Avant-Garde maritime security head arrested

The maritime security head of the Avant-Garde was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) upon his arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayaka this morning over the floating armoury case, police said.

Teachers’, principals’ strike to be called off today, a 5-day strike from Oct.5: unions

The two-day token strike launched by the Ceylon Teachers’ and Principals’ Services Union decide to temporarily call off their strike today, the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin said.

Ten trains operated despite strike

Ten trains operated this morning during the second day of the train strike to bring the office crowd to Colombo, Railway General Manager Dilantha Fernando said.

UGC blamed for lack of vision in handling matters

Prof. R. Vigneswaran yesterday charged that the University Grants Commission (UGC) had flouted proper procedure in removing him from the post of Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Jaffna University in April this year.

All docs related to Gota’s dual citizenship be handed over to CID: Court

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne yesterday ordered the Immigration and Emigration Department Controller General that the signed copies of all documents related to the dual citizenship of the former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa be handed over to the Special Unit of the CID.

Those who want Gota to wear jumper will end up in jumpers: MR

Responding to remarks made by UNP MP Hesha Vithanage that Gotabaya Rajapaksa will have to wear a (prison) jumper when Sajith Premadasa comes to power, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said those who are trying to do so will have to wear jumpers.

BASL worried about break in confidence in legal system

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) said if the telephone conversation between the interdicted solicitor general Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe and former head of the Avant-Garde Security firm, Nissanka Senadhipathi was found to be authentic, it would raise serious concerns about public confidence in the legal system.

Historic day for UNP: Akila

UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said yesterday (September 26, 2019) was a historic day for the UNP as both it’s working committee and the parliamentary group unanimously endorsed the candidature of Minister Sajith Premadasa for the coming presidential election.

WC approves resolution to carry forward process

While endorsing Minister Sajith Premadasa as the presidential candidate, the UNP Working Committee passed a resolution to take forward the constitutional reform process that was initiated during the term of the present government.

Conduct UNP campaign in a disciplined manner: Ranil

In the wake of MP Hesha Vithnage’s statement that the SLPP’s presidential candidate will have to wear a jumper if UNP candidate Sajith Premadasa is elected president of this country, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today instructed UNP seniors to make sure that the UNP campaign was carried out in a decent and disciplined manner.

War heroes won’t suffer under our Govt: Gota

SLPP presidential candidate and former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa today assured that a government led by him would not allow anything bad to happen to any of the war heroes.

Fighting cockerels can’t develop country: MR

The UNP is divided into two factions and is fighting like cockerels for candidacy and the country cannot be developed by giving power to fighting cockerels, SLPP Leader and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

Govt. warns of stern action if strike not called off by Monday

Stern action will have to be taken against those behind the trade union action if they do not call off the strike by Monday, State Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Ashok Abeysinghe said today.

I may contest under the ’swan’ symbol: Sajith

United National Front (UNF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa told the media soon after he was nominated as the party’s presidential nominee that he was likely to contest the election under the ’swan’ symbol.

Gota will have to wear a jumper after Sajith wins: Hesha

United National Party (UNP) MP Hesha Vithanage, while addressing the gathering at the Matugama rally, highlighted to need to nominate Minister Sajith Premadasa as the party’s presidential candidate and said the SLPP presidential candidate would definitely have to wear a jumper the day after Mr. Premadasa wins the presidency.

SLFP to take final decision on joining SLPP

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is to hold a crucial central committee meeting chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday to discuss the possibility of forming an alliance with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to face the UNP at the presidential election, SLFP spokesman, Weerakumara Dissanayaka said.

Sajith unanimously endorsed by WC

After days of bickering, the United National Party (UNP) Working Committee (WC) today unanimously endorsed the party’s deputy leader, Minister Sajith Premadasa as the presidential candidate.

Disabled soldier admitted to hospital

A disabled soldier, K.D. Dayaratne, who had launched a fast-unto death at the Fort Railway Station, had been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital a short while ago due to a health condition.

Khashoggi murder ’happened under my watch’: Saudi Crown Prince

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince said he bears responsibility for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year by Saudi operatives ’’because it happened under my watch,’’ according to a PBS documentary to be broadcast next week, Al Jazeera reported.

UNP resolves to nominate Sajith as presidential candidate

After days of bickering, the United National Party (UNP) resolved today to nominate its deputy leader Sajith Premadasa as the presidential candidate, party sources said.

Govt. to discuss UN peacekeeping issue

The government is scheduled to discuss the decision taken by the UN Peacekeeping Department to ban the deployment of non-essential Sri Lankan Army troops in UN peacekeeping missions.

Lotus Road temporarily closed due to protest

The Lotus Road in Colombo has been temporarily closed due to a protest staged by a group of principals and teachers.

Rs. 50mn worth gold stolen in Devalaya: Four arrested

Four suspects who had allegedly stolen jewellery valued at Rs. 50 million from a devalaya in Galthenna, Thalathuoya, were arrested by the police early this morning, police said.

Passport, NIC Services return to normal today

One-day and normal services of issuing passports and national identity cards (NICs) had returned to normal as of this morning, sources at the departments said.

Six trains operated despite strike: GMR

Six trains operated this morning to facilitate the commuters and to bring the office crowd to Colombo even during the strike, Railway General Manager Dilantha Fernando said.

Expressway accident: 2 women killed, 3 injured

Two women were killed and three others were injured after a jeep they were travelling in crashed into the rear of a lorry in between the Dodangoda and Gelanigama exit in Southern Expressway (E01) last night.

SLFP will neither contest separately nor root for Sajith: SB

UPFA MP S.B. Dissanayake said yesterday he was certain that the SLFP would not contest the forthcoming presidential election separately or extend its support to UNP candidate Sajith Premadasa.

I won’t be anyone’s puppet: Sajith

Referring to reports that he had been granted UNP candidature on the condition, presidential hopeful Sajith Premadasa said yesterday he would not be anyone’s puppet if assumed presidency.

Ending war with LTTE greatest relief for soldiers: MR

The greatest relief for our brave soldiers was ending the three-decade-long fierce war against the LTTE, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.

Two-day strike by principals, teachers from today

The Ceylon Teachers’ and Principals’ Services Union yesterday said its members would begin a two-day token strike from today opposite the Fort Railway Station as scheduled over several demands including salary anomalies.