402 iPhones, 17,400 SIM cards seized in Eththukala

Communication equipment including 402 brand new iPhones was seized from a house at Eththukala in Negombo today, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said.

IGP challenges compulsory leave: SC fixes June 24 for support on FR

The Supreme Court today re-fixed the support for granting leave to proceed on June 24 on the fundamental rights violation petition filed by IGP Pujith Jayasundara challenging the action of being sent on compulsory leave.

31 people injured in bus accident

At least thirty-one people including 26 school children were injured when a ‘Sisu Seriya’ school bus they were travelling in collided head-on with a bus transporting garment employees at Thalgodapitiya in Gokarella this morning, police said.

SriLankan Airlines world’s most punctual airline

The SriLankan Airlines has been named as the world’s most punctual airline with 90.75 per cent of its flights in May 2019 being ‘on-time’ throughout its route network, SriLankan Airlines said.

Special traffic plan for Modi’s visit on Sunday

A special traffic plan will be implemented on Sunday restricting vehicular movement in and around Colombo in view of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, Police said.

’Prompt action upon tip-off would have averted Easter Sunday mayhem’

There were many among the group who had vandalised the Buddha statues in an around Mawanella, were known to me and when I inquired from them what made them commit this act, they invited me also to join their group, said Mohamed Razik Mohamed Thaslim of Mawanella who was critically injured by the alleged shooting by the extremist group suspecting him of having provided tip-off to the police.

Complaints received to committee: 3 against Rishad, 1 against Salley

The complaints received by the three-member committee appointed to investigate complaints against former Western Province Governor Azath Salley, former Eastern Province Governor M. L. A. M. Hizbullah and former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen had risen to four as of yesterday, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

India, SL to focus on countering Jihadi terrorism

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his way home from the Maldives, would arrive in Sri Lanka on June 9 and discuss about bilateral cooperation on countering ‘Jihadi terrorism’ among other topics.

Bodies of Zaharan’s brothers to be exhumed today

The bodies of the two brothers of the alleged leader of the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) Zaharan Hashim, who blew themselves up in the Sainthamarathu Village in Ampara, which were buried at the Ampara General Cemetery, are to be exhumed today (7).

President promised to clear me and give a DPL post if resigned: Pujith

IGP Pujith Jayasundara who testified before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into the Easter Sunday attacks yesterday said President Maithripala Sirisena offered him an ambassador’s post and to clear him if he accepts the responsibility for the failure to prevent the bomb attacks on April 21 and resigned from his post.

Sterilisation claims against Dr. Shafi: Team of medical experts to examine women accusers

A committee comprising medical experts led by the Colombo Chief Judicial Medical Officer will examine the women who lodged complaints against Dr. Mohamed Shafi stating that he had sterilised them, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said yesterday.

Prez told me not to attend NSC meeting convened by PM - Hemasiri Fernando

Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando said yesterday that he did not inform the President on the intelligence information on the imminent suicide attack on Easter Sunday because he assumed that the Firector of the State Intelligence Services (SIS) must have informed the President on the matter, as it has been the practice

HR situation in Sri Lanka was mixed in 2018: UK

The latest Foreign and Commonwealth Office report of the UK said the human rights situation in Sri Lanka was mixed in 2018 with key concerns including increased inter-communal tensions and slow delivery of key reconciliation commitments.

Will reveal UNP Presidential Candidate next Saturday: Wedaarachchi

State Minister Dilip Wedaarachchi today said that UNP is to announce its presidential candidate next Saturday (8) in Anuradhapura in the presence of Minister Sajith Premadasa.

Eight Muslim ministers handover letters of resignation

Except for Minister Kabir Hashim, all other eight Muslim ministers have handed over their letters of resignation to the Presidential Secretariat by this evening, sources said.

UK no longer advises against all but essential SL travel

The UK said today its Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) no longer advised British travellers and tourists against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka.

Govt. to ban 'Wadu Madu' and chainsaws

Legal and administrative steps would be taken by the government shortly to prohibit the import of tree cutting machines, chainsaws, mechanical saws and the carpenter sheds popularly known as ‘wadu maduwa’, in a bid to protect the environment - in particular, the forest density of the country, President Maithripala Sirisena declared today.

Getting parents to provide security at schools should be stopped: Ministry

Since armed forces, police and the Civil Defence Force personnel have been deployed for the safety of school children, there is no need of parents to be called to schools to provide security, the Education Ministry said today.

SLFP parliamentary group requests Prez to contest

The parliamentary group of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), in a memorandum signed by several MPs, has requested President Maithripala Sirisena to contest the next presidential election.

Interim report of PCoI on corruption in state institutions presented to Prez

The interim report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) appointed to investigate into the acts of corruption and frauds allegedly committed in state institutions during the period from January 15, 2015 to December 31, 2018, was handed over to President Maithripala Sirisena today.

IGP says Prez offered him an ambassador's post if he accepts responsibility

GP Pujith Jayasundara, who testified before the select committee appointed to look into the Easter Sunday attacks, today revealed that President Maithripala Sirisena had offered to give him an ambassador’s post if he accepts the responsibility for the failure to prevent the bomb attacks on April 21 and resigned from his post.

Riders with full-face helmets can be prosecuted: AG

The Attorney General Dappula de Livera has instructed acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Senior DIG C. D. Wickremeratne that motorcycle riders wearing full-face helmets could be arrested and prosecuted under the Emergency Law.

Seven-judge bench to hear FR against Hemasiri and Pujith

Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya has decided to appoint a seven-judge bench to consider the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition against IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando for failing to prevent the attacks on churches and hotels even when intelligence information had forewarned.

Ravi K daughter arrives at CID

Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s daughter Onella Karunanayake, today appeared before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to give a statement over allegedly providing false evidence before the presidential commission of inquiry into the bond scam.

Three die of electrocution in Akuressa

Three persons died by electrocution due to an illegal electric cable at Thalahagama, Akuressa, this morning, police said.

China says no formal request for surveillance equipment

Chinese Ambassador Cheng Xueyuan said yesterday that Sri Lanka had not made a formal request for surveillance equipment from his country .

Pujith Jayasundara, Hemasiri Fernando to testify before PSC

Former IGP Pujith Jayasundara and Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando will testify before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into the select committee appointed to look into the Easter Sunday attacks today.

Govt to amend laws on fake news

The Cabinet has given approval to amend the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code to take action against false news distribution and hatred statements.

Muslim Ministers yet to submit resignation letters to Prez

The nine Muslim cabinet, state and deputy ministers who declared that they have decided to resign, had not yet sent their letters of resignation to President Maithripala Sirisena, sources said.

’Sangha Order’ imposed against Mangala Samaraweera

The Matara District Chief Incumbents’ Union and Matara District Shasanarakshaka Bala Mandalaya issued a ’Sangha Order’ against Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday (5).