Air quality monitoring machines to be operational next month

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) yesterday said the air quality monitoring machines installed in Battaramulla and in Kandy would be operational next month and the Authority would be in a position to monitor air quality 24 hours a day from June.

Probing attacks - Best done by Police, Army not Parliament: Harshana

UNP MP Harshana Rajakaruna said yesterday the investigations into the Easter Sunday bomb explosions should be handed over to the police and the army saying it was a joke to probe the incident through a Parliament Select Committee (PSC).

Monthly inbound flights reduced by 300: MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that the number of monthly inbound flights at the Bandaranaike International Airport has been reduced by 300.

Earning assets in suspicious manner: Doctor arrested from Kurunegala Hospital

Seigu Shiyabdeen Mohammed Shafi, a 42-year-old doctor attached to the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, was arrested by the police on charges of earning assets in a suspicious manner, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said today.

Rs.50 Mn to each Govt. MP for rural development

Rs.50 million will be given to every government MP for rural development work from next Monday, informed sources said.

Funds worth Rs.one bn in bank accounts of those arrested in Horowpathana

It was revealed that there were funds amounting to Rs. one billion in the bank accounts belonging to the five suspects, who were arrested in Horowpathana yesterday on suspicion of having links with the National Thowheed Jama’at (NTJ) and its leader Zahran Hashim, a senior police official told the Daily Mirror.

Looking forward to develop bilateral ties: Prez to Modi

President Maithripala Sirisena, who congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said that he was looking forward to further develop bilateral relations of the two nations.

Govt. to amend Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have informed the diplomatic community in Sri Lanka yesterday that the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act would be amended to increase the age of marriage to 18 for Muslim women in a move aimed at unifying the personal laws as far as possible.

Govt. should pass laws to control terrorism: Patali

The Government should take prompt steps to pass laws in order to control terrorism and its socio-economic background, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said yesterday.

Don’t release PSC report prior to NCM

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday urged the government not to release an interim report of the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe the Easter Sunday attacks before the no-confidence motion against Minister Rishad Bathiudeen is debated.

Easter Sunday attacks - PSC should summon Prez: MPs

Arguments were heard in Parliament yesterday with regard to the summoning of the President by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to inquire into the Easter Sunday attacks.

Samurdhi Ceremony - Govt. planning to spend Rs.180 Mn: Amaraweera

UPFA MP Mahinda Amaraweera today claimed that the government was planning to spend Rs.180 million for the ceremony where samurdhi benefits would be distributed to 4500 beneficiaries.

Screening offender in Vidya murder case: AG files indictment against ex DIG

The Attorney General has filed an indictment against Senior DIG Anurudhdha Lalith Jayasinghe in the Jaffna High Court today for assisting the principal offender Mahalingam Shashikumar in the murder and rape case of Vidya Sivaloganatha, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, the Coordinating Officer to the Attorney General told the Daily Mirror.

41 bank accounts belonging to terrorists frozen

Nearly 41 bank accounts with funds worth Rs.134 million belonging to the suspects who had maintained links with the terrorist organisations connected to the Easter Sunday attacks, had been frozen, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said today.

Easter Sunday Attacks - Speaker asks PSC Chief to let media cover it

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee, which has been appointed to look into the Easter Sunday attacks is free to make its proceedings open to media, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya told Parliament today.

State of Emergency passed in parliament

State of Emergency passed in parliament with 22 MPs voting for it and eight TNA MPs voting against it.

I never wanted Wijerama MW closed: MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa today rejected allegations that he had wanted Wijerama Mawatha where his official residence is located closed.

Hand grenades recovered from Matugama school

A bag containing 13 hand grenades was recovered from the Dickhena Vidyalaya school grounds in Baduraliya in Matugama by Baduraliya Police last night.

Three killed in road accident at Thanamalwila

Three people including two women were killed and three injured in a collision between two trishaws and a lorry on the Thanamalwila-Wellawaya Road today, Police said.

Theresa May to resign as party leader on June 7

UK Prime Minister Theresa May today said she would resign as the leader of the Conservative Party on June 7 and the process to select a new leader would begin in the following week, The Guardian reported a short while ago.

Five accomplices of Zahran arrested in Horowpathana

Five suspects, who are alleged to have maintained connections with the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) and its leader Zahran Hashim, were arrested in Horowpathana today, police said.

Posting false rumour on FB: Undergrad released on bail

The university student who published a false post on Facebook stating that the flight en route to China with President Maithripala Sirisena on board had crashed, had been released on bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today.

Kavinda steps down from PSC

UNP MP Kavinda Jayawardana today stepped down from the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into Easter Sunday attacks saying he wants to focus on the affected people and that the decision has nothing to do with the no-confidence motion.

Those fielding non-political leadership have undertaken contracts: MR

Those who say they reject politicians and prefer a non-politician to lead the country are concealing the fact that they too have undertaken a political contract, opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday during a meeting held at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) head office with party activists of the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

US only sought to amend 1995 agreement with SL - Official

The United States has sought to amend the 1995 agreement with Sri Lanka on the status of Department of Defence (DoD) military personnel and civilian employees, only to include some additional privileges, such as the mutual recognition of professional licenses, fees for support services rendered, and regulations for hiring foreign and local contractors, a spokesman said yesterday.

Suspect arrested in Yangon over Easter Sunday bombings

A Sri Lankan man, believed to have connections with those involved in the Easter bombings that killed at least 250 people, was arrested in Myanmar on Thursday afternoon, irrawaddy.com reported.

Country is still at risk from evil force: Ven. Gnanasara

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera, who was released from the Welikada Prison yesterday said, as he had mentioned during the last five years, Sri Lanka is still at risk and therefore, we are committed to work for the country.

SL renounces legal immunity to US military

Foreign Affairs Minister Tilak Marapana had informed the US Government that Sri Lanka was no longer agreeable to grant legal immunity to American military personnel under the new Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament yesterday.

Budget 2019 increases ration and allowances paid to Tri-forces

The ration and allowances paid to officers and other ranks in the Tri-Services have been increased by the government. Some of these allowances had not been increased for over 20 years.

I won’t call myself a Buddhist, but one who follows Buddhist Philosophy: Mangala

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera told parliament today that he would not call himself a Buddhist but a person who follows the Buddhist Philosophy.