Sri Lanka is a Sinhala Buddhist country: Mano

Referring to Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s statement that Sri Lanka was not a Sinhala Buddhist country, National Integration, Official Languages, Social Progress and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister Mano Ganesan said yesterday that Sri Lanka was a Sinhala Buddhist country.

No need to bring in foreign armies: Mangala

Sri Lanka has no requirement to bring in the US Army or armies of other countries in the aftermath of terror attacks, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said yesterday.

Duty of politicians to ensure peaceful co-existence: Mahanayake Theras

It is the duty and responsibility of all politicians to work jointly to ensure the peaceful co-existence among all religious communities and ethnic groups, but however with the aim of increasing the vote base the actions of some politicians have aggravated the position, states a statement issued by the Maha Sanga of the Three Nikayas.

Dhammalankara Thera calls for sensible talk

One must not speak in a foolish manner when even Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith had accepted that this is a Buddhist nation, Venerable Ittapane Dhammalankara Thera said yesterday.

Wellampitiya Police OIC demands inquiry

Wellampitiya Police OIC Gamini Senarath Hewawithana has complained to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) demanding an inquiry against Colombo Magistrate Court Judge Priyantha Liyanage over the release of nine employees on bail of the copper factory in Wellampitiya.

‘National Path’ inaugurated

‘National Path’ was inaugurated at the BMICH under the patronage of Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and with the participation of Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and several other politicians, prelates and civil rights activists.

People taking law into their hands due to Govt.’s failure: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today some people were attempting to take the law into their own hands because the government had failed to punish the culprits and stressed the need to arrest the wrongdoers irrespective of who they were or whatever their status might be.

PSC appoints Solicitor General and three Additional SCs

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has appointed a new Solicitor General, a Senior Additional Solicitor General and two Additional Solicitor General of the Attorney’s General Department.

60 arrested over recent violence

More than 60 people were arrested in connection with the violence in the North-Western Province and in Minuwangoda, 33 of them were remanded, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said today.

Invisible hand with political motives behind violence: Clergy

An invisible hand with political motives is behind the violence reported from the North-Western Province and in Minuwangoda, the Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and Ven. Ittapane Dhammalankara Mahanayaka Thera told a news conference today.

Dayasiri denies Hettipola allegations

SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera today denied allegations claiming that he was involved in taking six suspects on bail, who were arrested during the tense situation that prevailed in Hettipola, Kurunegala.

Countrywide police curfew imposed

Police curfew will be imposed across the country from 9 pm today till 4 am tomorrow, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said.

Dan Priyasad arrested

Nawa Sinhale National Organisation Director Suresh Priyasad, alias Dan Priyasad, was arrested by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) today over his alleged involvement in the recent acts of violence.

Arrested software engineer key in Easter attacks

The software engineer suspected by authorities of having provided technical and logistical support to the Easter Sunday suicide bombers was monitored by Indian intelligence agencies three years ago for links with Islamic State suspects, Reuters reported on Tuesday quoting investigators.

Police curfew in NWP to be lifted for 2 hours

Police curfew imposed in the North Western Province will be lifted for 2 hours from 4 pm to 6 pm today, police said.

Liquor shops in Central Province temporarily closed

All liquor shops in the Central Province have been temporarily closed on the instructions of Central Province Governor Maithri Gunaratne, Excise Department sources said.

Hakeem calls on PM, tri-forces commanders to control violence

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader and Minister Rauff Hakeem today called on the Prime Minister and tri-forces commanders to control the violent incidents in the country in absence of the President.

Nine suspects remanded over Minuwangoda violence

Thirteen suspects were arrested in Minuwangoda on charges of inciting violence and nine of them were remanded after being produced in the Minuwangoda Magistrate’s Court, police said.

Twitter also blocked: TRCSL

Twitter was among other social media platforms which were blocked to stop the spread of rumours and false stories following the violence that erupted in the North-Western Province, Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) said.

Dehiwela suicide bomber radicalised by hate preacher in UK

The Dehiwela suicide bomber had allegedly been radicalised by hate preacher Anjem Choudary while he was in London, UK, the Daily Mail reported today.

Suspect arrested with stock of ammunitions, weapons in Dehiwela

Following the recovery of large stock of weapons and ammunition from a plot of land in Uva Kuda-Oya in Wellawaya yesterday, the STF arrested the alleged owner of those weapons from a house at Sri Saranankara Mawatha in Dehiwala.

Stop hateful attacks in SL before things escalate: UN

All parties in Sri Lanka should take appropriate action to immediately stop hateful attacks in order to prevent recent violence from being escalated even further, the UN said on Tuesday.

Namal Kumara, Amith Weerasinghe arrested

Leader of the Mahasohon Balakaya, Amith Weerasinghe and Anti-Corruption Force Operations Director Namal Kumara were arrested today, police said.

Security in NE, a matter for Army to decide: TNA

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R. Sampanthan said on Sunday that it was left to the Army Commander to decide on the security in the North and East if something untoward happens there and as such there was no point in him (Sampanthan) commenting on the matter.

India extends ban on LTTE for five years

The Indian Home Affairs Ministry has issued a fresh notification extending ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in India for five years, the Hindu reported today.

Gazette issued banning NTJ, two other organisations

An extraordinary gazette had been issued by the President yesterday proscribing three organisations, the National Thowheeth Jama’ath (NTJ), the Jama’athe Milla’athe Ibrahim (JMI) and the Willayath As Seylani, to been banned under regulation 75(1) of the emergency regulations.

Easter bombs had explosives not used before by LTTE or military, source

The explosives used by the suicide bombers for the Easter Sunday attacks had been improvised by the terrorists which neither the military nor the LTTE had used before, sources said.

IMF completes fifth review: approves US $ 164.1mn

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved US $ 164.1 million disbursements for Sri Lanka, completing the fifth review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement Sri Lanka has with the multilateral lender.

Curfew in NW Province continues: curfew in other parts lifted

The police curfew imposed island-wide was lifted this morning except for the North Western Province, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

NTJ cadres, still at large, should surrender forthwith: Masthan

Vanni District UPFA MP Kader Masthan said the remaining members of National Tawheed Jamaat (NTJ) should surrender to the security forces forthwith and later be rehabilitated with those arrested previously.