Speaker to table PSC names today

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya will table the names of the 17 members appointed to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) which was authorised to conduct the nomination process of the members for Committees including the Committee on Public Enterprise (COPE) and the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) today, Parliament sources said.

Archbishop urge Opposition leader to support Govts national programmes

Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith had advised the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to work with the government in designing and implementing a national programme that should be aimed at taking Sri Lanka to greater heights.

UNP raises concerns of political victimization with some foreign envoys

The United National Party has raised serious concerns of political victimisation against its members and supporters with some foreign envoys and has warned to take action against the government, a senior UNP MP told Daily Mirror yesterday.

Karu will settle UNP issue this week: Mujibur

Stating that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya would resolve the UNP crisis within this week, a UNP MP today said that prominent members of the party should be prepared to make sacrifices to safeguard the party’s future.

UNP says Govt. trying to abolish 19A

The United National Party today called all progressive forces to join in its efforts in defeating the Government’s effort to abolish the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

24/7 vigilance over Corona Virus: Chief Epidemiologist

Though Sri Lanka was out of the ‘Danger Zone’ of the Corona Virus, reported first from Wuhan in China, all pre-emptive measures had been taken to prevent an infected patient entering the country with a high tech screening mechanism at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Chief Epidemiologist of the Government Epidemiology Unit Dr Sudath Samaraweera said today.

Yala Tusker Gemunu sacrifices his tusk to Nandimithra

The Yala National Park today confirmed that the majestic tusker known as Gemunu in the Yala sanctuary had lost its remaining tusk following a tussle with another tusker known as ’’Nandimithra’’,who is known to be a frequent visitor to Yala originates from the jungles of the Sithulpawwa area.

New circular by Edu. Ministry for Grade 1 admissions in 2021: Minister Dullas

Education Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said that the circular issued by the Education Ministry there are unnecessary and illogical points factual errors the circular issued by the Educations Ministry of Education throughout the recent past with regard to the tests conducted when recruiting students to grade one contained irrational and unjust facts.

Fmr Judge Ranawaka leaves CCD after giving statement

Retired Judge Padmini Ranawaka left the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) after giving a statement in connection with UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake’s phone recordings. The CCD officials had recorded her statement for over three hours.

Justice Nawaz sworn in as Acting President of Court of Appeal

Justice A.H.M.D Nawaz has been appointed as the Acting President of Court of Appeal. He was sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat this evening.

SL Black Leopard not extinct; spotted again

The Sri Lankan Black Leopard which was believed to be extinct had been captured on a trap camera in October in the Central Hills, the Department of Wildlife Conservation said today.

Malaysia sends plastic waste back to SL and 12 other countries

Malaysia has sent back 150 containers of plastic waste to 13 countries, including Sri Lanka, since the third quarter of last year, the Sky news reported.

Fmr judge Padmini Ranawaka at CCD

Former High Court Judge Padmini Ranawaka arrived at the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) to give a statement in connection with the telephone conversation she had with the former State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake.

Heavy traffic in Ward Place

Traffic congestion was reported in and around Ward Place in Colombo due to a protest carried out by the university students, Police said.

Keheliya and Jayampathy discharged over bribery case

Complying with the High Court Order over the maintainability of the case, the Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today discharged Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and former Chairman of the State Printing Corporation Jayampathi Bandara.

Pujith, Hemasiri further remanded

Former IGP Pujith Jayasundera and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando were further remanded until February 3 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage today.

Two killed, one injured in head-on collision

Two individuals were killed and one injured after a three-wheeler collided head –on with a SLTB bus at Galigamuwa on the Kandy-Colombo main road early this morning, Police said.

Speaker willing to be mediator in binding UNPers together

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had informed the UNF leaders that he is willing to be the catalyst of binding all UNPers together.

Doval came here to discuss follow up action: Dinesh

India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Saturday to follow up on what was agreed upon between the two sides during the President’s visit to India upon election to office, a minister said yesterday.

Indian NIA to collect voice samples

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India will collect the voice samples of the member of the Coimbatore module of the terrorist outfit Islamic State (IS), who allegedly knew people involved in the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka last year, the Indian Express reported.

Will not sign any agreement inimical to the country: PM

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that the government would not sign any agreement which is inimical to the interests of the country.

Four killed, 20 injured in accident

Four persons including a three-year-old girl killed and 20 others injured when a tipper truck and a bus collided head-on at Bataatha in Hungama last night.

Economy at stake, foreign debt service US$ 6 Bn: Harsha

Sri Lanka could fall as a nation considering the high foreign debt service which had come up to US$6 billion and few options available to generate funds to pay the due instalments during this year and the coming years, UNP MP Harsha De Silva said yesterday.

CCD records statement from HC Judge Gihan Pilapitiya

Colombo Crime Division recorded a statement from the Judge of the Embilipitiya High Court, Gihan Pilapitiya for more than three hours regarding the telephone conversation he had with the former State Minister Ranjan Ramanayaka.

Unity among UNPers vital to face upcoming elections: Ruwan

UNP Gampaha District MP Ruwan Wijewardene over the weekend called for unity among the UNPers to face the upcoming General Elections.

President engaged to revive links with Theravada Buddhist countries

Sihanadha organization, a body of academics, has submitted a set of proposals for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to revive Sri Lanka’s diplomatic relations with the countries and the regions with Theravada Buddhist traditions.

Sajith remained silent over MCC pact during last govt.: PM

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa who was a key member of the UNP Cabinet remained completely silent about the MCC pact that was being promoted by his own government, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

Unemployed graduates will be recruited to strengthen economy: President

All unemployed graduates will immediately be recruited in order to involve them in strengthening the national economy President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.

New alliance won’t sideline UNP: Sajith

Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa said that he would work towards forming an alliance with a number of other parties, that will include the UNP.

Monk fatally injured as Cops grapple with suspect

A 21-year-old Buddhist monk in a van had died when a weapon of a Policeman accidentally went off during a quarrel with a wanted suspect in Hungama today, Police Spokesman SP Jaliya Senaratne said.