I didn’t laugh to insult victims of Easter attacks: Naveen

Commenting on a video which is being shared on social media platforms, Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake today said that he did not laugh to insult the people killed in the Easter Sunday attack.

Govt. delaying NCM to justify Bathiudeen: Opposition

The Opposition today alleged that the no-confidence motion (NCM) against Minister Rishad Bathiudeen was delayed till June so as to clear him from all charges through the Parliament Select Committee appointed to probe the Easter Sunday attack.

Eight member PSC headed by Deputy Speaker appointed

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today announced the appointment of an eight member Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) headed by Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri, to look into the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

Education Ministry issues directives to all schools

The Education Ministry has informed heads of all schools in writing to abide by the Gazette notification issued under the Emergency law which prohibited dress and helmets preventing identification of a person.

Gnansara Thera released

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera was released from the Welikada Prison, Commissioner General of Prisons, J. W. Tennakoon said.

FR petition filed at SC preventing arrest of Madumadawa

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) deputy leader Madumadawa Aravinda today filed a fundamental rights petition at the Supreme Court (SC) seeking an interim order preventing him from being arrested in connection of his alleged presence during a tense situation that erupted in Minuwangoda on May 13.

Prez gives order to release Gnanasara Thera

The Commissioner General of Prisons, J. W. Tennakoon a short while ago said he received the order by President Maithripala Sirisena to release Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera.

Arguments fixed for June 19

The three bench special Trial-at-Bar Judges Sampath Abeykoon (President) Sampath Wijeratna and Champa Janaki Rajaratna today fixed the argument of the case against former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and six others for misappropriating State Funds amounting to nearly Rs 34 million while constructing the D.A. Rajapaksa Commemorative Museum at Weraketiya, Medamulana, for June 19.

SL leaders congratulate Modi on victory

President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa congratulated India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his victory at Lok Sabha election.

Easter Sunday attacks: SLFP, UPFA decide not to take part in PSC

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) had decided not to participate in the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), appointed to probe the Easter Sunday terror attacks, sources said.

PM Modi wins historic general election victory, party says

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist party scored a historic victory in India’s general election, his foreign minister said on Thursday, as officials counted hundreds of millions of votes after the massive, multi-stage poll, Reuters reported.

NCM against Bathiudeen on June 18,19

The no-confidence (NCM) motion against Minister Rishad Bathiudeen would be taken up on June 18 and 19, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya informed Parliament a while ago.

Dhammika Perera non-committal on common candidate speculation

Business magnate Dhammika Perera was non-committal and did not reject speculation that he would come forward as a common candidate at the next Presidential election.

PM wants PSC to expedite Rishad’s probe within two weeks

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya this morning to expedite the appointment of the Parliamentary Select Committee within two weeks, to inquire in to the allegations levelled against Minister Rishad Bathiudeen in the no-confidence motion, the Prime Minister’s Office announced a while ago.

Body of a doctor found in Kotahena

The body of a 67-year-old retired doctor was found inside his residence at Bloemendhal Road in Kotahena this morning, the police said.

NCM against Bathiudeen: Party leaders’ meeting ends with no decision

The party leaders’ meeting held at the Parliamentary Complex today, ended without any agreement over a debate date on the no-confidence motion against Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.

NCM against Rishad unacceptable: Kiriella

The no-confidence motion (NCM) that has been submitted against Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen is not acceptable, Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament yesterday, adding that the motion carried hitherto unproven allegations.

Secure schools underpin platform for political drama: Akila

With the improvement in student turnout since last Thursday, several politicians are seemingly staging dramas to gain brownie points by visiting schools, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said yesterday.

Date of debate to be decided today

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday informed parliament that leaders of the political parties which represent the House will meet today to decide on the date of the no-confidence motion submitted by the joint opposition against Minister of Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Cooperatives Development and Skills Development Rishad Bathiudeen.

Prez inks paperwork for Gnanasara Thera’s release

President Maithripala Sirisena has signed the necessary documents to release Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, confirmed sources from the Presidential Secretariat said.

House approves motion amidst protests by Opposition

Parliament yesterday approved a motion to set up a select committee to look into Easter Sunday attacks and to determine whether any MP or minister had any association with the terror group which carried out the attack.

Criminal probe against IGP, fmr. Defence Secy- AG

The Attorney General (AG) has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to launch a comprehensive probe against top security officials including former Defence Secretary, IGP, State Intelligence Chief, Commanding Officer of the Special Task Force and the Senior DIG of the Western Province, informed sources said.

Signboards only in national languages - instructs PM

In the wake of reports about Arabic signboards in some areas of the eastern province, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed that they should be written only in Sinhala, Tamil and English languages.

Never influenced Army Chief: Bathiudeen

Minister Rishad Bathiudeen today said he had never influenced the Army Commander and that he only inquired about a person who was taken by an unidentified group.

Govt. will establish new public school system: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today said that the Government will establish a new public school system that is not based on language or religion within the next two years.

Niroshan rejects Navin’s claims

Refuting claims made by Minister Navin Dissanayake, State Minister Niroshan Perera said he had expressed his views on the no-confidence motion against Minister Rishad Bathiudeen with responsibility and that there was no change in his stance on the NCM.

MR sarcastically says ‘hari shoke’

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa today in a sarcastic manner said ‘very good’ upon being asked for his comments on reports of business Mogul Dhammika Perera preparing to contest the upcoming presidential poll.

Indonesia to limit social media to prevent fake news

Indonesia would partially block social media to prevent the spread of fake news after violence broke out in Jakarta following the announcement of official election results, Reuters reported today.

Nigeria shuts missions in Sri Lanka, Czech, Serbia

The Federal Government of Nigeria has closed it’s foreign missions in Sri Lanka, Czech and Serbia and downsized the mission in Ukraine due to insufficient funds, The Nation Nigeria reported on Tuesday.

State of emergency extended by one month

President Maithripala Sirisena today issued an extraordinary gazette extending the State of Emergency by one month.