Patali’s arrest a political witch-hunt

The arrest of MP Patali Champika Ranawaka is a political witch-hunt that is being carried out against the mandate given by the people to the present rulers of Sri Lanka, several Opposition MPs, monks and lawyers alleged yesterday.

Swiss sends top diplomat team to SL

While expressing the regret at the decision by the examining magistrate to place the Swiss local employee concerned in pre-trial detention, Switzerland said that it has sent former ambassador Jörg Frieden to Sri Lanka to investigate the security incident at the Swiss Embassy in Colombo.

Get ready as a unit to face future elections: Ranil

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had told some party activists that his role as the head of the party would come to an end once he unites all factions of the party.

Govt. turns down pleas by politically appointed diplomats

The government has turned down a request by some politically appointed diplomats to grant them extra time to return to the country, a source said.

No politics involved in ex-Minister’s arrest: Bandula

There is no politics involved in the arrest and detention of former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and legal action against him is based purely on hard evidence available to the law enforcement authorities, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardana said yesterday.

Govt. reviewing Geneva process: Dinesh

The Foreign Affairs Ministry is currently reviewing action to be taken by the government at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) during its March session in Geneva, a Minister said yesterday.

President says he has informed Swiss Ambassador that his employee is lying

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said the Swiss Ambassador in Colombo had been informed that his embassy employee had fabricated the entire abduction story and the Ambassador himself had taken into point the evidence of fabrication provided.

Committee to review Act and propose necessary amendments

Justice, Human Rights and Legal Reforms Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva has instructed a committee of officials representing the Attorney General’s Department, Elections Commission and the Justice Ministry, to review the Provincial Councils Elections (Special) Act no 17 of 2017 and propose necessary amendments to make it enactable as soon as possible, to enable holding of the much-delayed PC polls in early 2020.

UNP MPs allege arrest was political victimisation

While alleging that the arrest of MP Patali Champika Ranawaka was illegal and an act of political victimisation, the UNP today said the Party is currently having discussions on the steps to be taken with regard to the arrest.

Parliament will be dissolved after March 3, 2020

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said parliament will be dissolved after March 3, 2020, and will go for the general election.

Expedite renovation work of floating market: PM

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed officials of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to expedite renovation work of the floating market in Fort with immediate effect so that people could spend their leisure without any hassle.

Lanka managed Swiss embassy issue diplomatically: Govt.

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Ramesh Pathirana said today Sri Lanka has managed the incident involving the Swiss embassy employee diplomatically and was careful not to make it an international issue.

After 14 years in jail: Tamil prisoner acquitted

A Tamil prisoner who was in prison for 14 years on an alleged offence of an attempt on the life of former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, was acquitted by the Colombo High Court today.

MCC deal suspended; 4-member committee appointed to review agreement: Govt.

The government has suspended the proposed Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement while a four-member committee was appointed to review the MCC and submit recommendations to the Cabinet, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardana said.

Rajitha seeks anticipatory bail

Former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne filed an anticipatory bail application in Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today seeking an order to release him on bail if he was arrested over the alleged white van case.

CID requests for court order to hand over suspect’s mobile phones

Filing a motion before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, the Criminal Investigation Department yesterday requested to issue an order directing the Swiss Embassy to handover the mobile phones of Swiss Embassy employee Garnier Banistar Francis and her husband to the Criminal Investigation Department.

Derail in Maradana: All train services to Polgahawela, Puttalam delayed

A train hauled by Class M11- 953 locomotive derailed between the Maradana and Dematagoda Railway stations this evening, Railway Operations Superintendent Gamini Seneviratne said.

Arrest of Champika violated due procedures: Speaker

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said that the arrest of former Minister Champika Ranawaka has violated the due procedures upheld so far by the current parliament regarding arrests of parliamentarians.

Five including two family members sentenced to death

Five accused, including two family members, were sentenced to death by the Matale High Court after they were found guilty of the charge of murdering a 24-year-old trishaw driver at Kandenuwara at Rattota in 2004.

20-year, 12-year RI for Fmr. President’s Chief of Staff, ex-STC Chairman respectively

Former President Maithripala Sirisena’s chief of staff I.H.K. Mahanama and State Timber Corporation (STC) former chairman P. Dissanayaka, were sentenced to 20 and 12 rigorous imprisonment respectively after they were found guilty of accepting a bribe of Rs.20 million by the Special High Court today.

Manjula Perera arrested for assaulting journalist

UNP Kelaniya organiser Bewan Perera’s son Manjula was today arrested on charges of assaulting Lake House photo journalist Gayan Pushpakumara.

Patali re-remanded until Dec. 24

Former minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, who was arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) in connection with the road accident in 2016, has been re-remanded until December 24 by the Colombo Additional Magistrate today.

Fmr. President’s Chief of Staff, ex-STC Chairman found guilty over bribery charges

Former President Maithripala Sirisena’s chief of staff I.H.K. Mahanama and State Timber Corporation (STC) former chairman P. Dissanayaka have been found guilty of accepting a bribe of Rs.20 million by the Special High Court today.

Swiss Embassy staffer taken to Mental Health Institute

Swiss Embassy local staffer, Garnier Banister Francis, who is in the remand custody, was taken to the National Institute of Mental Health, Angoda this morning.

US House votes to impeach Trump for abuse of power

The United States House of Representatives voted largely along party lines to impeach President Donald Trump for obstruction of Congress and abuse of power related to his dealings with Ukraine.

Keeping Colombo clean: Mayoress toughens up

Colombo Mayoress Rosy Senanayake said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been forced to intervene into keeping the capital clean today due to the inaction of officials and therefore instructed the officials to fulfil their responsibilities without coming up with excuses.

Swiss embassy staffer to face NIMH medical board today

Switzerland Embassy local staffer, Garnier Banister Francis – who was arrested and remanded last Monday on the charges of providing fabricated statements to the CID over an alleged abduction – will be produced before specialist psychologists of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) at 9:00 a.m. today.

SL to raise objections with US over latest travel advisory

Sri Lanka’s Tourism Ministry will raise its objections with the US Embassy in Colombo after the Embassy released a travel advisory advising its citizens to exercise ’increased caution’ during the upcoming festive period, State Minister of Tourism, Arundika Fernando told Daily Mirror yesterday.

Arrest may violate Parliament and Privileges Act

The arrest of MP Patali Champika Ranawaka can be a violation of Parliament and Privileges Act, Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri said yesterday.

CCD officers entered my residence forcibly: Champika

MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, who was seen in a video clip shared on Facebook by his Media Secretary Danushka Ramanayake prior to his arrest, said it was forcible entry into his residence by CCD officers.