Don’t reappoint Mahendran: Civil society groups tell MS, RW

Several civil society organizations including the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) met the President and the Prime Minister today and requested them not to reappoint Central Bank (CB) Governor Arjuna Mahendran until an inquiry was carried out into the CB Bond scam.  

GMOA to take legal action if SAITM graduates granted provisional registration

Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) told Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne today that it would take legal action if the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) students said to have passed the MBBS degree are granted provisional registration.

Other taxes likely to be removed except for VAT: Eran

State Enterprise Development Deputy Minister Eran Wickramaratne said today the Government was gradually removing the various taxes imposed on goods and services so that in future the taxation would be restricted to the Value Added Tax (VAT).

ETCA this year; new agreement with CHEC: PM

The Indo-Sri Lanka Economic and Technology Cooperative Agreement (ETCA) will be signed this year while a new agreement will be signed with the China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC) on the Colombo Port City, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

Will MS, RW follow Filipino Prez? Namal

UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa yesterday questioned if President Maithripala Sirisena or Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe would consider replacing the luxury vehicles for Cabinet ministers with cheaper vehicles following the footsteps of newly elected Philippines President, Rodrigo Duterte.

British lawmaker shot dead

A British member of parliament was shot dead in the street on Thursday, causing deep shock across Britain and the suspension of campaigning for next week's referendum on the country's EU membership.

Police fire warning shot; Lankans off Aceh to be escorted back

Indonesian Police has fired a warning shot into the air after a group of Sri Lankan women who have been stranded off the coast of Aceh since June 11 disembarked from their boat in defiance of orders from Indonesian authorities, the Sydney Morning Herald reported today.

Basil, S.M. Ranjith at PRECIFAC today

Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and former North-Central Province Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith have been summoned by 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 over two separate incidents.

Man, who threatened President, PM on fb, files complaint with HRC

Sugath Kumara Lakmana, the individual who was arrested on charges of threatening President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe through social media, has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission yesterday saying he was illegally arrested and detained in Malaysia.

President should consult us: Digambaram

National Workers Congress Leader and Estate Infrastructure Development Minister P Digambaram yesterday said President Maithripala Sirisena should consult government politicians representing the estate sector before giving any ministerial posts to Arumugam Thondaman who is tipped to crossover to the government.

Tomatoes at Rs.800 a kilo: officials refuse to be taken in

Officials of a Divisional Secretariat in Gampaha District had refused to pay a forged bill of Rs.800 to buy a kilo of tomatoes from a cooperative store to prepare relief food for flood victims, when the actual price of a kilo of tomatoes was Rs.200.

EU lifts ban on SL fish exports

The European Union (EU) today announced that the ban on Sri Lanka's fish Exports had been lifted, the Government Information Department said.

No dual citizenship for SL refugees in India; official

Sri Lankan refugees living in India cannot be given dual citizenship as demanded by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa because India does not recognize dual citizenship, an Indian official told the Indian Express on Wednesday.

No outright sale to China, keen on Indian investment: Govt.

Sri Lanka is keen to attract investments from Delhi for its ports and civil aviation sector much on the lines that Beijing has invested in these key sectors in the country, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Harsha De Silva has said.  

Postal strike called off

The four-day long strike launched by the Joint Postal Trade Union on Sunday (12) was called off last evening following a meeting held at the Prime Ministers’ office, Joint Postal Trade Union Convener Chinthaka Bandara said.

SLFP to request MS not to reappoint Mahendran

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Vice-President Minister Sarath Amunugama today said the party had unanimously decided to make a request to party Chairman and President Maithripala Sirisena, not to reappoint Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran.

‘Take appropriate steps to produce Thilina Gamage in Court' - AG instructs CID

The Additional Solicitor General had instructed the Criminal Investigation Department today to take appropriate steps to produce former Magistrate Thilina Gamage in the Gangodawila Magistrate's Court over the inquiry, in which he was an accused of keeping an elephant in contravention to the Public Property and Fauna and Flora Act, sources said.

Filipino Prez-elect to replace ministers’ luxury cars with Toyota Avanzas

As part of his austere style of governance, incoming Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte plans to replace luxury sedans with cheaper cars for cabinet members.

Harim appointed Minister Samaraweera’s advisor

Harim Peiris appointed as Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affair Mangala Samaraweera. He has received his official letter of appointment from Minister Samaraweera yesterday.

Anura Senanayake hospitalised

Former Western Province Senior DIG Anura Senanayake, who was arrested in connection with the death of former Havelock’s rugby captiain Wasim Thajudeen, was admitted to the Sri Jayawardanapura Hospital for medical treatment, the Prisons Department said.

MR urges more development projects with Japan

Amid a proliferation of development deals in Sri Lanka, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says his country and Japan could work on more projects together, including hospitals and highways.

Resistance to discipline Vithanage and Rambukwella from within SLC Ex-Co

Sri Lanka Cricket which is pressing for disciplinary action against Kithuruwan Vithanage and Ramith Rambukwella over their late night brawl with a group of people at a hotel in Battaramulla has received strong resistance from a group people within the cricket executive committee.   

Six JO members to crossover:Range Bandara

Six members of the Joint Opposition would crossover to the Government shortly, State Minister Palitha Range Bandara told a media briefing today.

Yoshitha gets bail in Mihindu Mawatha property case

Yoshitha Rajapaksa was today released on bail over the inquiry conducted against him under the Money Laundering Act in connection with a property at Mihindu Mawatha in Dehiwala.

15% VAT on liquor, cigarettes; removed from Healthcare

Special Projects Minister Sarath Amunugama said today the government has decided to impose the 15 per cent VAT increase on liquor and cigarettes and to remove VAT on all medical tests and dialysis.

Indonesia to allow SL asylum seekers temporarily disembark in Aceh

Indonesia will allow 44 Australian-bound asylum seekers from Sri Lanka to temporarily disembark in Aceh Besar district, Aceh, Thursday morning (16/06) for food and boat repair after they were stranded for five days at the waters off Lhoknga coast.

VAT increase: Galle traders stage protest

Many of the Shops in Galle have been closed today as a protest against the government’s move to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) to 15%.

Ten Bangladesh nationals arrested in Panadura

Ten Bangladesh nationals who were staying without valid visas were arrested in Panadura yesterday by the Panadura Division Crime Investigation Unit, Police said.

Mahendran spent 140 days abroad and only 180 days here: D.E.W

Former chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) D. E. W. Gunasekera yesterday pointed out that Central Bank (CB) Governor Arjuna Mahendran had spent 140 days abroad and only 180 days in Sri Lanka since his appointment to the top post in the Central Bank one and a half years ago.

Yala Warden's Daily Mirror Interview: Ministry to hold inquiry

Sustainable Development and Wild Life Conservation Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said he would order an inquiry into the statements made by the Warden of the Yala National Park during an interview with Daily Mirror.