Railways Dept. seeks retired staffers

With the government declaring railways as an essential service, the Railways Department had called retired employees back to service, an official said.

Modi’s visit is proof that Sri Lanka is safe: John

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka is a proof that the country is safe, Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said.

Whoever wins presidency should abolish 19A - President

President Maithripala Sirisena said that whoever comes to power at the next Presidential poll should abolish the 19th Amendment to the Constitution to create stability in the country.

President signs execution of four drug offenders

President Maithripala Sirisena today said that he had signed the documents for the execution of four big-time drug offenders currently convicted and awaiting death sentence and that it would be carried out soon.

SL refugees seek Indian citizenship

Scores of Sri Lankan refugees living in various camps in Virudhunagar district on Monday submitted separate petitions seeking Indian citizenship to Collector A. Sivagnanam.

Janaposha suspends free meals at hospitals due to misconstruals

The Janaposha Foundation said it has suspended its free meals project at hospitals with immediate effect saying that their noble intention of serving the poor and destitute had been misconstrued.

Court issued warrant on one respondent

In the Contempt of Court application filed against Sri Lanka Medical Council members over their failure to register a SAITM student according to the Supreme Court Judgement, the Court of Appeal yesterday issued a warrant against one respondent for failing to appear in court and directed another three respondents to submit reasons over their absence.

Lift operator complaints against IGP Pujith

The Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake ordered the CID yesterday to conduct an investigation over the incident where it has been alleged that IGP Pujith Jayasundera had arrived at the CID without prior notice and abused the police officers who were at the reception counter and had used criminal force on the lift operator.

Cabinet approves LTLCPGP

The Cabinet yesterday approved the Long Term Less Cost Power Generation Plan (LTLCPGP) of the Power, Energy and Business Development Ministry and also the proposal submitted to resolve salary dispute of engineers of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Minister Ravi Karunanayaka said.

Prez insists on a close scrutiny prior to approval

President Maithripala Sirisena told the Cabinet meeting yesterday that each clause of the agreement with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the United States should be scrutinized before it was approved by Parliament.

Female public servants - Can wear saree, ’osariya’ or other decent dress

The Cabinet today decided to amend the circular on the dress code for public servants, enabling them to wear any decent clothes without covering their faces.

CB Bond Scam - Parallel inquiry postponed for Aug.29

The parallel magisterial inquiry into the CB bond scam with regard to the deletion of phone call data from Perpetual Treasuries Ltd voice recording system and the alleged fabrication of evidence to the Bond Commission was postponed for August 29 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate today.

Court issues notice on Wennappuwa PS Chairman

The Marawila Magistrate’s Court today issued notice on Wennappuwa Pradesiya Sabha Chairman K.V Susantha Perera and five others on their decision to ban Muslims to trade at the Dankotuwa sathi pola (market), police said.

Presidential election - Our candidate will have a degree and vision: SLPP

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said today it would reveal its presidential candidate on August 11 and that the candidate would be someone who had a bachelors degree and a vision apart from experience and other qualifications.

Cabinet approves tablets to GCE Advanced Level students

The Cabinet today approved the proposal made by Education Minister Akila Wiraj Kariyawasam to distribute tablets among GCE A/L students and teachers.

China removes travel advisory on SL

China has removed its travel advisory on Sri Lanka from June 22, a spokesman said.

Man shot dead in Kaleniya

The owner of a jewellery shop which sells imitation jewellery in Kaleniya, was killed when two unidentified gunmen opened fire at him this evening, police said.

Dr. Shafi files FR petition, says allegations of illegal sterilisation false

A fundamental rights petition filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen states that the allegation of illegal sterilization is false and is a result of personal jealousy which followed the purchasing of a block of land in Kurunegala.

Five soldiers killed in train-bowser truck accident

Five soldiers were killed while two others injured when an Army bowser truck collided with the Yal Devi Train at Kilinochchi this afternoon, the Army Spokesperson said.

Army Commander and Bathiudeen before PSC tomorrow

Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake and former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen have been summoned to appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on the Easter Sunday attacks.

US relaxes travel advisory on Sri Lanka

The US State Department has relaxed its travel advisory for Sri Lanka, the US Embassy said.

24-hour water cut in Colombo and suburbs

The water supply to several areas in the Colombo suburbs would be interrupted for 24 hours starting from 9.00 a.m tomorrow (26) due to essential maintenance work, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) announced today.

Dehiwela hardware shop owner stabbed to death by robber

The owner of a building material shop near Waidya Road in Dehiwala was stabbed to death by a man who broke into the shop last afternoon, police said.

Govt. to compensate 31,000 political victims in next two months

The government will pay compensation to some 31,000 public servants in the next two months who have been subjected to political victimisation between 2005 and 2015, a spokesman to the Prime Minister’s office said recently.

Concerns over tensions after Easter Sunday attacks: UNHR Chief

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet today said that she was concerned that the terrorist attacks two months ago in Sri Lanka have fuelled increasing tensions.

UNP yet to decide on presidential candidate: Ravi

Power and Energy Minister Ravi Karunanayake said today the United National Party (UNP) had not yet decided on its presidential candidate though several party members had made comments about a person perceived to be fielded.

SL getting USD 2 billion from UK, US: PM

Sri Lanka is to receive a sum of US 2 billion from UK and USA, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

Constitution-making comes to a grinding halt

The Constitution-making process of the government has come to a standstill as the Steering Committee on Constitutional Reforms has not met since January this year, Daily Mirror learns.

Presidential poll three-pronged: Vijitha Herath

JVP Propaganda Secretary and MP Vijitha Herath said the forthcoming presidential election would most probably be a three-cornered fight between the JVP, UNF and the SLPP or SLFP.

176 children lost their parents in dastardly Easter Sunday attacks

One hundred and seventy-six children have lost either both or one of their parents in the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith told the foreign media during his recent visit to Rome.