PM proposes to increase VAT to 15%

Blaming the ‘Rajapaksa Regime’ of putting the country into a debt trap of nine trillion rupees Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe making a special statement in Parliament today said the government would increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) to 15 per cent, re-introduce capital gains tax and introduce several other tax reforms to face the challenges ahead.

Change in hot weather likely

A slight change is expected in the prevailing hot weather being experienced in several parts of the country, the Meteorology Department said.

Yoshitha's bail revision: Order fixed for March 14

The order on the bail revision applications filed on behalf of Yoshitha Rajapaksa and four others was fixed for March 14 by Colombo High Court Judge A.A.R. Heiyanthuduwa today.

Pakistan President Mamnoon arrives

Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake today on an official visit to Sri Lanka.  

Salley resigns from CPC

Central Provincial Council member Azath Salley has resigned from the CPC today.

Thai Deputy PM arrives in SL

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake today on a five-day official visit to Sri Lanka.  

Mathews appointed captain for WT20

Angelo Mathews has been appointed as the Captain for the ICC WT20 series while Dinesh Chandimal has been appointed as the Vice Captain by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) today.

All Share Price Index falls below 6000

Colombo Stock Exchange’s main index-All Share Price Index (ASI)-fell below 6, 000 points at 10.45 a.m. today.

D.V. Upul surrenders

Southern Province Fisheries Minister D. V. Upul surrendered to the Tissamaharama Police today in connection with assaulting a resident of Lunugamvehera at the Debarwewa President’s College premises on Saturday.

Duminda justifies Rs.21mn rental for ministry

Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake said today the monthly rental of Rs. 21 million inclusive of the rental for a separate vehicle park for the ministry at a new building in Rajagiriya was not that excessive compared to the rentals of the ministries at the World Trade Centre (WTC).  

Welikada shooting: Suspect arrested

A 26-year-old man was arrested last night in connection with the shooting incident where a pregnant woman was injured outside the Welikada prison last week.

SL refugee’s body cremated

Body of the Sri Lankan refugee, S. Ravindran (48), who committed suicide near the refugee camp at Uchapatti on Sunday, was cremated on Monday after post-mortem.

Child likely to be admitted to Ananda

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed the Education Ministry to make sure that the child, who was denied school admission after rumours that he had contracted HIV, to be admitted to either Ananda Collge in Colombo or Kingswood College in Kandy.

SLC sacks selectors; Sanga in new Committee

Sri Lanka’s team for the T20 World Cup was shrouded in uncertainty just a day before it was to leave for India after the committee of selectors was unexpectedly disbanded for not complying with SLC’s selection policy on Monday night and new members appointed.   

Army to take action against underworld activities

In the wake of increase in violent, the Army is working out measures to crackdown underworld criminals in collaboration with the police, Military Spokesman Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera said.

HIV rumor: Akila says child will be admitted to new school

Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today the Government had decided to provide a school for the six-year-old boy, who was deprived of a school over rumours that he was HIV infected, and to meet his expenses throughout his schooling.

I will inject myself with the blood of the child: Ranjan

He would have injected himself the blood sample of the child, who had been rumoured to have congenital HIV/AIDS, Social Empowerment and Welfare Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said today.

MS mistakenly addressed as MR

Secretary to the Agriculture Ministry B. Wijerathne today mistakenly addressed President Maithripala Sirisena as former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in his welcome address at the ‘Wasa Wisa Nethi Jathika Pola’ National Exhibition at BMICH.

TPA seeks non-territoria council for Tamils outside NE

The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), a political party representing Tamils of the Indian origins, has proposed the setting up of a non-territorial council with legislative powers to fulfill the aspirations of the Tamil people living outside the North and the East.

Ranawaka was at home; not in vehicle: JHU

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said today its General Secretary, and Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka was not in his vehicle at the time of the Rajagiriya accident.

Indian tribunal revokes ban on Lankan docu-drama

Sri Lankan film Muttrupulliya, a docu-drama that portrays the life of the Tamil ethnic population in post-war, has won its appeal with the Indian Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in Chennai refused to certify it.  

Two arrested with gold worth Rs. 34.5 mn in Jaffna

Two persons were arrested by the Navy when they attempted to smuggle out 6.94 Kg of gold worth Rs. 34.5 million to India yesterday at Madugal, Jaffna.

Ray Tomlinson, email inventor dies aged 74

Ray Tomlinson, the inventor of email and the man who picked the @ symbol for addresses, has died aged 74.

Malinga requests to step down as WT20 captain

Lasith Malinga has requested Sri Lanka cricket allow him to step down as captain for the WT20 series citing knee injuries.

Carrots have been dangled

While questioning how the statements of the youth into the Rajagiriya accident were changed after four days later from the first statement, the Lawyers Collective member Namal Rajapaksha said some politicians have attempted to gain political mileage by bribing these youth.

Gammanpila says Indian High Commissioner should be removed

Opposition MP and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya general secretary, Udaya Gammanpila yesterday asked President Maithripala Sirisena to request the Indian government to recall its High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Y.K. Sinha, for what he called 'interference in domestic affairs.'

Former US First Lady Nancy Reagan dies at 94

Nancy Reagan, the former actress who was fiercely protective of husband Ronald Reagan through a Hollywood career, eight years in the White House, an assassination attempt and Alzheimer’s disease, died Sunday at age 94, the Reagan library said.

Independence Square /Lewd behavior not allowed: Navinna

Cultural Affairs Minister S.B. Navinna said lewd behaviour was not allowed in and around Independence Square in Colombo because it was a public place.

‘Occupy the Square’ against removal of couple

A large gathering today staged a protest at the Independence Square in Colombo, against firm action taken by two security guards to evacuate a couple from the premises.

HIV rumor: CTU asks Akila to be more sensitive

Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) today condemned Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam’s statement, where he called for the separation of the child in Kuliyapitiya from his mother, after being denied a school due to rumours of his mother being HIV positive.