More complaints against Dr. Shafi

Fifty-six fresh complaints against the Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Shafi Shihabdeen, were received at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital yesterday (28) from women, informed a spokesperson of the Teaching Hospital.

Prez shouldn’t exercise executive powers arbitrarily: BASL

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) said yesterday President Maithripala Sirisena should not have exercised his executive powers arbitrarily when pardoning Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, who was jailed after being found guilty of contempt of court charges.

CA acquits LTTE suspect

Court of Appeal Bench comprising Justices Kumudini Wickramasinghe and Priyantha Fernando today set aside the conviction and sentence of accused appellant Kanagasooriyan Alaguthurai and acquitted him.

Kurunegala Hospital staff declines to give evidence before committee

The staff of the Kurunegala Hospital had decided not to give evidence before the committee-which was appointed by Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne- to probe the allegations against Dr Siyabdeen Mohamed Safi.

NCM against Rishad: SLFP to boycott PSC deliberations

SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara said today his party would not participate in the deliberations of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into the Easter Sunday attacks, to discuss the no-confidence motion against Trade and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.

CA Judge recuses from delivering Wilpattu judgment

Justice Mahinda Samayawardhana today recused himself from delivering the judgment on the writ petition filed as a public interest litigation on the deforestation and illegal construction in the Northern sector of the Wilpattu National Park with Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and other officials made respondents.

Madrasas don’t comply with educational policies: Bandula

Former education minister Bandula Gunawardana said today said that the operating of Madrasas was a violation of the national education policies and as such it was illegal to take them under the purview of the Education Ministry.

India’s NIA team to arrive in Sri Lanka to probe IS links

A team of India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) sleuths headed by director general YC Modi would fly to Sri Lanka to probe links between Islamic State’s Kerala module and Lankan terrorist or their handlers, the Economic Times (ET) reported yesterday.

Get permission prior to making public statements, medical admin officers told

Medical administrative officers in hospitals and other institutions which come under the purview of the Health Ministry have been advised to obtain permission of the Ministry Secretary prior to making public statements on other than technical matters, the Health Ministry said today.

Switzerland relaxes advisory on SL, highlights personal security

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka, Hanspeter Mock today said that Switzerland no longer advised to avoid unnecessary travel to Sri Lanka.

Amith Weerasinghe re-remanded till tomorrow

Mahasohon Balakaya leader Amith Weerasinghe was further-remanded till May 29 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Shalani Perera today.

Ex-president Nasheed nominated as Speaker of Maldives

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MPs have voted unanimously Monday night to choose former president Mohamed Nasheed as the next Speaker of parliament, Maldives Independent reported today.

CA to take up afresh Wilpattu case filed against Bathiudeen, others

The Court of Appeal decided to take up afresh the case filed against Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and other respondents over clearing of the Wilpattu National Park forest and constructing a housing project adjoining the National Park, from July 31.

Health Ministry names Kurunegala probe committee

The Health Ministry announced the names of the members for the committee that was created to probe the allegations against Dr Siyabdeen Mohamed Safi.

Women who underwent involuntary sterilisation should be compensated: MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said the government should compensate the women who were illegally sterilised. He said this in response to a question asked by journalists at his residence at Wijerama in Colombo.

First batch to leave for China next week

The first batch of police and military personnel will head for China next week for a training programme envisaged in the defence cooperation agreement inked between Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, a spokesman said yesterday.

President cancels Hizbullah’s teacher transfers in East

The Provincial Education Department has cancelled the transfers of Muslim teachers to Tamil schools in the Eastern Province given by Governor M.L.A.M. Hizbullah.

Female doctor resigns over Burkah issue

A female doctor who was appointed to the Homagama hospital has resigned from her post after she was asked to remove the Burkah she was wearing and perform her duties in the hospital, Homagama hospital sources said.

Special law giving effect to ‘Palmyrah Fund’ in the offing

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday the government would introduce a piece of legislation to give effect to the ‘Palmyrah Development Fund’ established to fast-track development efforts in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, particularly conflict-affected areas. He said this at the launch of the fund at Temple Trees.

300 blades found in tank

A stock of some 300 sharp blades manufactured abroad, was found from the Sembukuliya Tank in Kekirwa on Sunday, security sources said.

Rishad liable to punishment under Penal Code: SLPP

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said yesterday Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen committed an offence punishable under the Penal Code when he influenced Army Commander Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake to release the suspects arrested in connection with the terror strikes on April 21.

Two nabbed with a large stock of outdated cosmetic products: Police

Two suspects were arrested with a large stock of expired cosmetic products from a house in Angurukaramulla area in Negombo last evening, the Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said. Speaking to the media during the daily briefing he said, the raid was conducted by the Negombo Police on a tip-off.

More than 50 women complain against Kurunegala doctor

The Kurunegala Teaching hospital authorities said that they had received 51 complaints from women up to today (27) against Kurunegala Hospital Gynaecologist Shafi Shihabdeen who had been arrested on suspicion over several allegations.

SriLankan clarifies social media post made by passenger

SriLankan Airlines today issued a statement clarifying certain facts with regard to a social media post made by one of its passengers on a flight from Melbourne to Colombo on May 23.

AG instructs police to take action against State Minister over misappropriation case

The Attorney General has instructed the police to take necessary action under Criminal Procedure Code and produce State Minister Ashok Abeysinghe as a suspect into a case, in which he was charged with misappropriating Rs 215,000 of funds allocated to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, for personal use.

Veteran actor Gamini Hettiarachchi passes away

Veteran stage and tele-drama actor Gamini Hettiarachchi passed away at the age of 66 at the Colombo National Hospital this evening, Sri Lanka Singers Association (SLASA) President Keerthi Pasquel said.

Horowpothana suspects remanded

The five suspects who were arrested in Horowpothana on Friday for allegedly maintaining links with the National Thowheed Jama’ath (NTJ) and its leader Zahran Hashim, were remanded till June 4.

New govt. will take office, if Govt is defeated by the NCM: JVP

JVP MP Vijitha Herath today said if the no-confidence motion against the government was won in parliament, it will not lead to an election but would only provide an opportunity to form a new government.

Special body appointed to probe Kurunegala doctor

The Health Ministry has appointed a special investigation body to look into the allegations against Dr Siyabdeen Mohamed Safi of the Kurunegala Hospital who is accused of performing sterilization on women forcibly, Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne said today.

Prez assures security, urges envoys to lift advisories

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday explained to foreign diplomats in the country that he could guarantee the national security situation was 99 per cent ensured.