Met Dept. warns of sea surge

The Meteorology Department today warned that there is a possibility of surging of the sea along the coastal areas from Mannar to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle.

Amith Weerasinghe released on bail

Mahasohon Balakaya leader Amith Weerasinghe was released on bail by the Colombo Additional Magistrate’s Court today.

SL the first country that recovered fast after IS attack: Mangala

Sri Lanka was the first country in the world which was able to recover fast after an IS terror attack, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said.

Sterilisation story, 'highly unlikely’: Prof. Senanayake

Professor Hemantha Senanayake, Head of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo and Former Chairperson of Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists speaking to the Daily Mirror said despite allegations still being levelled, the ’’sterilisation story is highly unlikely’’

Minister’s picture causes bloated costs: PCol told

When printing school textbooks for 2018 and 2019, the Education Ministry had included a message of Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam along with his photograph and it had incurred considerable loss to the government, it was observed at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) to investigate the corruption of the current administration yesterday.

Loss from VAT, NBT to reach Rs.26bn by year end: CBSL

In an assessment of the damage caused to the economy as a result of the Easter Sunday attacks, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) put the revenue loss from VAT and NBT alone at approximately Rs.26 billion for the remaining period of the year. The CBSL said pending economic activities would slacken thereby affecting revenue collection.

Govt. turning blind eye to hotbed of extremism: SLPP

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said yesterday the government had turned a blind eye to the rise of extremism while proceeding with the witch-hunt of the Rajapaksa family.

Country belongs to people, not to its rulers: Cardinal

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith who visited MP Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thera during his fast unto death said the problem would not have blown out of proportion today if President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had acted against those who discreetly aided and abetted the terrorist attacks.

All Muslim ministers decide to resign

All Muslim ministers including cabinet, state and deputy ministers have decided to resign from their portfolios, Minister Rauff Hakeem said today.

EC amenable to PC polls sans delimitation process

The Elections Commission today indicated to the Court of Appeal (CA) that he was, in principle, willing to conduct Provincial Council elections without recourse to delimitation process.

Cardinal fanned flames of hatred by visiting Rathana Thera: Mangala

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera today said that Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith had fanned the flames of hatred and communalism by visiting Athuraliye Rathana Thera who was fasting in Kandy.

Heavy traffic in Pettah due to protest

Heavy traffic was reported in Pettah, Fort and along the Lotus Road in Colombo due to a protest which is being held outside the Fort Railway Station, police said.

Rathana Thera ends fast

Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera a short while ago ended the fast which he began demanding the resignation of Governors Azath Salley, M. L. A. M. Hizbullah and Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.

In support of Rathana Thera, no bus services from tonight: Bus Associations

The Inter-Provincial Private Bus Association (IPPBA) and other Private Bus Associations today said they would refrain from operating bus services from midnight in support of Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, who was on a hunger strike in front of Sri Dalada Maligawa for the fourth day.

Salley, Hizbullah resign

Western Province Governor Azath Salley and Eastern Province Governor M. L. A. M. Hizbullah have tendered their resignation to President Maithripala Sirisena a short while ago.

Mahanayake Theras urge Prez, PM to resolve Rathana Thera’s demands

Mahanayaka Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters have urged the President and the Prime Minister to resolve the demands of Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, who is engaged in a fast unto death strike opposite Sri Dalada Maligawa.

MR meets Ranil

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa held discussions with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Temple Trees this morning on the economy of the country following the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Rathana Thera in good health: Doctors

Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera who is engaged in a hunger fast for three days is in a good healthy condition, doctors said.

I will only resign after consulting my people: Hisbullah

Amidst calls for his resignation, Eastern Province Governor M.L.A.M. Hisbullah met with President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday and informed him that he would take a decision on his future only after consulting his community.

SLFP requests Prez to remove Asath Salley, Hizbullah

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has requested its leader President Maithripala Sirisena to remove the Governors of the Western and the Eastern provinces Asath Salley and M. L. A. M. Hisbullah from office to defuse tension built up in the country over allegations against them, a party official said yesterday.

Ready for any election: EC

The Elections Commission was ready to hold any election first, be it Presidential or Provincial Council, Chairman of Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya said.

Police chief blames president for failing to prevent SL attacks

Sri Lanka’s suspended police chief has petitioned the Supreme Court, accusing President Maithripala Sirisena of failing to prevent the Easter bombings that killed 258 people, the AFP reported today.

Beware of oil, beach bathers warned

Public are advised to be vigilant, when using beaches from Wellawatte to Mount Lavinia because of black oil residue that has been washed ashore, the Marine Environment Protection Authority said today.

Japanese man nabbed with foreign currency

A 38-year-old Japanese man was arrested by the Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday for attempting to leave the country with foreign currency amounting to Rs 5 million.

Akkaraipattu man impersonating as SLA major, arrested in Moratuwa

A suspect who had been impersonating a major of the Sri Lankan Army Intelligence, has been arrested by the STF at Soysapura in Moratuwa yesterday.

Murder suspect killed in police shoot out

A 56-year-old man wanted over the fatal shooting of a police constable (PC) at Akuressa in May 22, was killed in a shoot-out with police early this morning at Urumutta in Akuressla.

Three arrested with stolen gem worth Rs.10 million

Three suspects were arrested today in Maharagama with a gem worth Rs.10 million which was stolen from a businessman Friday, police said.

Soldier killed, two others injured in explosion in Palali

At least one soldier was killed and two other soldiers were injured when an old bomb exploded in Palali, Jaffna this evening, the Army said.

World No Tobacco Day: Nearly 1.7 mn Sri Lankans engage in a puff daily

While the anti-tobacco and anti-smoking campaign could be said to be successful in Sri Lanka with both showing sharp drops, 15% or more than 16,85,000 adults smoke cigarettes every day, making it an ongoing and dire public health threat, a survey has revealed.

Passports to cost more from today

The Emigration and Immigration Department has increased the levy for the issuance of passports and foreign travel documents from today.