A national programme should be formulated to eliminate extremism: Champika

While admitting the fact that the government including security forces and intelligence services should take the responsibility for not being able to prevent the Easter Sunday attack, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka said yesterday the solution to the issue was not to oust the government but to formulate a joint national programme to address the issue.

Cannot trust the present Govt. - MP Saravanapavan

TNA MP E. Saravanapavan yesterday said his party cannot trust the present government, but at the same time cannot allow the forming of another Rajapaksa government.

We are vigilant about IS fundamentalists: Ruwan

State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene yesterday warned that there could still be individuals who have a leaning towards Islamic State (IS) ideology who could launch more attacks but assured that law enforcement authorities are vigilant of such a scenario.

Govt mulls trading in electricity with India

The government has initiated action for trading in electricity with India by interlinking the two grids, an official said yesterday.

JVP should have brought NCM against Prez, not govt.: Hirunika

UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra said yesterday the JVP should have brought in an impeachment against the President instead of a no-confidence-motion (NCM) against the government as he was the one who should take responsibility for the April 21 terror attacks.

Muslim ministers to accept portfolios again

Muslim MPs who resigned from their Cabinet, state and deputy ministerial posts in June this year have decided to accept portfolios once again, one such MP said yesterday.

SLPP requests parties working under JO banner to participate

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) extended a formal request to the parties working under the banner of the Joint Opposition to participate in its maiden convention to be conducted on August 11, a party leader said yesterday.

Several intelligence officers to appear on July 24

The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday attacks had decided to summon several officials attached to the intelligence service to testify before it on July 24, its Chairman Ananda Kumarasiri said yesterday.

Compelled to use vote against my conscience: Bathiudeen

Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday said he has been compelled to use his vote against his conscience when it came to the no-confidence motion against the government.

910 unroadworthy vehicles handed prohibition, repair orders: Police

A total of 910 vehicles had been issued with prohibition or repair orders during an awareness programme launched on Wednesday evening to identify unroadworthy vehicles by the police last evening, the police said.

Death row inmate obtains masters degree becoming world’s 5th to do so

Indika Bamunusinghe, a prison inmate on death row received his Master’s Degree from the Kelaniya University Convocation which was held at the BMICH today.

Karu also fit to lead the country: John

Minister John Amaratunga said today that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya was also fit to be the leader of the country.

CEB will go ahead after informing police - Ravi K

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will inform the police and would then go ahead with erecting electricity posts to provide power to the Kuragala Temple, Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ravi Karunanayake told parliament today.

England thrash Australia to reach World Cup final

England swept into their first World Cup final for 27 years as the hosts crushed Australia by eight wickets today to book a clash with New Zealand in Sunday’s title match.

Nine arrested with 60kgs of heroin in seas off Galle

The Sri Lanka Navy today seized a fishing vessel which was carrying 60 kilos of heroin in the seas off Galle and arrested nine suspects in it.

Foreign Medics without SLMC registration practising at SL Army: Nalinda

JVP MP Nalinda Jayatissa today revealed that some doctors who had graduated from foreign universities were practising at the Sri Lankan Army without being registered under the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC).

NCM against govt. defeated

The no-confidence motion against the government was defeated in parliament today by a majority of 27 votes with 92 members voting for it and 119 against.

Dr. Shafi further remanded

Kurunegala Magistrate Sampath Kariyawasam today ordered to further remand Dr. Mohamed Shafi of the Kurunegala Hospital until July 25.

UNP will have nowhere to turn: SF

United National Party (UNP) will have nowhere to turn if it continues to work in the next one and half years as they worked during the last three and half years, UNP MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said.

Support Karu as national candidate, Prelates urge Prez. PM, and Sajith

The All Ceylon National Bhikshu Forum (ACNBF) today requested President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister Sajith Premadasa to render their support to nominate Speaker Karu Jayasuriya as the national candidate in the upcoming Presidential Election.

Coast Guard intercepts boats carrying drugs from Karachi

Two boats carrying banned drugs from Pakistani coast city Karachi to Sri Lanka were reportedly intercepted by Sri Lankan Coast guards today, the ANI news agency reported.

SLFP MPs decide to vote in support of NCM against Govt.

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) parliamentarians have decided to vote in favour of the no-confidence motion brought against the government by the JVP. UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera, addressing a news briefing, announced this a short while ago.

Facebook denies banning pages purely based on requests from governments

The Facebook officials responsible for emerging markets yesterday denied restricting content and profiles or pages on the platform, purely based on the requests made by governments, while stressing that it adheres to the highest norms of international standards in processing such requests.

Pakistani national arrested with over 2 kgs of heroin

The Police Narcotics Bureau and Special Task Force (STF) arrested a Pakistani national with over 2 kgs of heroin at a hotel in Kollupitiya yesterday, the Police said.

Facebook ups investments to curb hate speech in SL

Facebook has significantly increased its investments to ramp up Sinhala and Tamil language expertise targeting to curb hate speech and other harmful contents originating from Sri Lanka on the social media platform.

Stringent border control to ward off terrorism - US experts

A team of US counter-terrorism experts is reported to have stressed at a meeting with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe the need for stricter border control and coast guard to ward off terrorism.

Taj Samudra Hotel requested to provide guest list

The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), which is looking into the April 21 attacks, is to receive a list of guests that were staying at the Hotel Taj Samudra in Colombo on the day of the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

DMT-police launch programme to identify unroadworthy vehicles

The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) and the police jointly launched a special awareness programme to identify unroadworthy vehicles in the Western Province and to issue prohibition or repair orders, DMT Commissioner-General A.H.K. Jagath Chandrasiri said.

No information Zahran was involved in terrorist activities-SDIG

Police had not received any information that Zahran was involved in terrorist activities other than some clashes with different Islamic sects in Kattankudy, Eastern Province Senior DIG Kapila Jayasekara said yesterday.

LIOC fuel price also reduced

Taking the cue from Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) the Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) announced that it too was reducing petrol and diesel prices with effect from midnight yesterday (10).