Implement RFID project immediately: Amaraweera

Transport Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, yesterday instructed the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) to commence the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) project which had not been implemented during the last two years.

New ’’Heritage Train’’ between Ella and Kandy soon: Railways Dept.

The railway department will introduce a ’’Heritage Train’’ with wooden compartments to promote the tourism industry in the upcountry in the future, the Railways Chief Engineer Mechanical and Project Director Keerthi Hewavitharana said.

Ranjan’s recordings expose nudity of Yahapalana Govt.: Keheliya

The exposure of audio recordings taken into custody by the Police from the residence of Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake exposed the nudity of the Yahapalana Government led by Prime Ranil Wickremesinghe, Government spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday.

Police deny releasing Ranjan’s audio clips

The Police Department today denied allegations that it was involved in the release of telephone conversations of Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayaka on social media and electronic media.

Govt. lowers minimum educational requisite to Grade 8

In a bid to expand government job opportunities to the most deprived and neglected sections in society, the cabinet yesterday decided to lower the minimum qualifications to Grade 8 for employment in the proposed Multi Purpose Development Task Force (MPDTF) of 100,000 members, cabinet spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardana said.

Govt. will bring back Lankans from Iran if US-Iran conflict escalates

If the US - Iran conflict escalates further, the government will take steps to bring back about 30 Sri Lankans living in Iran, Government spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambulwella said today.

Final decision on UNP leadership next Thursday

The final decision on UNP leadership will be taken next Thursday, UNP General Secretary and MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today.

High Court judges urge CJ to probe judges

The High Court Judges Association (HCJA) has urged the Chief Justice (CJ) to initiate an immediate investigation into the controversial telephone conversations that transpired allegedly between certain judges and MP Ranjan Ramanayake.

People wanted a leadership to set country on correct path, not a Gota: Prez

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today said the people wanted a leadership to set the country, which was on a wrong path, on the correct path but not a person called Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the last presidential election.

Daljith Aluwihare released on bail

Matale Mayor Daljith Aluwihare, who was arrested for allegedly assaulting a UNP Councillor, was released on bail by the Matale Additional Magistrate Indika Attanayake this afternoon.

Health Ministry clarifies fake news on Influenza

Referring to the fake news items about influenza, circulating on social media, Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe said the relevant statements had not been issued by the Ministry of Health.

Fire breaks out at Hyde Park Corner

A fire has broken out at a leading motor company at the Hyde Park Corner a short while ago, the Fire and Rescue Services said.

Swiss Embassy staffer hands over mobile phone to Court

Swiss Embassy local staffer, Garnia Bannister Francis today handed over her official phone to the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court and the Court is yet to decide on producing it to the government analyst for further investigations.

India, Sri Lanka discuss bilateral issues

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today held comprehensive talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena, exploring ways to further deepen bilateral ties in a range of areas including trade and investment, the NDTV reported.

BASL asks CJ to take action regarding Ranjan’s phone clip controversy

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) called upon Chief Justice to look into the grave situation of several audio clips of MP Ranjan Ramanayake, who had telephoned several individuals including members of the judiciary and take strong remedial steps to arrest situations of this nature taking place again.

Matale Mayor arrested over alleged assault

Mayor of the Matale Municipal Council, Daljith Aluwihare has been arrested over an alleged assault on an UNP Councillor, Police Spokesman said.

2000 police officers to be recruited from Northern Province

Sri Lanka Police have decided to recruit 2000 Police officers from Northern Province on the advice of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Three schools to be completely closed, 24 partially closed

Three schools would be closed completely while another 24 closed partially from January 18 for scrutiny of 2019 GCE (O/L) answer scripts for the second phase, Examinations Commissioner B, Sanath Pujitha said.

MS slams Ranjan’s action

Former President Maithripala Sirisena, who commented on controversial telephone conversations leaked out to the social media, said that UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake had done an illegal and utterly disgraceful thing by maintaining such audio clips in his possession.

Prez to seek legal advice on probe committee

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will seek legal advice on appointing a special committee to probe the leaked telephone recordings of MP Ranjan Ramanayake while Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage will lodge a complaint with the IGP today over an alleged plot to assassinate him, the Daily Mirror learns.

Australian Aboriginal officials approve killing up to 10,000 feral camels

Aboriginal officials in Australia have approved the killing of up to 10,000 camels as a region battling scorching heat and a long drought deals with animals searching for water.

Wolbachia to combat dengue virus in Sri Lanka

Wolbachia, a naturally occurring bacterium, which can stop mosquitoes from transmitting an infection to humans, would be introduced to Sri Lanka in February as a mean to curb spread of dengue virus, National Dengue Control Unit Director, Specialist Dr. Aruna Jayasekara told Daily Mirror.

OIC in hot water for not resisting Ranjan’s hug

On the instructions of the Acting IGP, an investigation has been launched against Colombo South Crime Division OIC IP Jayantha Silva for failing to resist from being embraced by MP Ranjan Ramanayake when the latter was being taken into custody last Saturday, sources from the police headquarters said.

Criminal probe into Ranjan’s phone clips

The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) has launched an investigation into MP Ranjan Ramanayaka’s telephone recordings, police said.

Ranjan files motion against leaked voice recordings

MP Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday filed a motion against the disclosure of telephone recordings – seized by the police during his arrest – to media platforms.

My battle, method could be unethical: Ranjan

UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday said his battle and target is to bring drug paddlers, thieves and murders before the law and the methods he used to achieve this could be unethical.

SL discusses counter-terrorism, extremism with Singapore

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and visiting Law and Home Affairs Minister of Singapore Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam have discussed regional concerns especially to combat terrorism, cybersecurity, curbing extremism and improving intelligence services, the Presidential Secretariat said.

Govt. is bankrupt: MP Thushara Indunil

Thought the present government promised to provide organic fertiliser free of charge to the paddy farmers during their election campaigns, the farmers now have to get fertilisers by showing their National Identity Card (NIC) to the fertiliser corporations, UNP MP Thushara Indunil Amarasena said.

UNP disowns Ranjan’s stunt

No one in the UNP including party chief Ranil Wickremesinghe and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa approves what MP Ranjan Ramanayake did by recording telephone conversations he had with various individuals, Anuradhapura District UNP MP Anura Sidney Jayaratne told Parliament yesterday.

Collecting telephone recordings perhaps Ranjan’s hobby: Thushara Indunil

The United National Party (UNP) felt sorry for MP Ranjan Ramanayake and does not accept what he had done, but he may have collected those telephone recordings as a hobby as his personal interest, UNP MP Thushara Indunil Amarasena said.