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.

Political crisis in SL threatens justice efforts: HRW

Sri Lanka’s political upheaval undermined stalled processes aimed at providing truth and justice for abuses from the country’s civil war, Human Rights Watch said today in releasing its World Report 2019.

Even State vehicles will have to pay carbon tax: Ministry

The Finance Ministry said today that State-owned vehicles were not exempted from the carbon tax as reported in the media.

President inks 3 loan agreements with ADB in Philippines

Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena signed three loan agreements with Asian Development Bank (ADB) president Takehiko Nakao on Thursday in the course of his 5-day state visit to the Philippines.

Prez appoints Commission to probe corruption of govt.

President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed a Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate into allegations of corruption and malpractices that had taken place from 15th January 2015 to 31st December 2018, the Presidential Media Division said.

Akkaraipattu Dy. Mayor arrested

Akkaraipattu Deputy Mayor Abdul Gafoor Azmi was today arrested by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID).

Govt. urged not to present new Constitution without Maha Sangha’s blessings

Buddha Sasana Karya Sadaka Mandalaya urged the Government not to present in Parliament a Constitution without the blessings of the Maha Sangha and to appoint a Constitutional Making Committee comprising of Maha Sanga, if a new Constitution was required.

Duterte drug war 'an example to the whole world': SL Prez

After his government vowed last year to “replicate the success” of the Philippines’ drug war, Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena again heaped praises on President Rodrigo Duterte’s top crusade, saying it is an example to the whole world.

Special high court to hear Gota’s case daily from Jan. 22

The Special High Court today decided to hear the case against former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa over the alleged misappropriation of public funds for the construction of the D. A. Rajapaksa memorial museum at Weeraketiya continuously from January 22.

Gota arrives at Special High Court

Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa arrived at the Special High Court this morning to appear over the alleged misappropriation of public funds for the construction of the D. A. Rajapaksa memorial museum at Weeraketiya.

TNA to get ‘formal say’ in N-E development

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe agreed to introduce a mechanism to ensure a ‘formal say’ for the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in the execution of development activities in predominantly Tamil areas in the North and the East, an MP said yesterday.

UK government survives confidence vote as May calls for Brexit compromise

Theresa May has called on Britain's political parties to "put self-interest aside" and work together on a compromise Brexit deal, hours after her government survived a no-confidence vote Wednesday night.

Man nabbed with heroin worth Rs. 60 mn

A 53-year-old suspect was arrested with 5.024 kg of heroin valued at more than Rs.60 million in Kothalawala last night by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB).

Rajitha threatens legal action against GMOA

Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister  Dr.  Rajitha Senaratne said he would take strict legal and administrative action against Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) as they had even involved President Maithripala Sirisena in their malicious, vituperative and acrimonious campaign against him.

Driver’s Demerit Points System will effect at the year-end: DMT

Driver Improvement Points which was known as Driver’s Demerit Points System would be added to the driver's licence by the end of this year,  Motor  Traffic Department (DMT) said.