A mother, two children drowned in Ralamaduwa reservoir

A middle-aged woman with her son and daughter were drowned on Tuesday when they were having a bath in Ralamaduwa Reservoir in Wanathawilluwa.

No jarring music in buses from today

The National Transport Commission (NTC) will take legal action against errant bus drivers and conductors if they continue to play jarring music and broadcast videos from today.

Human rights gains in grave peril in Sri Lanka: HRW

Respect for fundamental human rights in Sri Lanka is in serious jeopardy following Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election as president in November 2019, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2020.

Directors appointed to SLTDA board

The government has appointed directors to Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) board consisting of industry representatives and senior public officials.

Ranjan remanded till Jan.29

UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake, who was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the controversial audio clips was today remanded till January 29 by the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court.

SL seeks Seychelles’ support for application to Indian Ocean Commission

Sri Lanka has sought the support of Seychelles in its application to become an observer member of the Indian Ocean Commission, the outgoing High Commissioner said on Monday.

Cabinet approves to draft ‘National Intelligence Act’

A proposal to draft a new Bill titled ‘National Intelligence Act’ to regulate and empower all intelligence services, has been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers yesterday.

Plans to provide 100,000 jobs to unskilled youths reaches final phase

The plan to recruit 100,000 unskilled youths to a multi-task human resource force has reached its final stage. This is being done under the Vision for Progress envisaged in the election manifesto of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Remains of three Lankan students brought to SL

The remains of three Sri Lankan students who died at Baku in Azerbaijan were brought to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning, the airport senior officer said.

IP dies after shooting himself

An Inspector of Police (IP) attached to the Mirihana Police had died after shooting himself this morning, Police Spokesman said.

Ven.Gnanasara Thera arrives at PCoI

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, who appeared for the second day before the PCoI investigating into the Easter Sunday attacks, was questioned today from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., its media division said.

No decision to sing the National Anthem only in Sinhala: PM

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse said yesterday that no decision has been taken to sing the National Anthem only in Sinhala.

Alice Wells delivers letter to Prez from Trump

A top U.S. official who was in Sri Lanka yesterday delivered a letter from her President Donald Trump to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa underscoring his government’s commitment and interest in furthering and depending partnership with Sri Lanka.

Won’t allow outsiders to interfere in SL’s internal affairs: China

Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi yesterday assured China won’t allow any outside influences to interfere with matters that are essentially internal concerns of Sri Lanka.

SL and Russia coordinating closely in UNHRC: Russia

The delegations of Sri Lanka and Russia are ‘comparing their notes and coordinating closely in their efforts in UNESCO and in the UNHRC,’ the visiting Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia, Sergey Lavrov said yesterday.

Laws of Privacy should be enacted in Sri Lanka

Laws related to privacy should be promulgated in Sri Lanka in order to prevent the confusion stirred up in the wake of MP Ranjan Ramanayake’s audio clips controversy, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila said yesterday.

Ranjan to function as an independent MP

UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake who was suspended from the party today said he would function as an independent MP in Parliament following the decision of the party.

SLFP will never take a decision that will weaken party: Dayasiri

Though the SLFP or the UPFA do not slavishly stick to the Sri Lanka Nidahas Podujana Peramuna (SLNPP) to contest the Parliamentary polls, the SLFP would never take a decision that would weaken the party, State Minister of Industry and the General Secretary of the SLFP, Dayasiri Jayasekara said yesterday.

Diaspora tries revive LTTE: Defence Secretary

Tamil diaspora is trying their best to revive the LTTE by lobbying against the government with the support of the international community, Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said.

Suraksha, uniform voucher system to continue: Dulles

The Education Ministry has decided to go ahead with the much-criticized ‘Suraksha Student Insurance scheme’ and the voucher system for school uniforms introduced by the Yahapalana government.

President decides Estate workers’ daily wage to be Rs.1,000 from March

Delivering one of the key pledges made during the presidential election campaign, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has decided that the minimum daily wage of estate workers should be Rs.1,000 with effect from March 1st this year.

Arrests should be made only when absolutely necessary: President directs Acting IGP

An arrest should be carried out only when absolutely necessary and upon a decision taken with utmost care and in strict compliance of the law, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed Acting Inspector General of Police Senior DIG C. D. Wickramaratne.

People’s views should be taken into account over MCC: President to US

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today said the aspirations of the people of both the US and Sri Lanka should be taken into consideration in the future activities of the MCC Agreement since both the US and Sri Lanka are countries which respect democratic values.

Safeguarding party unity is paramount need: Akila

UNP is prepared to make any decision with regard to the party on Thursday in order to safeguard its unity, Party General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today.

Ranjan to be produced before court tomorrow

MP Ranjan Ramanayake, who was arrested by the CCD officers this evening is to be produced before the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, police said.

Three drowned in Wanathawilluwa

Mother, her daughter and son drowned in the Ralmaduwa tank at Wanathawilluwa this evening, police said.

Ranjan arrested

UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake was arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) officers at his residence in Madiwala a short while ago.

Russia says won’t interfere with US-Iran issue

Visiting Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov today said his country would not physically intervene in the US-Iran issue but said they reject any escalation of the situation regardless of the faction which promotes it.

Arrest warrant issued on Ranjan

An arrest warrant was issued by the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court on MP Ranjan Ramanayake a short while ago.

57 killed by avalanches in Pakistan, India

At least 57 people were killed and others were missing after avalanches in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir over the last 24 hours, senior government officials said on Tuesday.