions given by the local health authorities since the Wuhan city is closed down, no one can exit or enter the city, Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Relations said.

Two suspected cases of Coronavirus investigated at IDH

Two females including a Chinese woman have been admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in Angoda on suspicion of having contracted the coronavirus, hospital sources said.

Working Committee - UNP factions vie for majority stake

The two factions of the United National Party (UNP) are reportedly in a tussle to get control of the party’s Working Committee, which is the main decision-making body.

Death certificates for war missing only after probe: Prez

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has informed the UN that necessary investigations would be conducted to find out the fate of those who had disappeared during the island’s civil conflict as most of the families had attested that those disappeared had been recruited or forcibly conscripted by the LTTE.

Coronavirus; 41 deaths, outbreak spreads to 11 countries

The number of people killed by the coronavirus has risen to 41 from 26 a day earlier, as the outbreak has spread from China to 11 other countries.

HPC approves names of Eva Wanasundara, Nalin de Silva

The Parliamentary High Post Committee (HPC) is reported to have cleared former Supreme Court Judge Eva Wanasundara as the Sri Lankan ambassador to France and Dr. Nalin de Silva as the envoy to Myanmar.

Forensic audit on CB bond scam - Govt. must punish the culprits: JVP

Claiming that forensic audit report on the Central Bank bond scam was meant to be used in court for legal procedures, JVP MP Sunil Hadunnetti yesterday urged the government to arrest former Central Bank governors Arjun Mahendran, Ajith Nivard Cabraal and political leaders who were involved in the scams as revealed in the audit report.