Re-delivering 14 leased aircraft: 'SriLankan disregarded the 1.7 bn loss factor'

The SriLankan Airlines audit division had not looked into the loss of USD 12.5 million or Rs.1.72 billion incurred when re-delivering the 14 leased aircraft; it was revealed at the PCol on irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka yesterday.

Six China-led firms on track for 3 light rail projects

Six China-led companies have qualified for the execution of three light rail projects in Colombo, it is learnt.

SL workers being held in jail in M-E are drug addicts: FEB

The Foreign Employment Bureau (FEB) yesterday said that most of the Sri Lankan expatriate workers who were being held in jail in the Middle East had committed drug related offences.

Future alliance -- Await reasonable decision on symbol: Basil

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa said yesterday a acceptable decision would be taken about the symbol of the future political coalition led by the SLPP, which would contest upcoming elections.

Banglasesh officers to quiz three B'deshi heroin traffickers

Six Bangladeshi Drug Regulatory Authority officers including two policemen arrived in Sri Lanka on Wednesday to investigate the arrest of three Bangladeshi suspects in possession of Rs.4,500 million worth of heroin and cocaine, Police Headquarters said yesterday.

Ven. Gnanasara may be released on Feb. 4: Duminda

UPFA MP Duminda Dissanayake said yesterday he was confident that the President would release Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) general secretary the Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera on February 4 .

Nights and mornings to be cold

Fairly cold nights and mornings are expected over most parts of the island during next few days and there is a possibility for ground frost at some places in the Nuwara-Eliya district during early hours of the morning, the Department of Meteorology said yesterday.

SL to sign defence-related pact with US: Dayasiri

A defense-related pact to be signed shortly between Sri Lanka and the United States will seriously impact on the national security, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka, SLFP general secretary and MP, Dayasiri Jayasekera said yesterday.

Recovery of explosives: CID obtains 3-month detention order

The CID yesterday obtained a three-month detention order from the defence secretary to interrogate the four suspects who were found in possession of some 100 kilos of explosives and 100 detonators at Lacktowatta in Wanathawilluwa, Puttalam.

Resign if you can't knock out 'Sena',Yapa to minister

The Minister of Agriculture should resign as he and his government had failed to control the ‘Sena’ caterpillar which has spread to all parts of the country, MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said today.

Prez assures to increase welfare of Sri Lankans in Manila

President Maithripala Sirisena said he would take steps to increase the welfare of Sri Lankans living in the Philippines while resolving their concerns with the assistance of improved Sri Lanka-Philippines relations following his state visit to the Philippines.

26 Chief Inspectors promoted as ASPs

Twenty-six Chief Inspectors were today promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) by IGP Pujith Jayasundara with the approval of the National Police Commission (NPC).

HR activists decry President's praise for Duterte's drugs war

Human rights groups have expressed alarm at President Maithripala Sirisena for praising Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his ‘bloody war’ on drugs as an “example to the whole world”, Reuters said today.

Opp. Leader’s office previously confined to one area: MR

The Opposition Leader’s office was previously used to represent a particular group of people and a region, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

Special cash rewards for police and informants

The Sri Lanka Police Department will award cash prizes to police officers who successfully carry out operations and to people who provide information about illegal firearms during the three-month-long special operation, Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said.

Mahinda assumes duties at Opp. Leader’s office

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed duties at the Opposition Leader’s office at No 30, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 07, after a religious ceremony, this morning.

First SL women graduate from army school of ceremonial in UK

The first women from Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka Air Force) will graduate from the Army School of Ceremonial in Catterick, in North Yorkshire, United Kingdom, this week.

Italian man hit and killed by train in Mt.Lavinia

A 67-year-old Italian man died after being hit by a Railroad inspection train near a hotel in De Seram Road, Mount Lavinia last evening, Police said.

Political parties can untie PC poll knot: EC Chief

Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya yesterday said it were the political parties which can untie the knot of Provincial Council (PC) election through parliament. He said parliament could either pass a Bill to hold the election under the old electoral system or approve the new one.

PM agrees to NPDM reflecting Eastern Prov. as well

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe acceded to a request made by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to change the name of the Northern Province Development Ministry (NPDM) to reflect the Eastern Province as well, Jaffna District TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said yesterday.

Delay to return leased aircraft: SriLankan incurs US$12mn loss

SriLankan airlines has incurred a loss of US$12.5 million or Rs.1.72 billion between 2006 and 2018 because of its failure to re-deliver 14 leased aircraft to the lessor before the deadline, the PCoI on irregularities at SriLankan, SriLankan catering and Mihin Lanka was told yesterday.

PM’s helicopter diverted as S'gamuwa students protest

The helicopter carrying Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was forced to land in an alternative spot in Kuruvita when a group of students of the Sabaragamuwa University staged a protest against his arrival yesterday. Originally the chopper was to land at the playground of Seevali Central College in Ratnapura.

Dual citizenship: Gota says US can’t block individual rights

Former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the matter of dual-citizenship was something personal to him and he did not think the US could block individual rights. He said this in response to journalists at the Special High Court premises when they asked him about renouncing his dual citizenship and reports that he may not be allowed to do so.

Justice Minister trying to find mole than acting on culprits

Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorala has apparently put more effort into finding those who were involved in leaking the CCTV visuals of prison officers assaulting inmates at the Angunakolapelessa Prison rather than taking action against the officials who were involved in the inhumane assault.

PHU wants Speaker to recognise TNA as part of govt.

The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) today requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to recognise the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs as government MPs and to allocate seats in parliament accordingly.

Germany arrests LTTE suspect involved in Kadirgamar’s killing

German authorities have arrested an LTTE suspect alleged to have been involved in the 2005 assassination of foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, foreign media reports said.

Carbon tax is a burden on motorists: Bandula

A future UPFA government would amend the recently introduced carbon tax and implement a single tax for all motor cars, buses, vans, motor cycles and trishaws in a manner that will not be a burden to the tax payers, UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardana said today.

Four arrested with explosives, detonators in Wanathawilluwa

Four suspects were arrested by the CID for possessing nearly 100 kilos of explosives and 100 detonators at Lacktowatta in Wanathawilluwa, Puttalam.

Gota case: 18 witnesses banned from travelling abroad

Acceding to a prosecution request in the case filed against former defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Special High Court today directed the Court Registrar to notify the 18 prosecution witnesses attached to the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (LRDC) not to leave the country without prior permission from the Court.

Change uni curriculum to produce industry-related manpower: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today he would advise Higher Education and Southern Region Development Minister Rauff Hakeem to discuss with China Harbour and China Merchant Companies on changing the university curriculum to produce manpower needed for the industries coming up in areas such as Hambantota.