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.

’No cabinet paper submitted to acquire NFTH’: Official

There was no cabinet paper produced to acquire the assets of Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH), Senior Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet Office Jude Nilukshan informed the Presidential Commission today.

UN bans Sri Lankan peacekeepers

The UN peacekeeping department has decided to ban the deployment of non-essential Sri Lankan Army troops in UN peacekeeping missions citing the appointment of the new army commander who is alleged to have committed war crimes, a UN spokesperson has told the Foreign Policy News.

Leave of SLTB employees cancelled

Leave of all Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) employees has been temporarily cancelled due to the planned railway workers’ strike from tonight, SLTB sources said.

Plans, policies absurd if not properly executed: Gota

SLPP Presidential Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa today said having plans and policies were not enough unless the leaders were unable to execute them.

Dinesh Chandimal to Join Army for cricket

Sri Lanka’s reputed cricketer, Dinesh Chandimal has consented to join the Army as a Commissioned Officer to play cricket for the Army team, Army media said.

Railway strike from tonight: Unions

Railway trade unions have decided to launch an indefinite strike action from tonight citing the authorities have failed to resolve their salary anomalies, Locomotive Engine Operators’ Union (LEOU) Secretary Indika Dodangoda said.

FR against Elpitiya PS election dismissed

The Supreme Court today dismissed the fundamental right petition challenging the Election Commission’s decision to hold the elections to the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha.

CB orders banks to cut lending rates at least 2% by Oct.15

The Central Bank said it ordered all licensed commercial banks (LCBs) to cut lending rates at least by 200 basis points by next month as other policy measures employed by the monetary authority to stimulate economic activity had yielded limited results.

Tissa Attanayake pledges support to Sajith

United National Party’s former General Secretary, Tissa Attanayake today informed UNP presidential hopeful Sajith Premadasa in writing that he would like to pledge his support in the run-up to the forthcoming presidential poll.

Officers’ protest slows down NIC processing by 50%

The process of accepting applications for the issuance of National Identity Cards (NICs) has slowed down by 50% because of a protest by government executive officers, the Department for Registration of Persons (DRP) said.

All schools in Matara, Galle remain closed for another two days

All schools in the Matara and Galle Districts will remain closed for another two days from tomorrow due to the prevailing adverse weather condition, Southern Province Governor Hemal Gunasekara said.

Yoshitha re-instated as lieutenant in the SL Navy

Navy Commander Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva yesterday signed President Maithripala Sirisena’s order re-instating former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second son Yoshitha as a lieutenant in the Sri Lanka Navy with effect from 28 February 2016, Navy Spokesman Lieutenant Commander Isuru Sooriyabandara said.

Executive Officers’ protest: Passport one day and normal services suspended

The Emigration and Immigration Department yesterday suspended the one day and normal services of issuing passports due to the strike by the government service executive officers, an Emigration senior official said.