Azath Salley appears before PSC

Former Western Province Governor Azath Salley appeared before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into Easter Sunday attacks a short while ago.

Shangri-La Colombo to reopen

The Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, yesterday said it would be welcoming guests back from tomorrow onwards, after the deadly Easter Sunday bombings.

Three-wheeler fares to go up tonight

The fare for the first kilometre in a three-wheeler taxi would be increased to Rs.60 from midnight today due to last night’s fuel price increase, Lanka Self-Employed Professionals’ National Three-Wheeler Federation Sunil Jayawardana announced.

US Secretary of State Pompeo to visit SL

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is to make a brief visit to Sri Lanka end of this month, US State Department said.

Police warn public to be vigilant of individuals who try to extort money

An organised racket is in operation to extort money from the relatives of the suspects who are in custody over the Easter Sunday attacks, the Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera revealed yesterday.

Presidential pardon for ex PS chairman

Colombo High Court Judge Shashi Mahendran released the former Chairman of the Warakapola Pradeshiya Sabha who had been given 18 years imprisonment for becoming guilty of an allegation of a bribe because he had received Presidential pardon.

Politics may jeopardise probes on Easter attacks: Cardinal

Politics may jeopardise investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said last Saturday at a function held in Akmeemana.

Buddhism is the only pacifistic faith: Champika

Buddhism is the only religion that does not promote or encourage killings to propagate the religion and the main objective of jihad is to exterminate all except those who follow Allah, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

CPC ups Petrol 92 by Rs. 3, LIOC by Rs. 7

The price of petrol (Octane 92) was increased by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) by Rs. 3 a litre from midnight today while the Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) increased it by Rs. 7 in addition to increasing Petrol Euro 3 also by Rs. 7.

Political infighting endangers nat’l security: SLPP

The security apparatus of the country is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea owing to the internal war of the government, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said today.

We are in majority globally and cannot be subjugated: Hizbullah

The Muslims are a minority only in this country, but a majority globally and nobody should think that they could subjugate us, former Eastern Province Governor Dr. M.L.A.M.Hizbullah.

Sakvithi Ranasinghe released on bail after nine years

‘Sakvithi’ Ranasinghe who has been in remand custody for over nine years over an alleged financial fraud exceeding Rs. 1,628 million, has been released on bail by the Colombo High Court today.

FR petitions on Emergency: SC defers to July 5

The Supreme Court today deferred to July 5, the Fundamental Rights Petitions contesting certain Emergency Regulations.

Two allowed to send-off or receive at BIA

Passengers could bring two persons each to the arrival and departure lobbies of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for a period of three hours with effect from today, BIA Duty manager said.

Easter Sunday attack: Committee submits final report to prez

The three-member investigation committee which was appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena to look into the Easter Sunday attacks, submitted its final report to the President this morning, President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

Prez shirks responsibility by abolishing PSC: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) alleged today that President Maithripala Sirisena was trying to stop information on Easter Sunday attacks being revealed through the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) instead of admitting his shortcomings and rectifying them.

Three acting ministers appointed

Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Buddhika Pathirana, was sworn in as Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, Resettlement, Co-operative Development and Vocational Training and Skills Development, before President Maithripala Sirisena today.

Kiriella mooted as latest bidder for presidency?

A move is underway within a section of the United National Party (UNP) to promote Public Enterprise Development Minister Lakshman Kiriella, as the presidential candidate of the party; it is learnt, with a section of the Kandy-based Buddhist clergy particularly keen on Minister Kiriella as the candidate.

India shares phone numbers of five Lankans linked to IS

In the wake of the Easter Sunday bombings which killed more than 250 people, India has shared with Sri Lanka phone numbers of five Lankans suspected to be associated with Islamic State (IS).

Traffic lane law to be strictly implemented from today

Bus lane and traffic lane rules will be strictly implemented across all major cities from today, police said.

One has to face many bouncers in the game of politics: MR

Opposition Leader and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that in the game of politics one had to face many bouncers. “In the game of politics, one has to face many bouncers. So, he has to make sure you protect your head from these bouncers,” he quipped.

Divided leadership to blame for Easter Sunday carnage: Expert

An international terrorism expert yesterday blamed the failure to avert the Easter Sunday bombings on the absence of collective leadership in the country and said security and intelligence agencies should not be held responsible for the debacle.

Religious Reconciliation Board to be set up: PM

A Religious Reconciliation Board comprising of members nominated by the religious leaders, would be set up to resolve various issues among religious groups in the country, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said over the weekend.

President, visiting Indian PM hold bilateral talks

President Maithripala Sirisena held bilateral talks with visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday said the visit would have a positive impact on Sri Lanka’s economic, tourism and trade sectors.

This PSC is not what we expected: MR

Opposition LeaderMahinda Rajapaksa said the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into the Easter Sunday attacks was not the PSC they expected.

Three arrested for attempting to extort Rs.100 mn from Chief Incumbent of the Rangiri Dambulla

Three suspects were arrested for trying to extort Rs. 100 million from the Chief Incumbent of the Rangiri Dambulla Raja Maha Viharaya and custodian of the Sri Vishnu Devalaya, the Police said.

Spirit of Sri Lanka cannot be defeated by acts of terrorism: Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is visiting Sri Lanka on Sunday said that Sri Lanka is not going to bow down in face of terrorism and the spirit of the island nation cannot be defeated by acts of terrorism.

Modi pays tribute to vicitims of Easter terror attack

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade - one of the sites of the horrific Easter Sunday attacks - soon after his arrival in Sri Lanka.

Chancellor of Ruhuna University passes away

Chancellor of Ruhuna University and Chief Sanghanayaka of Southern Sri Lanka, Most Venerable Aggamaha Panditha Pallaththara Sri Sumanajothi Thero passed away this morning at the age of 95.

Modi arrives

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sri Lanka a short while ago to make a brief stopover on his way back to India from the Maldives.