GMOA to strike today over school admission issue

Government doctors would hold a token strike at main State hospitals in Kurunegala, Kandy and Matara today from 8 a.m. to noon over an anomaly in admitting Government doctors’ children to State National Schools, the GMOA said today.

Adopted SLFPers don’t know who mother is: Chandima

Several SLFP members, who used to criticise the party, really didn’t know who their real mother was, Minister Chandima Weerakkody said.

Ayurveda Department closed indefinitely

The Ayurveda Department in Nawinna was closed indefinitely following the tense situation at the premises this evening, Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister Rajitha Senaratne said today.

Uma Oya project: SC orders to compensate farmers

The Supreme Court today directed the Uva Province Director of Agriculture to make necessary measures to pay compensation to the affected farmers for their crop loss as a result of the Uma Oya Project.

What if Jan. 8 transformation did not happen, President asks

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday questioned those who criticize him and the government what would have been the situation of our country if the January 8 transformation had not taken place.

Drop in vehicle registrations

The number of vehicles registered during the first eight months of 2016 has seen a 50 per cent decline to 313,465 from the highest figure of 668,907 recorded in 2015, according to the latest data released by the Department of Motor Traffic.

Missing youth: Police admits shortcomings

The disappearance of a youth in Hambantota after he was taken in along with two others, could be a result of a shortcoming on the part of the Police, Acting Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said today.

Govt. docs to strike tomorrow over school admission issue

Government doctors would hold a token strike at main State hospitals in Kurunegala, Kandy and Matara tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon over an anomaly in admitting Government doctors’ children to State schools, the GMOA said today.

Cops involved in 50% cases of rights violation: Report

In nearly half of the cases of human rights violations against sexual and gender minorities in four countries of South Asia police are "found" to have been "involved", a report has claimed.

Chanuka Ratwatte, four others remanded

Chanuka Ratwatte and four others, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) were today remanded till September 28 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne.

Court abates case against Frm. SC Judge Abrew

The Colombo High Court today abated the case in which former Supreme Court Justice, the late Sarath de Abrew, who was indicted for sexually abusing his female servant, since the accused is no longer alive.

Dialog Axiata’s Malaysian parent to trim ownership in SL

Axiata Group Bhd., Malaysia’s biggest mobile-phone operator, is seeking to trim stakes in some of its overseas operations, including Sri Lanka, Bloomberg reported.

Chanuka Ratwatte, four others arrested

Chanuka Ratwatte and four others were arrested by the FCID this morning in connection with an alleged financial fraud of Rs. 4.6 billion at the Entrust Securities PLC.

Amended VAT Bill to be gazetted tonight or tomorrow morning

The amended Value Added Tax (VAT) Bill which includes an increase of tax on retail and wholesale outlets to Rs.50 million a year will be gazetted tonight or tomorrow morning, Cabinet spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said a short while ago.

Duminda's sister posts brother's surgery pics

Several days after Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra’s daughter MP Hirunika Premachandra posted a photo of her father, showing his gunshot wound, sister of Duminda Silva, Dilini Silva, in a copy cat move also posted 17 pictures of her brother during his numerous surgeries and treatment at the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital and Mt. Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore.

Dinesh Priyantha wins Javelin bronze at Rio Paralympics

Dinesh Priyantha Herath secured Sri Lanka’s first medal- a bronze in men’s javelin throw F46 final at the Rio Paralympics yesterday.

Wimal grilled for eight hours by FCID

National Freedom Front Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa was grilled for over eight hours today by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) for his alleged involvement in misusing a fleet of vehicles belonging to Presidential Secretariat during election campaigns.

I will also write a book on the war: SF

Field Marshal and Minister Sarath Fonseka yesterday said that he too will write a book on the war, insisting that action should be taken against those who had leaked war secrets by writing books.

Well-planned programme to be launched next year: MS

A well-planned programme for the promotion and propagation of Buddhism will be implemented next year as a priority, President Maitripala Sirisena said yesterday.

VAT threshold increased to Rs.50 Mn

The Value Added Tax (VAT) threshold on retail and wholesale outlets have been increased to Rs.50 million a year from the earlier threshold of Rs.12 million in the VAT Amendment Bill which was approved by the Cabinet yesterday.

Govt. slow against cigarette menace: GMOA

Despite President Maithripala Sirisena’s personal concern on eradication of tobacco from the country, the government is slow in reinforcing legal framework to minimize the consumption of cigarette among the citizens, Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) today said.

VAT would be only for nine months: Rajitha

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said today the Value Added Tax (VAT) would be imposed only for nine months and that the government would take steps to provide relief to people by simplifying the VAT after nine months.

Don’t unnecessarily alarm people on Constitution: Malwatu Mahanayake tells Wimal

Causing unnecessary fear among the people on the Constitutional proposals and then saying tall tales is unacceptable and unhealthy, the Siyam Nikaye Malwatta Chapter Mahanayake Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera told MP Wimal Weerawansa today.

Impose special tax of Rs.20 to cover VAT shortfall : JO

The joint opposition today asked President Maithripala Sirisena to impose a special tax of Rs.20 on a cigarette with immediate effect so that the government could earn a revenue of Rs.82 billion.

Ratnapura shooting: Premalal Jayasekera, six others indicted

Ratnapura District MP Premalal Jayasekera and six others were indicted by the Attorney General in the Ratnapura Provincial High Court on charges of killing Shantha Dodangoda and injuring two others in a shooting incident while they were decorating the venue for a propaganda rally.

Husband stabs wife; kills himself

A 54-year-old woman was stabbed to death allegedly by her husband at Kamburupitiya, Matara this afternoon, Police said.

No coal power plant in Sampur: Ministry

The Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy had decided not to go ahead with the construction of the Sampur Coal Power plant, Deputy Solicitor General Sanjaya Rajaratnam informed Court today.

Square pin plugs to be the standard: PUCSL

The use of square pin plugs will in future be the standard for Sri Lanka and as such the import and manufacture of appliances other than G-plugs commonly known as square pin plugs will be banned in future, Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) Chairman Saliya Mathew said today.

Malaysian police step up security for Sri Lankan envoy

Malaysian police have increased security measures for Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Malaysia after he was assaulted at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) earlier this month.

Missing Uppuveli kids found

Two children aged 9 and 11, who went missing last evening in Trincomalee, had been found in a train bound to Batticaloa a short while ago, after the search operations conducted by five teams deployed by the Uppuveli Police, the Police said.