Drop in tourist arrivals

A German investor, domiciled in Sri Lanka, said the Western Foreign Missions, led by German Embassy and the British High Commission, took Sri Lanka’s constitutional crisis as a reason to issue travel advisories against Sri Lanka, and it was the reason for a drop in tourist arrivals during the season.?

SL UK Mission has unpaid charges worth £ 371,003

The Sri Lankan High Commission in the UK has unpaid congestion charges and outstanding National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) worth pound sterling (£) 371,003, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jeremy Hunt said. ?

I won't join UNP: Duminda

UPFA MP and former Minister Duminda Dissanayake today rejected reports of him joining the UNP and said he has no intention of doing so.

SLPP challenges PM to bring in motion to dissolve parliament

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) today challenged Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to bring in a motion to dissolve parliament.

SL lost its credibility after recent political turmoil: Kiriella

Sri Lanka had been a model to other countries during the past two years but due to arbitrary acts, we lost that in a short period of time, Minister Lakshman Kiriella said addressing the media today after assuming duties as the Minister of Public Enterprise, Kandyan Heritage and Kandy Development.?

Doctor, pharmacist who smuggled narcotics to Prison arrested

A medical doctor and a pharmacist attached to the Welikada Prison were arrested by prison officials today while attempting to smuggle in narcotics and alcoholic drinks.

Govt. will resume disrupted programmes: Ruwan

The government programmes which came to a standstill during the past 52 days will be resumed to ensure the country's national security, State Minister of Defence, Ruwan Wijewardene said when he assumed his duties at the ministry.  

Pakistan ex-PM Sharif sent back to jail for corruption

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been sent back to jail after a fresh corruption conviction, BBC reported a short while ago. The anti-corruption court in Islamabad has given Sharif a seven-year term for investments beyond his declared assets.

Bus fares down by 4% from Thursday night

The bus fares will be reduced by four per cent effective from Thursday (26) midnight, Transport Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said today. ?

4,035 arrested during raids countrywide

Nearly 4,035 people were arrested for various offences and another 5,550 charged with traffic violations during the four-hour special countrywide raid carried out by the police under the direction of IGP Pujith Jayasundara.

UNP should play its second innings politics: Ajith P.

The UNP should play its second innings politics after the recent political crisis carefully and diligently since there is a little left for it, newly appointed Non-Cabinet Minister of Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure Ajith P. Perera said today. 

President discusses SLFP reorganization

President Maithripala Sirisena met SLFP electoral organisers at his home today to discuss in detail the future activities and the reorganization of the party.

Liquor shops to be closed tomorrow

All liquor shops across the country would be closed tomorrow in view of Christmas Day, the Excise Department said today. It said legal action would be taken against those who keep their shops open by violating the laws.

Suspect arrested with heroin worth Rs.12mn in Marawila

A 28-year-old suspect was arrested with 1 kg of heroin which has the street value of Rs. 12 million at Dematapitiya in Marawila last evening, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

UNP sends show cause notice to 15 MPs for their absence in P'ment

The United National Party (UNP) has decided to ask for an explanation from 15 of its MPs who were absent in Parliament last Friday when the Vote on Account was taken up, Daily Mirror learns.

Government consults AG

The government has decided to seek the opinion of the Attorney General on the possibility of increasing the Cabinet of Ministers to 32 according to what they say is included in the Constitution, it is learnt.

Troops rescue flood-affected in North

Following the torrential rains in the Northern Province, troops of the Army and Navy rushed into relief and rescue missions in the districts of Mullaitivu and Killnochchi which were worst affected by the inclement weather condition.

25 President's Counsel to be appointed

Twenty-five Attorneys-at-law will swear in as President’s Counsel (PC) on January 18 at a ceremonial sitting of the Supreme Court. The swearing-in as President’s Counsel is also known as 'taking silk'.

President instructs Min. Secs to keep their hands clean

President Maithripala Sirisena has told the newly appointed Ministry Secretaries not to be pressurised into committing irregularities and unlawful acts.

Clash at a construction site in Colombo: 11 Chinese workers arrested

Eleven Chinese nationals, working at a construction site at Chatham Street, Colombo, were arrested following a clash with a group of Sri Lankan Security Personnel at the site on Saturday.

Tsunami death toll rises to 168 in Indonesia

At least 168 people have been killed and 745 injured after a tsunami hit coastal towns on Indonesia's Sunda Strait, government officials say.

Fire reported at Vauxhall Street

A fire has been reported at a factory at Vauxhall Street in Colombo a short while ago, the fire brigade said.

Over 45,000 affected in North due to rains, floods

More than 45,000 people from nearly 14,000 families have been affected due to heavy rains and floods in all the five districts of the Northern Province, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) said.

Suspect commits suicide in prison cell in Kuruwita

A 22-year-old suspect who was in remand custody at the Kuruwita Prisons is alleged to have committed suicide in his cell yesterday evening, Prisons Spokesman T.N. Upuldeniya said.

Mahanama to head SLC interim committee: Report

Sri Lanka’s new Sports Minister Harin Fernando has invited three former cricketers-Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Aravinda de Silva, to present their views on the development of cricket in the country.

Volcano-triggered tsunami kills at least 43 in Indonesia

A tsunami killed at least 43 people on the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra and injured hundreds following an underwater landslide caused by the eruption of Krakatau, officials said on Sunday.

PM violated Constitution by nominating 35 for Cabinet: JVP

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was looking for loopholes in the Constitution to increase the number of ministers in the Cabinet and had violated the Constitution by sending a list of 35 names to the President to be appointed as ministers.

Parliament Dissolution : SC verdict saved country from international trap: Bimal

JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake said yesterday the verdict of the Supreme Court on the dissolution of parliament should be made available to MPs and the people in all three languages and said the SC verdict had rescued the country from an impending international trap.

Most of those in new Cabinet are corrupt: SLPP

A majority of those who were appointed to the Cabinet are corrupt, UPFA MP Shehan Semasinghe said yesterday.

Prez, CC on collision course

Against the backdrop of the recent political crisis, the Constitutional Council (CC) and President Maithripala Sirisena are reported to be on a collision course over the appointments of judges to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.