Taranjit Singh Sandhu new Indian HC to SL

The Indian Government has appointed Taranjit Singh Sandhu as the next High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Financial Express reported on Thursday.  

Basil at PRECIFAC

Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa arrived at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) to make a statement on the misuse Air Force flights.

Customs TU action called off

The trade union action launched by unions at the Sri Lanka Customs Department against the proposed Custom Ordinance was called off a short while ago.

18 Lankans in India bailed over human trafficking

Eighteen Sri Lankans, arrested in June in Kanyakumari District on the charge of embarking on an "illegal" voyage to Australia, were granted interim bail by the Madras High Court bench in Madurai on Thursday.

Lankan in Kuwait arrested over ‘Inappropriate touch’

A Sri Lankan expatriate in Kuwait was arrested for touching a Kuwaiti woman inappropriately even though he claimed that he was just giving her a handshake as a way of greeting her, Arab Times reported on Thursday.

PRECIFAC concludes probe into H’tota port opening ceremony

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) today concluded its inquiry into the misappropriation of government funds at the opening ceremony of the Hambantota port.

SLC reverse controversial clause after COPE probe

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday decided to reverse a controversial clause in the Articles of Association of Cricket Aid (Guarantee) Ltd giving its signatories life-membership of this newly-formed charity arm of SLC.

Techno City will spearhead huge increase in GDP: Ranawaka

Innovative technology was the only way to increase GDP, and the Techno City, which was to be built soon at a cost of nearly Rs. 20 billion, would play a major role in achieving this goal, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka emphasized.

PM optimistic more Lankan experts will return

A number of Sri Lankan experts, including academics and professionals, who left the country had returned recently and more experts would hopefully follow them in the near future, said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday.

Didn't write off any amount owed by Avant Garde: Ruwan

The Ministry of Defense did not decide to write off Rs 200 million out of the total of Rs. 853 million which the Avant Garde Company owed Rakna Lanka (which is owned by the ministry), State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene told Parliament yesterday.

Govt. loses Rs.1bn a day due to high-handed attitude: JO

The Government's high-handed attitude had triggered trade union action crippling the activities of three main revenue-collection institutions causing a loss of one billion rupees a day, the joint opposition said today.

US confident SL will fulfill int’l commitments

US Secretary of State John Kerry, who met with President Maithripala Sirisena in New York, US, had expressed confidence that the Sri Lankan Government will fulfill its international commitments.  

SAITM says…

SAITM Chairman Dr. Neville Fernando said today that their records do not reveal that any specimen of the late Wasim Thajudeen had been sent to the institution.

Egypt migrant boat capsize: Hundreds feared dead

Survivors from a boat which capsized off the Egyptian coast on Wednesday have told the BBC that hundreds of people may have drowned.

New venue for ID office

Department for Registrations of Persons would be shifted to Suhurupuraya, Battaramulla on September 27, sources said. They said the department would be closed until September 27.

EU top court advised to drop LTTE from terror list

An adviser to the European Union’s top court said Thursday Hamas and the Tamil Tigers should be taken off the EU’s terror list, because the bloc’s governments failed to present sufficient evidence that the groups participated in terrorist attacks.

Speaker cautions MPs about name-calling

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today cautioned MPs both in the Government and in the Opposition about name-calling during proceedings.

Thirty Sri Lankan deportees arrive from Japan

Thirty Sri Lankans, who were deported from Japan on charges of overstaying their visas, arrived in Sri Lanka a short while ago escorted by sixty seven Japanese security officers, sources said

Duminda appeals against his death sentence

Duminda Silva, convicted on charges of murdering Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and sentenced to death, today filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the sentence imposed by the High Court, President's Counsel Anil Silva, who filed the application on behalf of the convict, told Daily Mirror.

Aluthgamage re-remanded

Mahindananda Aluthgamage, who was arrested by the CID over money laundering charges for allegedly purchasing a property worth Rs. 27 million in Colombo 7, was today ordered to be re-remanded till September 27 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya.

Ramith on bail; to appear before court on Tuesday

Sri Lankan cricketer Ramith Rambukkwella, who was arrested early today over a motor accident, had been released on police-bail a short while ago, the Police said.

NBT in accordance with Constitution: SC

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya informed Parliament a while ago that the Supreme Court had determined that the Nation Building Tax (NTB) Amendment Bill was in accordance with the Constitution.  

Yoshitha wants to go to Australia for surgery

The request made by Yoshitha Rajapaksa in High Court seeking court permission to travel abroad for a medical treatment was fixed for consideration on September 28 by the Colombo High Court Judge A.A.R. Heiyanthuduwa today.

Rumpus in Parliament; SF shows photo of Avant Garde chief with minister

Minister of Regional Development Sarath Fonseka caused a rumpus in Parliament yesterday by showing a photograph of a government minister and Avant Garde Chief Nissanka Senadhipathi whom he accused of corruption, and also by alleging that a former top state official was behind the killing of Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunge.

We will strengthen reconciliation to avoid another war: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said steps would be taken to strengthen the reconciliation process to avoid the re-occurrence of a war in Sri Lanka.

Video: Ramith arrested over accident

Sri Lankan cricketer Ramith Rambukkwella had been arrested over a motor accident on the Independence Avenue in Colombo early this morning, the Police said.

Kiriella's comments on CB Bond sale suspicious: Dissanayake

Continuous remarks made by Minister Lakshman Kiriella with regard to the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) proceedings into the Central Bank Bond sale scam, raises the question on whether he received a ‘commission’ from those who were involved in it, COPE member and MP Weerakumara Dissanayake charged yesterday (21).

No report of Independent Comm. in Parliament: Dinesh

Joint Opposition's parliamentary group leader Dinesh Gunawardane said in Parliament yesterday that though one year had elapsed after the establishment of independent commissions, no report had been submitted to the House.

GMOA to write to President about Akila

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said they would hand over a confidential document to President Maithripala Sirisena in order to conduct investigations on the reprehensible enrolment of students by Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam to popular schools.

SL an example to other countries: Obama

US President Barack Obama had told President Maithripala Sirisena that Sri Lanka was at a transformational stage and that it was an example to other countries.