Envoys meet PM, express concerns over death penalty

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today said a number of foreign envoys expressed their concerns over President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to implement the death penalty.

MP’s son remanded over assault

Puttalam District UNP MP, Shantha Sisira Kumara Abeysekara’s son Ishan Chaturanga was remanded till July 4 after he was produced at the Chilaw Magistrate’s Court today.

Religious leaders file FR petitions against death penalty

Several religious denominations, professionals and public interest activists are looking to initiate litigation on the much-debated decision to implement the death penalty.

Assault on MSD officer: MP’s son arrested

Puttalam District UNP MP, Shantha Sisira Kumara Abeysekara’s son Ishan Chaturanga was arrested this morning after he surrendered to the police over an assault on a police constable attached to the Ministerial Security Division (MSD).

Tab computers -Approval granted only as pilot project: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena said the Cabinet approval had been granted to the project to distribute tab computers to A/L students only as a pilot project in national schools.

Akila arrives at PCoI

Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam appeared before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) a short while ago to give a statement in regards to the loss incurred to the government reportedly because of the inclusion a message from Minister Kariyawasam along with his photograph in school textbooks.

Two Chinese arrested over credit card scam in Kolluputiya

Two Chinese nationals were arrested by the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) with a credit card printing machine during a raid at a hotel in Kollupitiya yesterday.

I left ’’Pohottuwa’’ because I’m against Gota: Welgama

Kalutara District United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Parliamentarian Kumara Welgama said that he would leave all nominal posts of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) as he is opposed to Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa being put forward as the party’s presidential candidate.

PM to talk to Prez over capital punishment

Stating that four main political parties representing Parliament are against the implementation of death sentence, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe yesterday said he will go for a dialogue with President Maithripala Sirisena on the matter shortly.

SL should adopt proactive measures

Many Sri Lankan corporates will perish in the next five to 10 years if they do not take the impact of climate change seriously and adopt proactive measures with substantial investments in building eco-friendly businesses, a senior official of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group said on the sidelines of the launch of the Road Map for Sustainable Finance for Sri Lanka by the Central Bank (CB) last week.

CPC stops supply of diesel and furnace oil to CEB

The Joint Trade Union Collective of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) had taken a decision not to supply diesel and furnace oil from today to private power houses that operate under the purview of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Power and Energy Ministry.

Dengue raises its head once again

A total of 22,873 suspected dengue cases have been reported islandwide by the Epidemiology Unit this year.

Welgama removed from SLPP Badulla district organizer post

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Parliamentarian Kumara Welgama who was overtly critical of former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa being promoted as the presidential candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), was expelled the Badulla District organizer post of the SLPP at the party’s Badulla District general assembly on Saturday (29). Parliamentarian Thenuka Vidanagamage was appointed in his place.

Illicit alcohol consumption up by 300 percent - WHO survey

The consumption of illicit alcohol in the country has grown by 300 percent during the period between 2003 and 2016 while the legal alcohol consumption has increased only by 50 percent, according to a survey conducted by the World Health Organisation.

NCM against Govt. by JVP on July 10,11

The No Faith Motion against the government by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna is to be debated in parliament on 10th and 11th of this month and a public rally of sending home the government will be held on July 7 and 8.

Narammala Deputy PS Chairman remanded

Deputy Chairman of Narammala Pradeshiya Sabha Manjula Polgampola who was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police constable, was remanded till July 3, by the Kuliyapitiya Magistrate today.

Trump meets Kim at the DMZ in historic moment

US President Donald Trump has shared a symbolic handshake with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the heavily fortified zone dividing the two Koreas.

Tragedy at Kirinda Sea: Mother also dies

The 33-year-old mother whose two daughters and husband tragically drowned in strong currents in the Kirinda Sea off Yala last week has also succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment last night, police said.

Three women killed in head-on collision in Thalawa

Three women were killed and five others were injured when a van and a lorry collided head-on at Moragoda in Thalawa early this morning, police said.

Narammala Deputy PS Chairman arrested for assaulting PC

Deputy Chairman of Narammala Pradeshiya Sabha Manjula Polgampola has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a police constable last night, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

MP’s son assaults MSD officer

A police constable attached to the Ministerial Security Division (MSD) was hospitalised after he was assaulted by a son of Puttalam District UNP MP, Shantha Sisira Kumara Abeysekara, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Russia keen to develop military ties with SL

Russia said it was interested in developing military cooperation with Sri Lanka and to cooperate in the fight against international terrorism in the region and other security challenges.

JO wants AG letter on PSC tabled

The joint opposition yesterday urged the Speaker to table the letter sent by the Attorney General stating his views on the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to inquire into the Easter Sunday attacks.

SL in the headlines for wrong reasons: German envoy

German Ambassador Joern Rohde said Sri Lanka was unfortunately again in the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Parliamentary affairs - Neither SC nor a judicial officer can interfere

Referring to the statement by President Maithripala Sirisena that the Attorney General had informed him there were issues pertaining to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), House Leader Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday neither the Supreme Court nor any other Judicial Officer could intervene in matters pertaining to the legislature.

Is Mattala airport to be handed over to India? : JVP

Heated arguments prevailed in parliament today after JVP MP Sunil Hadunnetti claimed that moves were afoot to hand over the Mattala Airport to India and asked the subject minister if the government was planning to do so.

I’m opposed to the death penalty: MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday he had always been against the implementation of the death penalty and had refused to sign any of the death warrants during his term as President.

SLPP to contest upcoming elections as a new alliance

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the political parties which represent the joint opposition have decided to contest the upcoming elections including the presidential election as a new alliance, the SLPP said.

PM, UNP MPs, ministers absent: Bandula

Joint opposition MP Bandula Gunawardane said today there were doubts if a conspiracy was being hatched when most of the UNPers including the Prime Minister were absent during Thursday’s debate on the state of emergency.

I had never known suicide bomber related to my party official: Rishad

Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen who today testified before the Parliamentary Select Committee looking into the Easter Sunday carnage said one of the suicide bombers who blew himself up in one of the attacks had been his party’s assistant Treasurer Alawdeen’s son in law. However the MP said he had not associated with this terror group member at any time.