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.

Govt. to cut capital expenditure by 15 percent

The Finance Ministry is reported to have instructed all ministries to curtail their capital expenditure announced in the budget by 15 per cent because of financial constraints faced by the government.

Esala Perahara will be held on a grand scale

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday assured that the annual Esala Perahara will be held on a grand scale this year.

Van-tractor accident kills 5, injures 12

Five persons including four women were killed while another twelve were injured following a collision between a van and a tractor at Welikanda on the Batticaloa-Polonnaruwa Road in the early hours of today, police said.

We informed Office of Prez, PM and IGP about extremist groups: Sahlan Maulavi

Maulavi K. R. M. Sahlan who represents the Sufi Sect yesterday said the Sufi Islamic leaders in Kattankudi had informed the President’s office, Prime Minister’s Office and Attorney General’s Department and the IGP about the extremism that was visible in the area.

State lands - Prez opposes freehold rights

President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to be opposed to the piece of legislation introduced by the government to give people freehold rights of State lands used by them under permits issued in terms of the Land Development Ordinance.

No complaints on Zahran’s extremism: only clashes between sects: Ex. OIC

Former OIC of the Kattankudy Police Ariyabandu Wedagedara said he had not received any complaints of Zahran’s extremist activities except for some clashes between Muslim sects in Kattankudy over religious matters.

Electronic tablets: Prez not agreeable

President Maithripala Sirsiena Sirisena has once again registered his protest to Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam over the plan to distribute free electronic tablets among schoolchildren.

Ban on chainsaw imports - Cabinet approves memo by Prez

The Cabinet is reported to have yesterday approved the memorandum submitted by President Maithripala Sirisena to ban the import of chainsaws.

Zahran was not in Katankudi when I took over in 2017: OIC

The Katankudi Police OIC Nishantha Kathuriarachchi yesterday said he stopped the motorcyclists from going without helmets when he took over in 2017. He said young people were defying the law and were going without helmets at that time.

Madrassa issue still unresolved - One reopened in Modara: Bandula

A Madrassa has been reopened in Modara causing panic among the residents because the government has failed to resolve the setting up of such schools, UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardana said today.

AG asks A-IGP for report on Apr. 21 bomb attacks

The Attorney General yesterday instructed the acting IGP to immediately send him a report about the current status of the investigations into the Easter Sunday bomb attacks and the incidents of vandalising the Buddha statues in Mawanella.

Supplementary estimate presented again

The government today presented a supplementary estimate in parliament to allocate funds for various subjects such as to purchase a vehicle for Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and renovation of official residence of Public Enterprise Minister Lakshman Kiriella though it was withdrawn in the morning claiming that it was defective.

MS can’t hide behind another 'lamp and pot referendum': SLPP

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said today the President cannot shy away from holding the presidential election by hiding behind another lamp and pot referendum or a ’Lampu Kalagedi Sellama’.

Won’t lead to dissolution of Parliament: Dayasiri

The President has the authority to call for a non-binding referendum on whether the people prefer a general election prior to a presidential election but the President will not be able to dissolve Parliament based on such a referendum, SLFP General Secretary and MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said.

Shavendra gets service extension

President Maithripala Sirisena has given a service extension to Army’s Chief of Staff Major General Shavendra Silva until December 31, 2019 with effect from June 22, Army Spokesman Sumith Athapaththu said.

Supplementary estimate withdrawn

Claiming the supplementary estimate -- seeking funds for various items such as the purchase of a vehicle for Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and the renovation of Minister Kiriella’s residence -- was today withdrawn though it was earlier presented in Parliament.

SL sign agreement to send unlimited skilled workers to Japan

An agreement will be signed by the Sri Lankan and Japanese governments tomorrow (19), enabling Sri Lanka to send an unlimited number of skilled workers to Japan for a period of 10 years, monitoring MP for the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, Manusha Nanayakkara, said today.

Colombo District SLTJ organiser further remanded

The Colombo District, Sri Lanka Thowheed Jamath (SLTJ) organiser who was arrested at Keselwatte recently was further remanded by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna today.

Ex-Air Chief Goonetileke new Chief Security Advisor for SLC

Former Air Force Commander Roshan Goonetileke has been appointed as the Chief Security Advisor of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), in order to strengthen their security program covering all forms of cricket.

48-hour railway strike from tomorrow

The Railway Trade Union Alliance (RTUA) today warned it would launch a 48-hour strike from midnight tomorrow over the failure to grant their demands including the rectification of salary anomalies.

CA dismisses Gota’s petitions

The Court of Appeal today dismissed without cost the petitions filed by former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa contesting the order of the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar, which is hearing the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum Case.

Suspect released on bail

The suspect who was in remand custody for attempting to bribe the Horowapothana Police OIC was released on bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna today.

Kiriella’s three staff members granted bail

The three staff members attached to Minister Lakshman Kiriella’s ministry was today released on bail by Colombo Fort Magistrate, Ranga Dissanayake.

Future President to have same power as incumbent: PHU

The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) yesterday said a future president would also enjoy the same power enjoyed by the incumbent President since only three powers had been pruned from the Executive.