AG files indictments against bond scam accused

The Attorney General has filed indictments against former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, PTL owner Arjun Aloysius, PTL CEO Kasun Palisena, former Deputy Governor P. Samarasiri and six others over the bond scam.

Court orders all communities should be allowed to use Dankotuwa public fair

Marawila Magistrate’s Court today ordered that vendors from all communities should be allowed to use the trading facilities at the Dankotuwa public fair.

Rail strike - Railways Dept. complains to the police

The Railway Department today complained to the Fort Police about the work stoppage by the railway employees despite the service being declared an essential service, Railways General Manager Nilantha Fernando said.

Come out of ‘Frog in the Well’ thinking - Mangala tells Wimal

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday invited joint opposition stalwart Wimal Weerawansa to obtain copies of ACSA, SOFA and MMC agreements and studies them, if possible.

Arabic name-boards still up in plain sight

Despite the instructions given to the official language department by Minister of National Co-existence, Dialogue and Official Languages, Mano Ganeshan, to remove name-boards written in Arabic put up in Kattankudy, Valachchenai, and Ottamavadi, it is reported that they have not been removed as yet.

Rajitha as WHO Vice Chairman: Not attributed on individual performances: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Sri Lanka had revealed that the post attributed to Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne as WHO Vice Chairman, was not based on individual performances but a post attributed to the country, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) said.

SOFA only if terms are agreeable to us-Ruwan

Sri Lanka will sign the proposed Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the US only if the terms of the agreement are favourable to Sri Lanka, State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene said yesterday.

Welgama says will not support Gota for Prez

UPFA MP Kumara Welgama said that he will not support Gotabhaya Rajapaksa if he contests the next presidential election.

Stop importing cigarettes from China: Rajitha tells PM

In an apparent confrontation with Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne has written to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe requesting him to immediately suspend the decision taken by the Finance Ministry to import cigarettes from China.

SLMA denounces moves to import foreign cigarettes

Campaigners against tobacco use allege that measures to licence the import of foreign cigarettes were expedited during the same week declared as the National Drug Prevention week.

UNP against decision to implement death sentence

The UNP yesterday said it was not agreeable to President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to implement death sentence.

JO spreading malicious stories about deal with US: Mangala

The disinformation, misinformation, fabrication and absolute lies spread by the joint opposition on three highly beneficial proposed agreements to Sri Lanka to be signed with the US are derived on sheer jealousy, political hypocrisy and vengeance, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said today.

Resuming death penalty will send wrong signal and affect GSP+: EU

While stating that resuming death penalty would send a wrong signal to the world, the European Union (EU) today said it would continue to monitor Sri Lanka’s effective implementation of the international conventions relating to the GSP+ commitment.

Fire breaks out in a shop at Bastian Mawatha

A fire broke out in a shop at Bastian Mawatha in Colombo this evening following a leakage in a gas cylinder, fire brigade officials said.

No evidence against Dr.Shafi : CID informs Court

The investigations carried out so far had not proven that Dr. Mohammed Shafi had blocked the fallopian tubes of mothers, amassed wealth in illegal manner or had maintained links with a terrorist organisation, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court today.

President should declare stand on PSC drama: JVP

While indicating awareness of a political game behind the appointment of the PSC, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that President Maithripala Sirisena should make a statement in parliament as to how the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe the Easter Sunday attack had been a drama, as claimed by him.

Emergency regulations extended by another month

The extension of the emergency regulations by another month was passed in Parliament.

CID seizes large stocks of gelignite sticks, detonators, live ammunition

The CID today recovered over 300 gelignite sticks, 1,000 detonators, 485 T56 live ammunition and several other explosive material at Ollikulam in Kattankudy following information given by one of the suspects arrested in Jeddah, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Ruwan rejects claims of his involvement

Defence State Minister Ruwan Wijewardene said today that he was not the politician involved in the incident where some motorists in Colombo expressed their protest after being forced to stop for VIP movements by honking their vehicle horns.

Gota faces ten claims for damages in US from torture victims: ITJP

The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) today said former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa faces ten new claims for damages in the US from victims of torture inflicted upon them.

Governors using funds allocated to PCs: Dinesh

The opposition today brought to the notice of the government about delays in holding the Provincial Council elections claiming that the chairman of the elections commission had said the PC polls could be held.

Death penalty can lead to irreversible miscarriages of justice: Canada

Expressing concern about reports that Sri Lanka would reverse the moratorium on the death penalty, Canada said the punishments in the nature of the death penalty can lead to irreversible miscarriages of justice.

South African President makes brief visit to SL

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa made a brief visit to Sri Lanka this morning while on his way to Osaka, Japan to attend the G20 Summit.

BC files indictment against Aluthgamage

The Bribery Commission today filed indictments against former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando in the Colombo High Court for allegedly causing Rs. 50 million loss to the Government by purchasing carom boards and checkerboards in the run-up to the last Presidential Election.

Two killed as foundation earth collapses

Two workers had been killed and another two were injured when a mound of earth collapsed on them while digging a foundation for a building in Pothupitiya this morning, police said.

Thajudeen murder: Anura Senanayake served indictment

The Colombo High Court today served an indictment on former DIG Anura Senanayake for allegedly fabricating and concealing evidence in the case of rugby player Thajudeen’s murder.

Death penalty is not the solution - Sir Richard Branson

British billionaire Sir Richard Branson has requested Sri Lanka to maintain its commitment on the moratorium on death penalty.

PSC on Easter attacks: A drama rehearsed at Temple Trees: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena in a scathing attack on the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe the Easter Sunday bomb attacks yesterday said that the PSC was a drama scripted and rehearsed at Temple Trees and he would never go before it even if he was summoned.

Death row inmates shudder at news of death penalty

It is reported that there was much consternation among the prisoners who were in the chapel ward no: 3 of the Welikada Prison last morning (26) on being told that capital punishment was to be implemented again after 43 years.

Supplied copper based on melt capacity

Industrial Development Board Director-General, P.L.U. Ratnamalala who testified before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) looking into the Easter Sunday attacks said copper was supplied to factories after looking into their capacity of melting copper and at a price decided by an expert committee.