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.

NIA shares with Sri Lanka 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).

Visit to Maldives, Sri Lanka will reinforce ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy- Modi

On the eve of his departure to the Maldives and Sri Lanka, kicking off his first overseas visit after the elections, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the visit brings together two key policies of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region).

Suspect arrested over murder of ‘Minuwangoda Kalu Ajith’

A suspect was arrested by the STF at Ekala over the murder of Krishantha Ajith Kumara, alias ‘Minuwangoda Kalu Ajith’.

Traditional sawmills will not be banned-Govt

The Ministry of Environment today said that traditional sawmills will not be banned under the proposed amendments and that only mobile sawmills will be banned with effect from December 31, 2022.

MR asks SL Muslims to stop Arabisation of their culture

The Leader of the Opposition and former Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Saturday called upon the island’s Muslim community to stop the Arabisation of their culture and return to the traditional Sri Lankan Muslim culture.

No need to adhere to circular on dress code – PM’s office

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that there is no need to adhere to the recently issued circular on the dress code of the public offices as the government has decided to amend it.

Muslim MPs meet MR

The Muslim parliamentarians, who recently resigned from their ministerial portfolios, held discussions with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the official residence of the former President this morning.

SL engages UN on new counter-terrorism strategy

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have met Executive Director of the Counter Terrorism Directorate of the United Nations, Michele Coninsx and her team yesterday and discussed the preparation of a counter-terrorism strategy.

Intelligence Chief Sisira Mendis resigns

Chief of the State Intelligence Service, former DIG Sisira Mendis, who testified before the Parliamentary Select committee on the Easter Sunday attacks, has resigned citing health reasons, a senior defence official confirmed.

I too would have resigned if I was a minister: Faizer

UPFA MP Faizer Musthapha yesterday said he would have resigned from his post if he was a minister of this government.

President disputes PSC probe

President Maithripala Sirisena summoned an emergency Cabinet meeting on Friday evening (7) and registered his protest over the activities of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday terrorist attack. He had asked that the PSC activities be terminated accordingly.

PCoI - CEB mismanagement causes Rs.100 Bn loss: Patali

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has incurred a Rs.100 billion loss because of the failure to manage and distribute its services efficiently, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) as they continue investigating corruption in the government.

SL Navy takes over P 625 ship from China

The official taking over ceremony of a P 625 ship to the Sri Lanka Navy from the Republic of China, was held under the patronage of the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy, Rear Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenna at the Shanghai Dockyard in China on Wednesday (6).

Don’t ban carpenter-workshops and chainsaws: MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday urged President Maithripala Sirisena to reconsider the decision to ban ’wadu madu’ or carpenter-workshops and chainsaws.

Ranil, Sajith or Karu for presidency: Hesha

United National Party (UNP) MP Hesha Withanage said yesterday his party would pick one of its three leaders - Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa or Speaker Karu Jayasuriya as its presidential candidate.

Complaint to Pope is a fake: Mangala

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has complained to the CID asking it to investigate the fabrication of a parliament letterhead on which his signature had also been forged.

Mangala’s complaint against Cardinal - Wimal asks Govt to respond

The government should respond to Minister Mangala Samaraweera who had complained to Pope Francis against Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Joint Opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa said yesterday.

Eastern terminal of Colombo Port won’t be sold to any country: Govt.

The eastern terminal of the Colombo Port will not be sold to any foreign country, not even to India or Japan, the Ports and Shipping Ministry informed parliament today.

Summoning intelligence officers before PSC can’t be approved: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena said summoning intelligence officers before a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) and revealing intelligence information before it cannot be approved.

SLPP-SLFP to discuss institutional structure

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) today discussed the institutional structure of the proposed political alliance to be formed in view of the presidential elections, party officials said.

Easter Sunday attacks - Will punish those who failed to prevent it: PS

The Presidential Secretariat (PS) has said necessary action will be taken against those held responsible for the failure to prevent the Easter Sunday attack based on the findings of the committee appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena no sooner the Attorney General’s opinion is received, Chief Government Whip Gayantha Karunathilake told Parliament today.

President calls for emergency cabinet meeting

President Maithripala Sirisena has called for an emergency cabinet meeting to be held this evening, sources said.

Heavy rains up to 200 mm likely in several areas

Heavy rains of up to 200 mm may be expected in districts of Kalutara, Ratnapura, Galle, Matara and Kegalle with the south-west monsoonal conditions gradually establishing over the island, the Meteorology Department said today.