Low student turnout as second-term commences

The second term of schools started with a low attendance today, the Education Ministry said. Only the secondary (6-13) classes were allowed to start following the Easter Sunday attacks on April 21.

Two arrested over Negombo incident

The police arrested two persons today in connection with an incident at Poruthota, in Negombo, yesterday.

Cardinal requests Govt. to close liquor shops in Negombo

Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, has requested the government to close all the liquor shops in the Negombo area in the aftermath of what transpired at Poruthota yesterday.

Special HC issues summons on IGP, Ex-Treasury secretary

Colombo Special High Court today directed the Court Registrar to issue summons on Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundera and former Secretary of the Ministry of Finance & Treasury P. B. Jayasundera to appear before the Court on May 13, 2019.

UPFA MP Piyal Nishantha arrives at CID

UPFA MP Piyal Nishantha arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this morning to record a statement in connection with casualties of an explosion at a safe house in Sainthamaruthu, Kalmunai recently.

Time to hand over swords, Kris knives extended

The time announced for general public to hand over any illegal swords and Kris knives in their possession to the nearest police station have been extended by 48 hours.

Radicalisation of moderate Muslims should be avoided - Hakeem

The operations carried out by the security forces after the Easter Sunday attacks is commendable but radicalisation of moderate Muslims should be avoided, Minister of City Planning, Water Management and Higher Education Rauff Hakeem said yesterday.

ACJU calls on remaining terrorist groups to surrender

All Ceylon Jammiyathul Ulama (ACJU), the Muslim theologians of Sri Lanka, has called on the remaining members of the Muslim terrorist groups to surrender to the Security Forces.

Ban on social media lifted

Temporary ban on social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber, YouTube and Instagram has been lifted, the Government Information Department said.

Social media temporarily blocked

Social media platforms including Whatsapp, facebook and youtube have been temporarily blocked in Sri Lanka, official sources said.

Police curfew imposed in Negombo

Police curfew was imposed within the Negombo Police Division with immediate effect until 7 am tomorrow following a tense situation, police said.

Mahanayaka Theras want govt. to reconsider school reopening date

The Mahanayake Theras of Malwatu and Asgiri Chapters today urged the government to reconsider the reopening date of schools for the second term due to ongoing security concerns.

Allege training camp of Zahran found in Kattankudy

The Kattankudy police raided a building located on a large tract of land believed to have been used by the ’National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ), a group now identified as an extremist outfit, for its operational and training activities.

Sri Lanka bombings up tourism in south India

The Easter bombings in Sri Lanka and consequent cancellation of inbound tourist arrivals has made south India an alternative destination for tourists. Tour operators are getting enquiries for Tamil Nadu and Kerala from inbound travellers from Europe and the US, after their countries have issued travel advisories.

Sri Lanka expels 200 Islamic clerics after Easter attacks

Sri Lanka has expelled over 600 foreign nationals, including around 200 Islamic clerics, since the Easter suicide bombings blamed on a local jihadi group, a minister told AFP Sunday.

Police fire at drone - drone flies away

The Police had reportedly fired at a drone which was hovering over the skies in the Jawatte areas in Colombo last night.

Hashim’s brother-in-law reportedly arrested in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia are reported to have arrested Maulana Rila, the brother-in-law of Islamic State inspired Shangri-La hotel bomber Zahran Hashim, as well as colleague of his known only as Shahnawaj, last week on the basis of input from Indian intelligence, Hindustan Times reported.

Parcel containing ammunition found inside a girl’s school in Gampola

A parcel containing a stock of T56 and pistol ammunition were recovered from the premises of a girls’ school in Gampola yesterday.

Billionaire Asos tycoon Anders Holch Povlsen buries three of his four children

ASOS billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen yesterday said an emotional farewell to his three children who were killed in the Easter Sunday terror attack in Sri Lanka.

Makandure Madush deported from Dubai

Notorious underworld drug kingpin Makandure Madush who was arrested in Dubai, was deported to Sri Lanka this morning, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

New school opening dates announced

The government announced today that the second term of the government schools will commence on Monday (6) only for Grade 6 to 13 while Grade 1 to 5 classes will commence for the second term on May 13.

Public requested to handover swords to police

The police have requested the general public to handover any illegal swords and Kris knives in their possession to the nearest police station today or tomorrow, the Police Media Unit said today.

Minister of Law and Order - Prez rejects request to appoint SF

President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have refused Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s request to appoint UNP MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka as the Law and Order Minister.

Arrival of FETO terrorists - SL disregarded Turkish warnings: GL

Amid reports of the government’s failure to act on specific intelligence on Easter Sunday’s bomb attacks, information has now surfaced that the defence authorities had also ignored Turkish government alerts that 50 members of the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) had arrived in Sri Lanka.

Criticizing Prez not an offence: Counsel

UNP-affiliated National Lawyers’ Association Secretary Nissanka Nanayakkara, who visited the Fort Police Station where three suspects were detained for possessing letters allegedly defamatory of the President, said criticizing the President was not an offence.

Explosives found buried in mosque backyard

Three locally made bombs and 100 grams of ammonia were found buried in the backyard of a mosque at Welipenna last night , police said.

Some Govt. MPs slinging mud at Prez: Dayasiri

SLFP General Secretary and MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said yesterday there was a concerted effort to sling mud at President Maithripala Sirsena by a section of the government led by Minister Lakshman Kiriella.

Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry to regulate Madrasas

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed that Madrasas should be regulated by the Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry and not by the Education Ministry, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said yesterday.

Easter Sunday attacks - The JVP to question the PM

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) will question Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on the Easter Sunday bomb attacks in Parliament next week, JVP MP Vijitha Herath said yesterday.

Orders given to strengthen security in the East: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that orders were given to tighten security in the East soon after the bombs went off at churches in Colombo on Easter Sunday.