Dengue on the rise, 74 deaths so far this year

A total of 57,850 dengue cases and 74 confirmed dengue deaths have been reported from all parts of the country during this year as at October 22, National Dengue Control Unit Director Dr. Aruna Jayasekara said.

Countrywide gas shortage, stocks on the way

There is a countrywide shortage of domestic gas because of the recent drone attack on Saudi oil facilities and the decrease in the gas prices, a senior official of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said.

BIA duty-free shop employee arrested with gold biscuits, jewellery

An employee of a duty-free shop at the arrival lounge of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) has been arrested this morning with gold biscuits and jewellery worth Rs.39 million while attempting to smuggle them into the country, Customs Additional Director General and Media Spokesman Sunil Jayarathne said.

Mahesh Senanayake hospitalised

Presidential candidate, former Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake, has been hospitalised because of a sudden illness, hospital sources said.

Justin Trudeau wins narrow victory to form minority government

Justin Trudeau has won a second term as Canada’s prime minister after the country’s federal election, but his narrow victory means he will lead a minority government that will be forced to depend on other parties to govern.

Case filed in US against Gota dismissed

The California District Court has said it lacks jurisdiction to maintain the case filed against former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, on the basis that he is immune from the law suit under the doctrine of ‘common law foreign immunity’, which includes the acts performed in his official capacity as Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary.

Aussie govt. spends $30mn to detain SL family on Christmas Island

Australia has spent $30 million and is employing 100 staff to detain just one family on Christmas Island which is fighting deportation to Sri Lanka, the New Daily reported.

One arrested with heroin worth Rs.10 mn

A suspect was arrested with one kg of heroin valued at Rs. 10 million during a raid at Kollonnawa in Wellampitiya last night.

Five dead, thousands displaced: DMC

At least five people lost their lives and more than 8,200 people displaced due to heavy rains experienced in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, North-Western, Southern, Northern and Eastern Provinces, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said yesterday.

PM to testify before PCoI tomorrow

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will testify before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) to investigate corruption in the administration tomorrow, October 23, to provide evidence on the decision to store paddy at the Mattala Airport in 2015.

Six months since Easter attacks; no prominence to security: Gota

SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa said it has been six months since the Easter Sunday attacks but the government has not gotten its priorities figured out to give prominence to security. Addressing an election rally in Beliatta yesterday, Mr. Rajapaksa said when SLPP Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected as the president in 2005, the most pressing challenge the country faced was terrorism.

PM seeks meeting with five Tamil parties

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe sought a meeting with representatives of five Tamil parties that put forward 13 demands for consideration by presidential candidates in the fray, a party leader said.

Hemasiri provides statement to police unit attached to PCoI

Former Defence Secretary and ex-People’s Bank Chairman Hemasiri Fernando who is now in remand custody, yesterday provided a statement to the police unit attached to the Presidential Commission on the series of alleged irregularities that had taken place during the digitalisation process of the People’s Bank.

SL’s location in the Indian Ocean plays strategic importance: Ruwan

Minister of Media and State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene today said that the Indian Ocean region (IOR) maritime domain and its affairs have become one of the crucial factors that decide and influence present, as well as future maritime affairs.

Court orders Ravi to give full statement to CID within 7 days

A Colombo Court today ordered Minister Ravi Karunanayake to appear before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and provide a full statement over the alleged false evidence given before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Central Bank bond scam.

President pondering pardon for Royal Park murder convict

President Maithripala Sirisena said his attention has been drawn towards a request made by Royal Park murder convict Shramantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha’s party seeking a presidential pardon.

Hakeem should opt out of PSC probing 21/4: SLPP

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said today Minister Rauff Hakeem should opt-out of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on the Easter Sunday carnage as he used to know Zahran Hashim who led the attacks.

Will usher in ‘unprecedented’ administrative change: Sajith

The presidential candidate of the UNF-led alliance, Sajith Premadasa said yesterday he would not continue the kind of administration that ruled the county for the past four and a half years but opted for a change. He made this remark at an election rally held in Kotmale.

NPP agrees with Tamil parties on several proposals

The National People’s Power (NPP) said today it agreed with some of the 13 proposals submitted by Tamil political parties to be given to candidates contesting the forthcoming presidential election. Some of them included abolishing of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and release of lands occupied by the army.

Won’t give in to any condition demanded by TNA: MR

Leader of both the SLPP and the Opposition, Mahinda Rajapaksa said today they were not ready to give in to any condition set by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).

Landslide warnings issued for four districts

The National Building Research Organisation today issued landslide warnings for Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara and Badulla districts due to the prevailing adverse weather conditions.

Tax on imported dried chilli, fish reduced

Tax on imported dried chilli and fish has been reduced by Rs.20 and Rs.75 per kilo respectively, the Ministry of Agriculture said today.

Hambantota Port and NYK partner for vehicle transhipment

The Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) has signed a terminal service agreement (TSA) with Japanese shipping firm Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) to provide vehicle transhipment via the port.

CA issues notices for contempt on Gnanasara Thera et al

The Court of Appeal (CA) today issued notices on Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera and SSP Anuruddha Bandara Hakmana and HQI Senadhipathi K.D. de Silva of Mullaitivu returnable for November 8.

Honour diplomatic immunity, FM urges the UK

Referring to the case against the former Defence Attache of the Sri Lankan High Commission in London Brigadier Priyanka Fernando at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court, the Foreign Ministry has requested the UK government to honour the diplomatic immunity which Brigadier Fernando is entitled to as per the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.

Two flights diverted to Mattala due to bad weather

Two SriLankan flights which were scheduled to land at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), were diverted to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) this morning due to the adverse weather conditions, the MRIA duty manager said.

58,000 postal vote applications rejected: EC

A total of 58,000 applications for postal voting forwarded for the presidential election had been rejected, the Elections Commission said.

Sajin Vass Gunawardena wants SLFPers to back Sajith

One of the strongmen and confidantes of the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime and former Mihin Lanka Chief Executive Officer Sajin Vaas Gunawardena called on the members and the supporters of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to work towards the victory of New Democratic Front (NDF) candidate Sajith Premadasa at the presidential election.

President leaves for Japan to attend coronation ceremony

President Maithripala Sirisena left for Japan this morning to attend the coronation ceremony of the Japanese Emperor Naruhitho, which is to be held tomorrow (22).

Utilise resources in an impartial & transparent manner-SL to UN

Asserting that despite many domestic priorities Sri Lanka has discharged its obligations in paying its assessments to date, the Sri Lanka delegation to the UNGA this week called on the United Nations Secretariat to utilise the available resources received from the member states in a more effective, impartial and transparent manner, at a time when the organisation is battling its worst financial crisis.