Governor signs gazette dissolving SPC

Southern Province Governor Keerthi Thennakoon today signed the gazette notification dissolving the Southern Provincial Council (SPC) with effect from midnight today.

Lotus Road closed

The Lotus Road between Ceramic Junction to NSA Roundabout has been temporarily closed due to a protest carried out by a group of railways contract employees, police said.

PM commends Maldives Prez on parliamentary election win

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has phoned Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to congratulate him on his party’s success in the parliamentary election, Raajje News reported on Tuesday.

Cyanide vials recovered from Marala Suranga at Welikada Prison

An inmate at the Welikada Prison, Samantha Pushpakumara, alias Marala Suranga, has been arrested by the prison officers on a tip-off by police for possessing cyanide vials.

Long-term power plan - Memo seeking approval deferred till Apr.23

The Cabinet is reported to have deferred till April 23 a memorandum submitted by Power, Energy and Business Development Minister Ravi Karunanayake seeking approval for a long-term power plan.

Gota committed to giving up US citizenship: SLPP

Amid reports of lawsuits being filed against former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the US, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said he had made an irrevocable decision to renounce his US citizenship despite it being the best source of protection against allegations of war crimes.

Police gear up to nab drunk drivers

Nearly 25,000 breathalyser devices used to measure blood alcohol content have been imported to Sri Lanka to be distributed among police stations countrywide, Traffic DIG Ajith Rohana said.

Empowering the working class - New Labour Act shortly: Minister

A new Labour Act incorporating all labour laws, bylaws and ordinances passed over the years with more benefits and facilities to the working class, Labour and Trade Union Relations Minister Ravindra Samaraweera said.

Rains in some areas, hot weather in others

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing mixed weather conditions with temperatures reaching up to 38 degrees Celsius in the North Central Province, while some areas in the Southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces are experiencing heavy rains.

Prez to seek SC ruling on date his tenure ends

The SLFP is seriously considering whether to seek a Supreme Court ruling on when President Maithripala Sirisena’s five-year term of office expires under the 19th Amendment on the basis that it was signed into law by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on June 21, 2015, General Secretary and MP, Dayasiri Jayasekara said.

Train strike cancelled

The railway strike scheduled to commence from midnight tonight has been temporarily cancelled after discussions were held with Transport Minister Arjuna Ranatunga this evening, Locomotive Engine Operators’ Union (LEOU) Secretary Indika Dodangoda said.

SL caught up in vicious cycle: MR

Sri Lanka is now caught up in a vicious cycle of increasing government spending for the electioneering needs of the incumbent government, heavy borrowing to finance that expenditure and increased taxation of the public to service those loans, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

Court permits to detain suspect deported from Dubai

The Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court today permitted the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) officers to detain Mohommad Nazeem Mohammad Faizar, one of the two suspects who were deported from Dubai on Sunday and arrested by the CID.

Madush will be brought to SL in two weeks: DSG

Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Dileepa Peiris informed court today that steps had been taken to bring down Makandure Madush to Sri Lanka within the next two weeks.

Drug trafficking charges - Chilaw UC member detained

The Negombo Magistrate today permitted the Negombo Division Crimes Unit officers to detain Chilaw Urban Councillor Warnakulasuriya Stanley Lewis Fernando, who was arrested on charges of drug trafficking.

Blacklisted two SL women deported from Kuwait

Two Sri Lankans women who tried to enter Kuwait on forged passports have been deported to Sri Lanka, Arab Times reported quoting Al-Anba daily.

Sri Lankan gets 30-year RI in Chennai over heroin seizure

Ten years after 1.14kg heroin was seized from his bank locker, a Sri Lankan national was on Monday sentenced to 30 years in jail for the offence, the Times of India reported.

Construction worker falls to death from hotel building

A 22-year-old youth had fallen to his death from the eighteenth floor of a building under construction at a hotel complex in Galle Face last evening, police said.

One day token strike to begin tonight by Private Bus employees

The All Island Private Bus Employees Association (AIPBEA) today said that they would launch a 24-hour countrywide token strike with from midnight today against the government decision to increase spot fine up to Rs.25,000.

US names Iran’s Revolutionary Guards terrorist group

The US President Donald Trump on Monday branded Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization, an unprecedented step that raises the specter of retaliation from Tehran in an increasingly tense Middle East.

Summons not served as far as we’re aware: Namal

SLPP Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa in a Twitter message said that former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa never received summons of any form as far as he was concerned.

Two lawsuits against Gota in US

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa was served with notice of two separate civil lawsuits against him in California, USA on Sunday, over the assassination of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunga and on behalf of a Tamil torture survivor.

Vehicles with unauthorised lights and horns banned from July 1

Tough action will be taken against the use of unauthorised lights and horns in vehicles causing noise pollution from July 1, police said.

Two deportees from Dubai: One arrested by CID

Mohommad Nazeem Mohammad Faizar (37), one of the two suspects who were deported from Dubai, was arrested by the airport CID this afternoon, police said.

Won’t abandon talks with SLFP, says SLPP

Acknowledging the existence of a grave problem with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said today it would not abandon bilateral talks with the party whatsoever but deal with outstanding issues directly.

Lasantha's Assassination: Lawsuit against Gota in US court

Ahimsa Wickrematunge, the daughter of slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, has filed a case in the California Court against former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in connection with the assassination of her father in January 2009.

Grade 5 Scholarship Exam not compulsory anymore: Education Minister

The Grade 5 Scholarship Examination would not be compulsory anymore and the relevant circular had been issued, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said.

H.M Jayawardena passes away

Veteran musician H.M Jayawardena has passed away at the age of 69 while undergoing treatment at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital – Kalubowila a short while ago, Sri Lanka Singers Association (SLASA) President Keerthi Pasquel confirmed.

EU requests SL to maintain its moratorium on death penalty

The European Union (EU) called on the Sri Lankan Government to maintain its moratorium on the death penalty in line with its vote at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in December 2018.

Power cuts to come to an end on April 10

Minister of Power and Energy, Ravi Karunanayaka said that the power supply island wide will not be interrupted from April 10 onwards.