Bangladesh election: Sheikh Hasina wins new term as prime minister

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ruling party won Bangladesh’s election with a large majority, the country’s Election Commission said early on Monday, giving Mrs Hasina a third straight term following a vote that the opposition rejected as flawed.

R.H.S. Samaratunge appointed Secretary to Finance Ministry

Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunge was appointed as the secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Mass Media by President Maithripala Sirisena today, President’s Media Unit said.

Rear Admiral Piyal de Silva appointed 23rd Navy Commander

Rear Admiral Piyal de Silva has been appointed as new Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy with effect from tomorrow (January 1) by President Maitripala Sirisena.

Indian arrested with hashish at BIA

An Indian national has been arrested on possession of 1.2 kg of hashish worth Rs. 2 million at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) last night.

Collegial leadership for new UNP-led front

A collegial leadership of ten members is proposed for the new political front to be formed by the United National Party (UNP) along with the like-minded parties such as Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), the Jathika Hela Urumya (JHU) and the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), it is learnt.

PM did not fulfil his promises-Radhakrishnan

UNP MP V. Radhakrishnan yesterday alleged that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe did not keep his promise to appoint him as a Cabinet Minister.

Injured Mathews ruled out of New Zealand ODIs

Angelo Mathews has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand and is also doubtful for the subsequent two Tests against Australia due to a hamstring injury.

Vandalizing Buddha statues in Mawanella: Ministry committee to probe

Minister of Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Sajith Premadasa has appointed a committee to investigate into the incidents of vandalizing Buddha statues in Mawanella area.

COPE members likely to be re-appointed

The existing members of Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) are likely to be re-appointed with JVP parliamentarian Sunil Handunetty as its Chairman, informed sources said.

Minister to bring Cabinet paper to stop tuition on Sunday

Wayamba Development and Buddasasana Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said he is planning to submit a Cabinet Paper with the signatures of all Cabinet of Ministers to stop private tuition on Sundays and Poya Days to make Daham School Education compulsory for children.

1,099 acres of land used as Army farms to be released

The Army said it would release another 1,099 acres of land used for cultivation in the Northern Province to civilians.

Cold and dry weather to prevail: Met Dept.

Mainly fair and dry weather with colder nights and mornings is expected over most parts of the island, the Meteorology Department said.

A/L best results in the Island

Kalani Rajapaksha of Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya, Gampaha, has topped the island ranking in the Biology stream while Kasun Wickramarathne of Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala, has topped the island ranking in the Commerce stream at the GCE Advanced Level examination, 2018.

Ministers oppose snap General Election

Responding to the remarks made by Minister Navin Dissanayake, the others ministers are reported to have resolutely opposed the holding of a snap general election.

Tamils disliked MR so voted for MS, SF: Sumanthiran

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran said yesterday that the Tamils voted for former minister Sarath Fonseka in 2010 and for President Maithripala Sirisena in 2015 not because they liked them but because they disliked the other presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa.

2019 Budget in April: UNP

The Cabinet of ministers gave decided to pass the fully-fledged Budget in April for 2019.

Mannar Mass Grave Site - Financial assistance from OMP

The Office on Missing Persons (OMP), which assisted the investigation into the human remains at the Mannar mass grave site, said that it would provide financial assistance to carry out carbon dating of the skeletal remains as part of its continued support to the investigation.

Ministerial portfolio - Why have I been overlooked: Wijemanne

UNP Kalutara District MP Lakshman Wijemanne said yesterday said he would take a serious political decision if he was not given a ministerial portfolio.

One killed in elevator collapse at night club

A 24-year-old youth died and two others injured following an elevator collapse at a night club (Amuseum Nightclub) at Nawam Mawatha, Colombo 02, in the early hours today, police said.

State media comes under Mangala, Prez keeps Police

All State media including, Rupavahini, ITN and Lake House have been gazetted under the Finance and Mass media ministry by President Maithripala Sirisena.

A white Christmas for several MPs

A considerable number of MPs are reported to have gone abroad to spend their Christmas holidays.

Defeat extremism, abolish executive presidency: Speaker

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has urged all concerned citizens to work towards defeating extremism and the abolishing of the executive presidency in the New Year.

School uniforms vouchers : Action against principals who promote businesses: Akila Viraj

The Education Ministry said yesterday disciplinary action would be taken against principals who were trying to promote certain businesses when giving out free vouchers to purchase school uniforms.

Ravi promises relief to electricity consumers

Power and Energy Minister Ravi Karunanayake said yesterday that electricity consumers would be provided with relief after the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) becomes a profitable venture.

Govt. wants to create Sinhala-Muslim clash: Wimal

The incumbent government was anticipating a Sinhala-Muslim clash in the country so that it would pave the way for them to fulfil the promises made to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa said today.

Gazette on subject purview of ministers to be released today

The gazette notification specifying the subject areas coming under the purview of newly appointed ministers will be released today, a spokesman of the Department of Government Printing said.

SL student's case - Aussie cricketer Khawaja's brother re-arrested

Arsalan Khawaja, the brother of Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja, has been re-arrested on charges of trying to influence a witness in a case in which a Sri Lankan student was arrested and charges dropped later in a fictitious terrorist plot, foreign media reported.

PM assures foremost place to Buddhism

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today vassured the Ven. Mahanayake Theras of Malwathu and Asgiriya Chapters that the government would give the foremost place to Buddhism and that action would be taken against those who vandalized Buddha statues in Mawanella.

Govt. using underworld for its survival

The government is using the underworld for its survival, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said today.

Harin clarifies gazette confusion

Minister Harin Fernando has cleared the confusion caused by Wednesday’s gazette notice issued by the President stating that Telecom, Digital Infrastructure, Foreign Employment Promotion and Sports Minister, Harin Fernando, and Development Strategies, International Trade, Science, Technology and Research Minister, Malik Samarasinghe, had resigned from their posts. Mr Fernando advised it was only a procedural matter.