Travel ban on PTL Chief Aloysius

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today suspended the overseas travel approval given to Perpetual Treasuries Pvt. Ltd. (PTL) Chairman, Geoffrey Joseph Aloysius, following objections raised by the Attorney General.

Improper conduct of Law College final exams: claims students

Law Students’ Union of Sri Lanka has written to Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya PC regarding ‘discrepancies and irregularities’ in the conduct of the Sri Lanka Law College’s final year exams in October 2018 and April 2019.

Railway strike from midnight today

A 48-hour railway strike would be launched from midnight today as the discussions held with Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera were failed, railway trade unions said.

Court orders Ravi, his wife to give statementsto CID

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today directed Minister Ravi Karunanayake and his wife to give a statement to the CID on July 7 at 10.00 in connection with his having given false evidence to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the bond scam.

CTJ secretary testifies before PSC

Ceylon Thowheed Jamath (CTJ) General Secretary Abdul Razik is currently giving evidence before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) over the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

Govt. seeks Rs.65 Bn more for highways

The government today presented a supplementary estimate in Parliament seeking approval to spend Rs.65 billion for new highways and other road development projects.

Isura Devapriya appointed CEA Chairman

Former Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya has been appointed Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) by President Maithripala Sirisena today.

Indictments filed against President’s ex-official, ex-STC Chairman

Indictments have been filed against President’s former Chief of Staff I. H. K. Mahanama and ex-State Timber Corporation (STC) Chairman P. Dissanayaka in the Colombo Special High Court by the Bribery Commission in connection with the incident where they had allegedly accepted Rs. 20 million as bribe from an Indian businessman.

ISIS shift in strategy may threaten India, Sri Lanka, warns intel

India and Sri Lanka are likely to be under threat with terror group ISIS turning its attention to the Indian Ocean Region in the wake of losses across Syria and Iraq, intelligence reports have warned, NDTV reported.

IS members formerly active in Syria,Iraq behind Sri Lanka blasts

The Sri Lanka terrorist attacks were organized by the militants of the Islamic State (IS, terrorist organization outlawed in Russia - TASS) formerly active in Syria and Iraq, Russian Security Council Deputy Secretary Yuri Kokov said at the Tenth International Meeting of High-Level Representatives on Security Issues in the Russian city of Ufa.

Economy grows 3.7 percent in 1Q

Strong recovery in agriculture amid favourable weather gave a boost to the reeling economy in the first quarter of 2019 (1Q19), as the economic growth for the three months was recorded at 3.7 percent from a year earlier, the data released by the Department of Census and Statistics, showed.

Traffic congestion at Parliament Roundabout

Heavy traffic was reported at the Parliament Roundabout due to a protest carried out by a group of employees of the Sevanagala Sugar factory against the privatization of the factory, police said.

No more ’top ten’ grading at Grade 5, Ordinary Level

Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that a decision had been taken not to select the top achievers in the country with regards to two major national examinations, the G.C.E. (O/L) and the Year 5 Scholarship and instead a ruling on whether the student had failed or passed the examination would be given.

Ministers continue to neglect COPE report - Handunnetti

COPE Chairman Sunil Hadunnetti yesterday raised a point in parliament that the respective ministers had not responded to the COPE report presented in parliament on January 24, 2019. It’s now been 16 weeks without a response, although it’s expected they reply within eight weeks.

CTJ, SLTJ to testify before PSC today

A few Muslim organizations, including Ceylon Thowheed Jamath and Sri Lanka Thowheed Jamath will be summoned to testify before Parliamentary Select Committee today (PSC) over the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

CID quizzes SDIG Wijegunawardena for 7 hours

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) yesterday (19) took seven hours to record a statement from Senior DIG Southern Province Ravi Wijegunawardena in relation to the brutal murder of two businessmen from the Rathgama area.

SLFP will take honourable decision at Presidential polls: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena today promised that an honourable decision which will not cause injustice or embarrassment to the party or its supporters would be taken by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) at the next presidential election.

Govt’s capital expenditure cut will affect projects: Bandula

Government’s decision to cut capital expenditure will affect the contractors who have already undertaken to implement various government projects, UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardane said today.

Kiriella says no obstacle to re-submit supplementary estimate

Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella saidy today there was no obstacle to resubmit a document which was withdrawn on the same day and that he resubmitted the supplementary estimate on Wednesday according to Standing Orders.

Lanza raises questions on Easter Sunday attack probe

UPFA MP Nimal Lanza today questioned whether MPs Kabir Hashim and Abdul Haleem were sworn in as Ministers because the probe on Easter Sunday attacks had been completed or whether the one month deadline they gave was over.

CID records 758 statements

The CID, which is conducting an investigation into illegal sterilisation surgeries allegedly performed by Dr. Siyabdeen Mohamed Safi, had recorded a total of 758 statements so far, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said today.

Railway strike postponed till tomorrow 2.00 pm

The Railway Trade Union Alliance (RTUA) today said they would postpone the 48-hour token strike till tomorrow 2.00 pm, which was scheduled to be launched from today midnight after they were informed of a discussion with the Finance Minister.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo unable to visit SL

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is unable to visit Sri Lanka as previously announced due to unavoidable scheduling conflicts, the US Embassy said today.

Railway strike from midnight

Following the discussions with the Transport Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, the Railway Trade Union Alliance (RTUA) said they had decided to launch the 48-hour token strike from tonight.

Hashim, Haleem back in previous seats

Former Ministers Kabir Hashim and M.H.A. Haleem, who resigned recently, were sworn in again in their previous portfolios before President Maithripala Sirisena a short while ago.

Special HC allows Gota to stay overseas till July 24

The Special High Court today allowed former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to stay in Singapore till July 24 following the heart surgery he underwent there.

Trafficker arrested with 1.2kgs of heroin worth Rs.7mn

A drug trafficker was arrested by the STF with 1.2 kgs of heroin worth over Rs.7 million in possession at Katubedda Junction in Ratmalana yesterday.

Trump kicks off his 2020 re-election bid

US President Donald Trump has formally launched his re-election campaign, urging supporters to ’’keep this team in place’’ for four more years, BBC reports.

GMOA wants WHO to clarify reason for giving Rs.1.5 for Rajitha’s event

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) had decided to lodge a complaint with the Sri Lanka Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) asking it to clarify on what grounds the WHO had spent over Rs. 1.5 million for the felicitation ceremony organized when Health Minister Rajith Senaratne was awarded with the “Suwapathi Kirula” title, GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Naveen de Soyza said.

Summoning Int. Chief by Speaker questioned

Joint Opposition MP Dinesh Gunawardane yesterday raised a point in parliament that Intelligence Chief had been summoned by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya before a meeting with foreign dignitaries last week and that it was not a practice adopted by any of the Speakers.