FM Additional Secretary as acting customs DG

Finance Ministry Additional Secretary H.G Sumanasinghe has been appointed as the Acting Director General of Sri Lanka Customs Department today, the Finance Ministry said.

Gota’s case: DSG says Special HC has jurisdiction to hear case

The Special High Court Trial-at-Bar Bench fixed for February 11 to deliver its order on the preliminary objections by the defence in the case against former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and six others. The charges are the misappropriating of Rs.49 million belonging to the LRDC to construct the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum and Memorial at Medamulana.

Mannapperuma appointed State Minister

Deputy Minister Ajith Mannapperuma was sworn in as the State Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment before President Maithripala Sirisena this morning.

Principal nabbed for soliciting Rs. 5,000 as bribe

The principal of a leading school in Horowpathana was arrested by the Bribery Commission officials for accepting Rs. 5,000 as a bribe.

Seychelles Vice President to visit SL today

Seychelles Vice President Vincent Meriton will arrive in Sri Lanka today for a two-day visit, Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Seychelles announced.

Mobile app introduced to coordinate garbage collection

The Minuwangoda Urban Council (MUC) together with the Western Provincial Council (WPC) launched a mobile app in a bid to streamline the garbage collection process in the local government area.

Customs TUs launch work-to-rule campaign this morning

The Customs-Trade Unions Alliance today said that they had decided to launch a work-to-rule campaign from this morning over the appointment of a retired Navy Officer as the Customs Director General, a Spokesman for the alliance said.

Iranian woman arrested with ‘Kush’ cannabis at BIA

A 24-year -old Iranian woman has been arrested on possession of 400 grammes of ‘Kush’ narcotic substance at the Bandaranaike International Airport early this morning, police said.

Fallen UN Peacekeepers' remains to be flown back on Saturday

The remains of the two Sri Lankan Peacekeepers, Major Jayawickrama and Sergeant Wijekumara, who were killed in Mali, would be flown to Sri Lanka on Saturday, the Army said yesterday.

Dharmadasa, Mathivanan also party to our alleged misdeeds: Mohan

Former Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Vice-President Mohan de Silva yesterday refuted allegations that the previous elected cricket administration had indulged in corruption, although admitting it was partly to blame for the decline in cricketing standards on the field. 

Mannar mass grave; US lab to handover carbon dating results in Feb: OMP

The carbon dating results of bone samples obtained from the Mannar mass grave site would be handed over to Sri Lanka by the US laboratory in February 2019, the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) said yesterday.

Jaliya's charter flight from US to Mattala billed to FAM: Official

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States Jaliya Wickramasuriya had insisted on being accommodated aboard a SriLankan Airlines flight from Washington to the Mattala Airport via Dubai and billed it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FAM) in 2013, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry ( PCoI ) into irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka was told yesterday.

Committee to analyse SL-Singapore FTA

Consequent to President Maithripala Sirisena’s discussion with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on his intention to revise the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries, the government will appoint a committee to identify the areas to be amended in it, a Minister said yesterday.

PM, party heads to discuss PC poll schedule

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will meet party leaders next week to discuss and come to a final decision on the passing of amendments to the Provincial Councils electoral system in order to hold PC polls under the old system and also the possibility of holding elections before May 31, following President Maithripala Sirisena’s request made to cabinet on Tuesday, a senior cabinet Minister said today.

Give dividends to plantation workers to end standoff: Opposition

The planters' unions and Regional Plantation Companies (RPC) could distribute dividends of their profit among the tea plantation workers if increasing the daily basic wage was troublesome, the Opposition today said.

'Mahendran advises family offices in S’pore and ME?'

Former Central Bank Governor and fugitive Arjuna Mahendran was quoted in an article published on South African newspaper 'The Business Day', which described him of now ‘advising several family offices in Singapore and the Middle East.’

Couple arrested with heroin worth Rs. 36 mn

A married couple was arrested with 3 kilos of heroin worth Rs. 36 million in Kiribathgoda this afternoon, Police said.

Kokkadichcholai OIC arrested while accepting bribe

OIC of the Kokkadichcholai police station was arrested by the officers of the Bribery Commission while accepting Rs. 25,000 as a bribe, Police said.

Digambaram threatens to quit over estate workers salary issue

Government ally, the Tamil Progressive Front (TPF) today threatened to quit the government if the salaries of estate workers are not increased at least by Rs. 150, Estate Infrastructure Development Minister P. Digambaram said today.

Customs TUs launch strike over new DG: Unions

The  Customs-Trade  Unions Alliance today launched a strike over the appointment of a retired navy officer as the Customs Director General, a spokesman from the Union said.

UNPers commended my criticism of Rohitha's wedding attendees: Ranjan

State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday said some prominent members of the UNP had informed that they will back him in the event disciplinary action is taken against him for criticizing the UNPers for attending former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Rohitha’s wedding.

Samurdhi recipients should decrease: Seneviratne

Criticising the government’s move to absorb more Samurdhi recipients, the Opposition today said the number of Samurdhi recipients should gradually decrease instead of being exponentially expanded.

Prez praises Sajith; says he needs a rest

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday commended Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa for his commitment and said he had advised him not to work round the clock but to be mindful of his health as well.

State workers using FB will be interdicted before inquiry: CPC Governor

Making seething criticism and sweeping statements on state sector workers, the Central Provincial Governor said yesterday that he would interdict any state sector official found hanging out on Facebook during work hours.

Thisara writes to CEO, request for a change of ODI captaincy

All-rounder Thisara Perera has called for a change in the limited over captaincy in order to bring in unity and stability in the national side ahead of this year’s cricket World Cup in England.  In a letter  addressed to Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva, Perera added there is no environment  of unity in the side since Lasith Malinga took over the captaincy ahead of the recent New Zealand series.

608 children in IRC list

The list of Island Re-convicted Criminals includes 608 children including some students, the Police Crimes Information division reveals.

CERT/CC warns Computer users high risk virus attack

The Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT|CC) and Coordination Centre yesterday warned computer users to be cautious of infecting ‘Rumba’ ransomware when downloading fake Windows updates, cracks for pirated software, freeware software tools as well as corrupted links and torrents.

CCS for solid foods from April 1: Rajitha

The Colour Code System (CCS) introduced for soft or fizzy drinks will be imposed on all solid foods in the market from April 1 to further control the fast spreading Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday.

Prez seeks Cabinet approval for PC polls before May 31

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday submitted a Cabinet memorandum seeking approval to conduct elections to the nine provincial councils on a single day before May 31 this year.

'No feasibility study was conducted at Mattala Airport'

There was no feasibility study conducted by the relevant officials on commencing of operations at Mattala International Airport, Head of Revenue Management, Planning and Commercial at SriLankan Airlines, Sumudu Upatissa told the  PCoI  inquiry into irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka yesterday.