Aussie pleads guilty over framing Lankan with fake terror notebook

The older brother of Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and dishonestly influencing a public official after police accused him of creating a fake terror plot to frame another man.

EC to introduce three queues at polling stations

Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said yesterday that three queues would be set up for the first time at polling stations with more than 2,500 registered voters this time.

Rains expected in coming days

Fairly heavy falls about 75 to 100 mm can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa, Central and Western provinces and in Galle, Matara and Kurunegala districts in the coming days, Department of Meteorology said yesterday.

Total cost of 2019 presidential poll might reach Rs. 7. 5 bn: EC

Elections Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya commenting on the election expenses said he was worried that it was possible that the total cost of the 2019 presidential poll could reach Rs. 7.5 billion and lawmakers must think of a strategy to prevent pseudo or fake candidates with ulterior motives contesting the presidential election.

Media banned from taking pics of leaders while voting

Photographers and videographers of print and electronic covering state and private media institutions will not be permitted to take pictures when top political leaders come to polling stations to vote on Saturday, Information Director-General Nalaka Kaluwewa said.

Aircraft Navigation Facility Charges on foreign flights up by 57% after 38 years: Minister

The Transport Ministry has decided to increase Aircraft Navigation Facility Charges on foreign flights by 57 per cent after 38 years to be implemented from February next year, Transport Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said today.

DMC cautions CEA to be alert on smog levels

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has cautioned the Central Environment Authority (CEA) to be watchful on the SMOG levels in Sri Lanka’s atmosphere and to inform them if it reaches alarming levels.

Ahimsa contests US District Court decision

Slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge’s daughter, Ahimsa and her legal team filed a notice of appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday, contesting the United States District Court’s decision to grant former Sri Lankan Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa immunity for the suit related to the assassination of her father, San Francisco based The Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) said.

FB removes 3.2 bn fake accounts, million child abuse posts

Facebook Inc. removed 3.2 billion fake accounts between April and September this year, along with millions of posts depicting child abuse and suicide, according to its latest content moderation report released on Wednesday.

3,821 election law violation cases reported so far: EC

The Elections Commission has received a total of 3,821 complaints from October 8 to November 13 regarding election law violations and violent activities, the Commission said.

‘Please give me another chance’ - Shramantha

In an open letter, Shramantha Jude Jayamaha, who was convicted over the Royal Park murder and released on a presidential pardon recently, requested society to give him another chance.

Jayathma among ‘TIME’s 100 Next’

Jayathma Wickramanayake, the UN Youth Envoy, has been named as one of the rising stars in TIME magazine’s 100 Next List among many other influencers including Awkwafina, Camila Cabello, Lily Singh and Carlos Alvarado Quesada, the President of Costa Rica.

Test cricket returns to Pakistan after a decade as SL agree for Test series

After a decade of Test cricket’s exile from Pakistan soil, it’s set to mark its return as Sri Lanka have agreed to tour the nation for a two-match Test series in December.

All Govt. schools to be closed tomorrow

All government schools countrywide would be closed tomorrow (15) ahead of the Presidential Election which will be held on Saturday (16), the Education Ministry announced

Colombo air quality unhealthy today

Sensitive people have been advised to be mindful of the unhealthy air quality engulfed in the Colombo area today, National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) Air Quality Unit Senior Scientist H.D.S. Premasiri said.

Liquor shops to be closed on Nov. 16, 17

Liquor shops across the country will be closed on November 16 and 17 in view of the presidential election, the Excise Department said.

Port City will create 83,000 jobs- Chinese envoy

A Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is seen as a vital aspect in propelling Sri Lanka’s economic growth to the next level. Even on political platforms, the presidential candidates vow continually to attract FDIs if they are elected to office.

Labour Dept. to introduce minimum retirement age for private sector

The Department of Labour plans to introduce a minimum retirement age for Sri Lanka’s private sector employees after the presidential elections.

SLTB assigns more than 1,300 buses for election duties

More than 1,300 Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses would be assigned for election duties according to based on a request by the Elections Commission fewer than three categories, SLTB DGM (Operations) P.H.R.T. Chandrasiri said yesterday.

Election campaign costs Rs. 3108 million so far: CMEV

The report released by the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) yesterday estimates that a total of Rs. 3,108 million has been spent by five candidates for their presidential election campaigning between October 14 to November 10.

Special bus services from today

Additional buses would be assigned by the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) from today to provide necessary transport facilities for the people to visit their hometowns from Colombo for the upcoming Presidential Election, SLTB DGM (Operations) P.H.R.T. Chandrasiri said.

Will usher in a golden era of development: Sajith

New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, who wound up his election campaign last night at Maradana, pledged to build an undivided nation and begin a golden era of development if he were elected president on November 16.

Committed to creating a country with humanity: NPP

National People’s Power (NPP) presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today they were committed to creating a country with humanity while protecting the rights of all communities.

I was born in Palatuwa, not in US: Gota

Responding to reports querying his citizenship, SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa said yesterday he was born at Palatuwa in Matara and not in the US. He expressed these views while addressing a rally held yesterday in Matara.

EC apathetic to dual citizenship: Deshapriya

Underscoring that the Elections Commission (EC) was not concerned over the citizenship of any presidential candidate, its Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said today that he, along with two other commissioners, only observed and returned the document on US citizenship of Gotabaya Rajapaksa to his lawyer Ali Sabri.

Presidential pardon for 267 prisoners

Commissioner of Prisons Bandula Jayasinghe today said President Maithripala Sirisena has approved the release of 267 prisoners under a presidential pardon.

Biased media to face legal action for violating election law

The Elections Commission (EC) would seriously consider taking legal action against a number of leading state and private electronic and print media institutions after the presidential poll for deliberately violating the election law, media guidelines issued by the EC and abusing media ethics, Chairman, Mahinda Deshapriya said.

Ukranian woman nabbed with gold worth Rs.20 mn

A 40-year-old Ukranian woman was arrested this morning at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to smuggle gold biscuits worth nearly Rs.20 million into the country, the customs official said.

Rathana Thera rejects false social media letter

MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera today rejected the letter circulating on social media claiming that he had decided not to support SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa and said it was a bogus letter.

Young, dynamic team will rule country: Sajith

New Democratic Front (NDF) Presidential Candidate Sajith Premadasa today said he will start work immediately if elected to office on November 16 and appoint a young team to run the country.