Certain parties attempting to postpone PC polls: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday suggested that certain parties were trying to postpone the provincial council elections by crowing over the Presidential Election instead.

PC polls a Gordian Knot: EC

The Elections Commission ruled out yesterday the possibility to conduct the Provincial Council Elections before April this year, even if the existing legal barriers were cleared forthwith.

Colombo named ‘must-photograph’ travel destination of 2019

The Colombo city has been named the ‘must-photograph’ travel destination of 2019, in a study.

Presidential election: I’m ready if people are ready - Gota

Hinting at contesting the upcoming Presidential Election, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he was ready for the Presidential Election if people were ready too.

IGP summoned to give voice sample to GA’s Dept. today

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara had been summoned to the Government Analyst's Department today (Monday 14) to give a voice sample with regard to the investigation into the alleged VIP assassination plot, Government Analyst Ariyananda Welianga said.

Like crabs in boiling water –SF

Democracy was yet to be achieved as President Sirisena was having a severe grudge with some UNPers, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said over the weekend.

SLPP President before end of 2019: Basil

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa today said he is ready and determined to work towards electing the next President from his party, SLPP.

Underworld shooting claims two more lives

The Wattala Police said that a person who had connections to the underworld and his accomplice had been killed when two unidentified persons opened fire at their vehicle this evening.

All govt. Tamil schools closed on Monday

All the government Tamil school would be closed on Monday (Jan 14) in lieu of the Thaipongal festival, the Education Ministry said today.

SL’s delegation arrives in Washington to discuss SL’s EFF

Sri Lankan delegation led by Minister of Finance and Media Mangala Samaraweera arrived in Washington today to discuss Sri Lanka’s External Fund Facility (EFF) with IMF and others during their visit.

British woman and Indian man die while on holiday

A British woman and an Indian man died in two separate incidents while holidaying in Mirissa and Hungama, police said.

20 Indian fishermen arrested for poaching in SL waters

Twenty Indian fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy for poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters in the seas off Delft Island and Thalaimannar yesterday.

Number of Sri Lankan housemaids in Gulf up

The number of workers leaving Sri Lanka to take up jobs as housemaids in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the Far East has soared by more than 16 per cent in the past year.

Seven women arrested in Mt. Lavinia brothel raid

Seven women, including a female manager, have been arrested for allegedly operating a brothel in the guise of a spa on Galle Road in Mount Lavinia yesterday evening.

Saudi teen who fled family welcomed as ‘brave Canadian’ in Toronto

An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her familythis week saying she feared for her life arrived in Toronto’s international airport on Saturday after being granted asylum in Canada, where foreign minister Chrystia Freeland welcomed her as a brave new Canadian.

Govt. to absorb another 800,000 Samurdhi recipients in 2020

The government would be able to absorb another 800,000 low income families into the Samurdhi programme by next year increasing the number of Samurdhi recipient families to 2.2 million by 2020, Labour, Trade Union Relations and Social Empowerment Minister Daya Gamage said yesterday.

Computer-based driving tests countrywide by year-end

The computer-based test for obtaining driving licences would be introduced to the other 25 districts in the country by the end of this year which would be networked with the DMT head office, Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) Commissioner General A.H.K. Jagath Chandrasiri said.

Presidential candidate of SLFP is President Sirisena without doubt: Nimal

Former Minister and Senior Vice President of the SLFP, Nimal Siripala De Silva reiterated that the Presidential candidate of the SLFP would be President Maithripala Sirisena.  

Increase in vehicle registrations in last year: DMT

A total of 480,799 vehicles had been registered last year, The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) said yesterday.

Six members of SL family arrested at BIA

A Sri Lankan family of six who attempted to smuggle a large stock of cosmetics, imported cigarettes and foreign liquor worth nearly Rs.1 million were taken into custody by the Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on Wednesday evening.

Compensation - Wimal told to pay Rs.10 mn to Tilvin Silva

UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa, found guilty of violating the Intellectual Property Act by publishing a book titled Naththa Wenuwata Aththa’, was yesterday ordered by Colombo High Court Judge to pay JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva Rs.10 million as compensation.

Allocating new parking space for Sanath at Trillium Residencies - Nothing improper: CMA

The proper procedure was followed when allocating a parking space to former cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya at the Colombo Trillium Residencies where he had been earlier deprived of a parking space, Condominium Management Authority (CMA) General Manager R.K. Jayaweera said.

JO proposals not in the experts panel report

Joint opposition MP Bandula Gunawardane said today the report of the experts panel presented to the Constitutional Assembly has included proposals contradictory to what the sub-committee on public finance headed by him had proposed.

New Constitution - Govt. has no legitimacy to do so: MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said today the government did not have the legitimacy to introduce a new constitution and urged it to go for a parliamentary election so that people's approval could be obtained for such a move.

JO says English copy marked 'draft'

Joint opposition MPs today brought to the notice of the Speaker that the English version of the panel of experts report on constitution-making was marked 'draft' while the Sinhala and Tamil copies were not described as such.

UNP acting in a cowardly manner: Nimal Siripala

UNP has acted in a cowardly manner when it comes to enacting a new constitution as it had avoided stating its stance on the report by the experts panel, MP Nimal Siripala de Silva said today.

JO and MR fermenting racism: JVP

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today the joint opposition including Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa were inciting racism by claiming that a federal constitution was being introduced in April when not even a draft constitution had been finalized.

Won’t support MS as presidential candidate: SLPP PC members

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Provincial Councillors unanimously decided not to support Maithripala Sirisena as the presidential candidate, former Central Provincial Council Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon said.

Reports say LTTE also committed war crimes: Sumanthiran

The reports coming from all over the world reveal that both the LTTE and the government forces had committed war crimes, TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said today.

New Zealand win by 35 runs

New Zealand won the only T20I against Sri Lanka by 35 runs held at Eden Park, Auckland. Out to chase 180, Sri Lanka got off to a bad start with Sadeera Samarawickrama departing on the first ball.  But the early fall did little to deter Sri Lanka’s confidence as Niroshan Dickwella and Kusal Perera fired the side past 50. But Scott and Doug Bracewell picked up two quick wickets to pull things back for the hosts by the end of powerplay.