MR hits back over Lotus Tower fraud allegations

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa in a statement said today that the Auditor General in April 2019, published a 670-page special report on the Lotus Tower project, but it made no mention at all of a Chinese contractor who disappeared with Rs. 2 billion.

Former MP Mithrapala passes away

Former Kegalle District UPFA MP H. R. Mithrapala passed away at the age of 73 today. He passed away at the Karawanella Hospital.

Lotus Road closed due to protest

The Lotus Road from Lotus Roundabout towards Ceramic Junction was closed due to a protest march carried out by a group of employees of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), police said.

Court orders to bury Kingsbury bomber’s remains at Borella Cemetery

Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake issued an order directing the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretary to bury the remains of suicide bomber Mohammed Mubarak, who blew himself up at the Kingsbury Hotel, at the Borella Cemetery.

Interim order issued on disabled soldiers

Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake today issued an interim order preventing the protesting disabled soldiers from entering the Lotus Road and the vicinity of the President’s Office and the Prime Minister’s Office.

Heavy traffic in Town Hall

Traffic congestion is reported from around the Colombo Town Hall area due to a protest march carried out by the non-academic staff of the universities, police said.

Explosives found buried in Palamunai

A T-56 weapon, a magazine, 30 ammunition, seven detonators and four gelignite sticks were found buried in Akkaraipattu, Palamunai, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Former DG of TRC Anusha Pelpita rejects President’s claim

Rejecting as baseless the claim made by President Maithripala Sirisena that the government had incurred a loss of Rs. 2 billion due to a Chinese company that had received the amount as advance payment being nonexistent by 2016, former Director-General of Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Anusha Pelpita said yesterday that no amount of money had been paid to ALIT, the Company that was mentioned by the President in his speech.

Restructuring SriLankan: Ministers told to submit views on Eran’s proposals

At yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have asked the ministers to submit their views on the recommendations made by State Minister of Finance, Eran Wickramaratne on restructuring SriLankan Airlines on the basis of a public-private partnership.

JVP wants TRC before COPE

JVP MP Vijitha Herath said yesterday that the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) should be summoned before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) to probe the allegation made by President Maithripala Sirisena on the misuse of Rs. 2 billion from the Lotus Tower project.

Cabinet approves Bill to deal with ISIS terror

The Cabinet is reported to have endorsed a new Anti-terrorism Bill to deal with the latest threat of terrorism in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks by terror groups linked to ISIS.

J R will be happy, the day executive presidency is abolished: Karu

Late President J. R. Jayewardene will be happy on the day when the executive presidency is abolished, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said yesterday.

I’m ready to introduce new constitution: PM tells TNA

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told the parliamentary group of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday that he was ready to introduce a new constitution within a year based on the consensus reached at the Constitutional Assembly (CA).

Selecting UNP candidate - Campaign to show crisis in UNP: Akila

United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today certain groups had launched an organised campaign to show there was a crisis within the UNP and its allies with regard to the selection of the presidential candidate.

SLRC rank increased as two stations quit from rating list

Relating to the remarks made by Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) Chairman Inoka Sathyangani during a news briefing that Rupavahini’s rank was increased to 6 from 8th place, Kalum Palitha Mahirathna said it was not because of any progress of SLRC but two stations quitted from the rating list.

Elpitiya PS elections - FR seeks SC to cancel EC decision

Heshan Nayanajith and two other petitioners who are voters and residents within the limits of the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha today filed a fundamental rights petition seeking the Supreme Court to cancel the decision of the Election Commission to hold elections.

Senadhipathi to be tried in absentia

The trial against Avant Garde Martime Services (Pvt) Ltd Chairman Nissanka Senadhipthi has been fixed for October 22 and will be heard in the absence of the accused.

Two Indian drug traffickers get life imprisonment

Two Indian nationals who were found guilty of importing, possessing and smuggling heroin in Sri Lanka, were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Negombo High Court today, police said.

Lotus Road closed due to protest

The Lotus Road from Ceramic Junction towards Galle Road has been closed due to a protest march carried out by disabled military personnel, police said.

Presidential Election: Will contest only with pro-abolition forces: Karu

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said today he would consider contesting the forthcoming presidential election only with the political forces which had since 1995 had consistently stood for the abolishing of the executive presidency.

Lotus Tower: Appoint commission to probe Rs.2 bn loss: Bandula

Responding to allegations made by President Maithripala Sirisena on the Lotus Tower project, Opposition MP Bandula Gunawardana today asked the President to appoint an independent commission to investigate the matter.

Baddegama PS Chairman arrested over assaulting two men

Baddegama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman (SLPP) Anura Narangoda was arrested today for allegedly assaulting two men on September 12, police said.

Fire breaks out at an apartment in Dematagoda

A fire broke out at an apartment building at Aramaya Road in Dematagoda a short while ago, the fire brigade said.

Three new MPs sworn in

Shantha Bandara, D.B. Herath and Manoj Sirisena were sworn in as members of parliament (MPs) before Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri in parliament today.

Doctors to stop work tomorrow

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) today said that it would launch a 24-hour token strike from 8 a.m. tomorrow over a salary anomaly issue.

I will not keep clinging like an octopus: Sajith

Minister Sajith Premadasa today said that if the public made a request that he is not suitable for politics and should retire he would not keep clinging to things like an octopus.

If no green light given: Sajith loyalists will seek alternative: Harin

Minister Harin Fernando yesterday said he and the others who are backing UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa will have to seek an alternative if Mr. Premadasa is not given the green light to contest for the presidency.

Top official of parliament spends Rs.23 mn on foreign tours

A top officer in parliament had undertaken 39 foreign tours in the past five years (2014 – 2019), according to an internal report.

Eight police officers interdicted

Eight police personnel including the OIC of the anti-vice squad attached to the Chilaw police have been interdicted due to alleged malpractice, police said.

No scientific survey on presidency, my personal views are of no value: Sajith

Minister Sajith Premadasa said today there has been no scientific survey done on the maintainability or the abolition of the executive presidency and his personal views are of no value.