D.P.A. Jayasinghe Building - Lease signed sans AG’s approval: PM’s Secy

Prime Minister’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake testifying at the Presidential Commission today said the lease agreement with D.P.A. Jayasinghe & Company to rent out a building for the agricultural ministry in 2016 was signed without the Attorney General’s approval.

Daughter of SL migrants at Miss Italia contest

Sevmi Tharuka Fernando - daughter of a Sri Lankan couple who had migrated to Italy about 30 years ago - qualified to participate in the finals of “Miss Italia” held yesterday night.

Chandrasiri Gajadeera passed away

Former Minister and UPFA Matara district MP Chandrasiri Gajadeera (73) passed away at a private hospital in Colombo this evening, family sources said.

Speaker unhappy over MPs conduct in parliament

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today expressed his displeasure at the conduct of MPs in parliament and said media reports on ministers not being in the House to respond to questions on Thursday was a blow to the reputation of parliament.

Prez signs documents to extradite Mahendran

President Maithripala Sirisena today signed documents related to the extradition of former Governor of the Central Bank Arjuna Mahendran from Singapore to Sri Lanka, President’s Media Division said.

Bread up by Rs.2 from tonight: AIBOA

After the increase of the price of wheat flour by Rs.5.50 per kg, All Island Bakery Owners’ Association (AIBOA) had decided to increase the price of a loaf of bread by Rs.2 from midnight today.

Prima wheat flour increased by Rs.5.50

The National Movement for Consumer Right’s Protection (NMCRP) said the price of one kilogram of Prima wheat flour had been increased by Rs.5 from today.

Check name in the electoral register

The Elections Department today requested the people to ensure that their names were in the 2019 electoral register.

Two-week reprieve for Lankan Tamil asylum seekers facing deportation

The Tamil family facing deportation back to Sri Lanka will be allowed to stay in Australia for another two weeks before facing court for a “full and final hearing”.

Parliament adjourned

The House was adjourned till September 17 after the government withdrew the day’s business, today.

Lankan illegally fishing in Seychelles ordered to return

A Sri Lankan national who pleaded guilty for fishing illegally in Seychelles’ waters will be repatriated to his country as a prohibited immigrant as part of the sentence imposed by the Supreme Court.

Zimbabwe’s founding leader Robert Mugabe dead at 95

Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s first post-independence leader, has died aged 95.

Man shot dead inside a passenger bus

A 41-year-old man shot dead by an unidentified gunman inside an SLTB bus travelling from Aluthgama to Elpitiya this morning, police said.

Shooting injures two cops in Akuressa

Two policemen were injured after they were shot at by unidentified gunman on a motorcycle in Akuressa in the early hours today, police said.

Urea nitrate used for Easter Sunday bombings: Govt. Analyst

It has been found that a powerful improvised explosive called urea nitrate - widely used by terrorists, had been used for the Ester Sunday explosions, Government Analyst K.A Waliyange said.

Will come to presidential poll with blessings of Ranil, Karu: Sajith

I believe that I would be fielded as the United National Party (UNP) presidential candidate with the blessings of Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and with the consent of other party members, UNP Deputy Leader Minister Sajith Premadasa said yesterday.

Some UNP MPs under pressure to back Sajith

A few MPs have complained to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that they were under pressure from some ministers to place their signatures on a petition seeking presidential candidacy of the party to Minister and UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa, sources close to the Prime Minister said yesterday.

Dilantha Malagamuwa’s Instagram account hacked

Sri Lanka’s racing legend Dilantha Malagamuwa yesterday said that his Instagram account ’dilantha.malagamuwa’ had been hacked.

Black Day in Parliament: Bimal

The absence of all ministers from whom oral questions were raised during today’s session prompted JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake to call it a black day in parliament.

SLFP to field its own candidate

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) would field its own candidate at the upcoming presidential election, SLFP Spokesperson MP Weerakumara Dissanayake said today.

Ministers busy picking presidential candidate: Dayasiri

Most of the government ministers are avoiding parliament and spending time to pick a candidate for the presidential election, UPFA MP Dayasiri Jayasekera told parliament today.

US Embassy responds to Wimal’s allegations

Responding to the allegations made by MP Wimal Weerawansa, the US Embassy yesterday said it takes security in Sri Lanka very seriously.

No liquor licences issued to current MPs: Finance Ministry

Although liquor licences were issued to owners of hotels, the Finance Ministry said today that none of the current parliamentarians has been issued with liquor licences.

Assets exceeding Rs. 6 bn, Rs.134 mn in 100 bank accounts of suspects: Police

Assets exceeding Rs. 6 billion were found from suspects who had abetted the mastermind of the Easter Sunday terrorist attack, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Prez consents to appear before PSC: Amaraweera

President Maithripala Sirisena has consented to appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe the Easter Sunday attacks, MP Mahinda Amaraweera said today.

Parliament sessions suspended

A tense situation arose in parliament yesterday after the government proposed to postpone the vote on the regulations imposed under the Sri Lanka Export Development Act while the opposition called for a vote claiming that it was against Standing Orders to postpone it.

Singapore to consider extradition request for Mahendran

Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said that it would consider the extradition request for Singapore national of Sri Lankan origin and former Sri Lanka Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran once the necessary supporting information and documents were received, The Strait Times reported.

Six US persons refuse their bags checked in Sri Lanka: Wimal

Six US persons, who had arrived in Sri Lanka in a US State aircraft, had refused to hand over their luggage for inspection at a hotel in Colombo and at the airport, National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa alleged.

115 suspects remanded, 178 under detention: Police

Some 115 suspects of the 293 arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks have been produced in the respective magistrate courts and remanded, while 178 suspects remain under detention, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Sajin Vass served indictment

The Colombo High Court today served indictment on former MP Sajin de Vass Gunawardena over money laundering charges and granted bail.