It’s time to change UNP leadership: Ajith P Perera

The United National Party (UNP) leadership should be changed before the next presidential election, Non-Cabinet Minister Ajith P. Perera said yesterday.

Data protection law in two months

Data Protection Bill which provides measures to protect an individual’s personal data held by banks, telecom companies, hospitals and other institutions will be presented to Parliament in two months time, Non-Cabinet Minister of Digital Infrastructure and Information Technology, Ajith P. Perera said yesterday.

Adhere to compassion, tolerance and non-violence: MR

In his Poson Day message, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday it was timely for all of us to once again adhere to the great principles of compassion, tolerance and non-violence that Buddhism has endowed us with.

MS to address CICA sessions today

President Maithripala Sirisena is scheduled to address the 5th Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) today in Dushnabe, Tajikistan.

Unity and harmony vital to build the nation: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his Poson message called for unity and harmony that is essential for building the nation.

Sir Lanka is our 2nd home: Mohamed Nasheed

Maldivian Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, who is also the former Maldivian President, said his country requested the world to visit Sri Lanka

S’pore assures PM support to establish peace in the region

Singapore’s Law and Order Minister K. Shanmugam told Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that Singapore would assist Sri Lanka to establish peace in the Asian region, a statement from the Prime Minister’s office said.

Bond scam: Not just officials indict politicians as well: Handunnetti

While appreciating the fact that permission had been given to file cases against the suspects of the Central Bank bond scam before a trial-at-bar, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP Sunil Handunnetti yesterday said it was not sufficient only to indict officials but the political authorities behind the scam should also be brought to book.

Mother, two children die after hit by train in Kollupitiya

A 31-year-old mother and her two children aged 12 and 13 sustained fatal injuries after jumping onto the railway tracks in Kollupitiya this evening as the Aluthgama bound train from Colombo Fort was approaching, the police said.

Insufficient evidence to arrest Madumadawa: AG tells SC

The Attorney General’s Department yesterday informed the Supreme Court that there was insufficient evidence to arrest Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Deputy Leader Madumadawa Aravinda over the riots at Minuwangoda in May.

Liquor shops to be closed on June 15,16

The countrywide sale of liquor and all alcoholic beverages will be banned on Poson Poya Day, which falls on Sunday, June 15 and 16, by order of Excise Commissioner General, the department announced.

Two potential suicide bombers arrested in Kandy

Two people, who had pledged to National Thowheed Jama’at (NTJ) leader Zahran Hashim to operate as suicide bombers, were arrested in a joint raid conducted by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) and the Army yesterday, Police said today.

102 suspects arrested over Easter Sunday attacks

Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara today said that 102 suspects have been arrested by the police over the Easter Sunday attacks.

SL envoy says steps being taken to ensure IS doesn’t gain ground in South Asia

Sri Lanka is taking all steps necessary in collaboration with other countries, including India, to ensure the Islamic State or IS doesn’t spread its tentacles in south Asia, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, Austin Fernando, has said.

Oman Air flight diverted to Mattala due to bad weather

The Oman Air flight WY 371, which was scheduled to land at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake, was diverted to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) this morning due to the adverse weather, MRIA Airport Manager, Upali Kalansuriya said.

Rajitha forced to leave function amidst hooting

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, who attended a function held at the Negombo Hospital, had to use the back entrance to leave the hospital premises due to a protest staged by a group of people against him.

Australia lowers travel advisory for Sri Lanka

The Australian Government yesterday reviewed its travel advisory for Sri Lanka and lowered it to ‘exercise a high degree of caution’.

Hizbullah arrives at PCoI

Former Eastern Province Governor M.L.A.M. Hizbullah arrived at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) to give a statement on the Batticaloa Campus this morning.

FBI assisted CID in analysing evidence: US official

A top US government official said the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) assisted the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sri Lanka in the analysis of evidence and phone details in connection with the serial bombings on Easter Sunday.

Five terror suspects brought back to Sri Lanka

Five terror suspects including Mohamed Milhan, alias Abu Seelan, who were arrested in Jeddah in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks, have been brought back to Sri Lanka by the CID this morning, police said.

Zahran supported MS, I supported MR: Hizbullah

Former Eastern Province Governor M. L. A. M. Hizbullah yesterday said National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) Leader Zahran Hashim supported President Maithripala Sirisena at the last Presidential Election in 2015 while he had supported former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Cancer drug 'Herticad’ used despite complaints by oncologists

Despite complaints made by a large number of oncologists about the complications a new cancer drug called ’Herticad’ could trigger, the doctors had to use it on patients because the drug had been approved by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), it was revealed at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) to investigate corruption of the current administration yesterday.

Zahran gave Rs. 2 mn to bail out suspects

National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) leader Zahran Hashim had provided Moulavi Rashid Mohamed Ibrahim, a suspect in the Easter Sunday attacks, with Rs. 2 million to be used as bail money for the suspects accused of vandalising Buddha statues in Mawanella and the surrounding areas, the court was told.

PM seeks AG’s advice to take over controversial Batti University

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has sought the advice of Attorney General Dapula Livera on the taking over of the controversial Batticaloa campus, known as the Sharia University, to the government.

‘Ravana 1’ to be released into orbit on Monday

Sri Lanka’s first satellite Ravana 1, designed and developed by two Sri Lankan research engineers will be released into orbit on Monday, June 17th, Director Communication Engineering (Project Manager Nanosatellite projects) at Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies, Kavindra Jayawardena told Daily Mirror.

Arrangements being made to amend circular

Public Administration Ministry Secretary, J. J. Ratnasiri, today said arrangements are being made to amend the circular issued by his ministry to make the saree and the osari compulsory for female public servants.

Opposition criticises President, PM leaving country

The opposition today criticised both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for leaving the country at the same time without appointing anyone to take charge of their ministerial duties.

Duminda doubts if PM and MR behind PSC move to embarrass Prez

SLFP National Organiser Duminda Dissanayaka today said he was confused as to whether the appointment of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) that summoned and questioned defence and intelligence officials, was a conspiracy hatched by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in connivance with Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa in an attempt to embarrass President Maithripala Sirisena.

India arrests man 'linked to Easter Sunday bomber’

Indian anti-terrorism investigators have arrested a man with alleged links to the suicide bomber who planned Sri Lanka’s deadly Easter Sunday attacks.

Hizbullah giving evidence before PSC

Former Governor of the Eastern Province, M.L.A.M. Hizbullah is currently giving evidence before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into Easter Sunday attacks.