Ambassador has not been recalled: Switzerland

Switzerland today denied the reports that the Swiss Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Hanspeter Mock, has been recalled.

STF seizes 30,000 litres of artificial toddy

One suspect was arrested by the Police Special Task Force with 30,000 litres of artificially brewed toddy when they raided an illicit distillery at Maravila.

CCTV in all prisons: Minister

CCTV cameras would be set up in prisons across the country to monitor and for surveillance on inmates who were prone to crimes inside the prisons, Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Law Reforms Nimal Siripala de Silva said

EC recommends introducing e-voting to improve efficiency

Chairman, Elections Commission (EC) Mahinda Deshapriya strictly recommends introducing an ‘electronic voting system’ (EVS) sooner rather than later to save the time and labour of officials, minimise the waste of public money and improve efficiency in elections.

Gazette issued detailing functions of ministries

An extraordinary gazette notification has been issued detailing the duties and functions of the ministries. The gazette, which was signed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, was issued last night.

Banned lunch sheets - 40 tonnes detected this year: CEA

Some 40 tonnes of banned lunch sheets worth Rs.32 million were detected this year during raids carried out countrywide, Central Environmental Authority (CEA) Investigation Director N.F. Gamage told Daily Mirror.

Rice price hike due to oligopoly: UNP MP Dr. Harsha

UNP MP Dr. Harsha De Silva yesterday said the rice price mafia is back in action once again with an artificial shortage created to keep the prices high - allegedly by the oligopoly who controls the rice market.

Cancer treatment - Treasury releases Rs.1,000 Mn to buy vital drugs

The Treasury has agreed to release Rs.1,000 million with immediate effect to the Health and Indigenous Medical Services Ministry to buy essential drugs for the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital, Sri Lanka’s premier hospital, which treats cancer patients.

Nominations should not be given: UNP MP Wijepala

UNP should not allow those in the party who had made anti-Buddhist remarks and those who are charged with corruption to contest the next general election, an MP representing the party said yesterday.

SL ranked 71 in Human Development Report

Sri Lanka has been ranked 71st among 189 countries in the 2019 Human Development Report which was released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bogota, Colombia on Monday.

Five suspects arrested over the assault on Journalist

The five suspects wanted in connection with the assault on Daily Mirror /Lankadeepa Aluthgama correspondent Thusitha Kumara De Silva and his wife were taken into custody by Kalutara Division Organised Crimes Detection Unit on Monday night.

Cultural Affairs Ministry to translate Mahawansa into English and Tamil

The Cultural Affairs Ministry has decided to translate the ’Mahawansa’, which relates the history of Sri Lanka from 600 BC, into English and Tamil.

UNP rejects allegations on Swiss Embassy drama

The United National Party (UNP) today rejected allegations that the Swiss Embassy employee who claimed she was abducted had associated with the party and that it was a drama created with the knowledge of some in the party, UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today.

Price of Nadu and Samba rice reduced from tonight

The retail price of Nadu and Samba has been reduced from tonight, the Finance Ministry said.

FR against presidential pardon: Notice asked to be sent to MS

When the fundamental rights petition filed against the release of Royal Park murder convict Jude Shramantha was taken up by the Supreme Court today, the petitioners’ lawyers were asked to convey the notice to former president Maithripala Sirisena, who was named as a respondent, to appear in court on May 29.

LTTE ideology continues to remain: Kamal Gunaratne

Defence Secretary Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said on yesterday even though the country was liberated from terrorism, LTTE ideology continues to remain.

WHO congratulates SL for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Syphilis

World Health Organization (WHO) has congratulated Sri Lanka for achieving the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis.

‘Sarpaya’ released

Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council’s former UNP member Hasitha Muhandiram alias Sarpaya, who was sentenced to death, was released by the Court of Appeal today.

Swiss Embassy employee gives 4-hour-long statement to CID

Swiss Embassy employee Garnier Banister Francis, who was allegedly threatened by a group of unidentified men, left the CID after giving a four-hour long statement to the CID today.

Four persons who tried to rejuvenate LTTE arrested

Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) said that four non-rehabilitated LTTE cadres have been taken into custody in the Muthur and Sampur areas on Sunday when they were engaged in rejuvenating LTTE.

Seven-hour water cut in Kotte-Nugegoda areas

A seven-hour water cut will be imposed on Mirihana, Ethulkotte, Pitakotte, Nugegoda, Nawala, Gangodawila and Udahamulla areas from 10.00 p.m. tomorrow (11), the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said.

'Kalu Thushara' sentenced to death

Drug dealer Kalu Thushara who was found guilty of drug trafficking and possession of 25 grams of heroin was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court today.

Swiss Embassy employee arrives at CID for the third day

The Swiss Embassy employee, Garnier Banister Francis who was allegedly threatened by a group of unidentified men appeared before the CID for the third day today to give a statement.

New faces at the general poll: RW

The second tier of the UNP leadership, already identified, would be brought to the forefront shortly, party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Higher Edu Ministry to have discussions with former EP Governor

The Higher Education Ministry is to initiate a dialogue with former Eastern Province Governor M.L.A.M. Hizbullah on the future of the controversial Batticaloa campus started by him as an investment project, Daily Mirror learns.

Antarctica-bound plane missing with 38 on board: Chilean Air Force

The Chilean Air Force reported on Monday the disappearance of one of its cargo planes that was headed to a base in Antarctica with 38 people on board.

WhatsApp will stop working on millions of smartphones in 2020

WhatsApp will stop working on millions of phones in the next couple of months as the company withdraws support for some older mobile platforms.

Govt. to call for fresh bids to manage Mattala Airport

The government hopes to call for fresh bids from foreign investors to manage the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), as the airport will be used mostly to transport air freight for the Free Trade Zone which will be set up in close proximity, Industrial Export, Investment Promotion and Civil Aviation Minister Prasanna Ranatunga told the Daily Mirror yesterday.

UNP discussion put off

Discussion of the UNP seniors which was to be held yesterday was postponed indefinitely, party sources said yesterday.

President to slash salaries of heads of state institutions

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will implement a new salary structure for chairpersons of state institutions after reports surfaced that some had been paid exorbitant salaries during the previous government, the Daily Mirror learns.