Arrest warrant on Southern Province CM

An arrest warrant was issued on Southern Province Chief Minister Shan Wijayalal De Silva because he was not present in Court when a case against him was taken up for hearing at the Galle Magistrate’s Court today.

Those who oppose FCID have skeletons in their cupboards

Those who call for the abolition of the Financial Crimes Division (FCID) and most of those who have visited former President’s son Yoshitha in prison are ones who should be behind bars, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today.

Queen Elizabeth greets SL on Independence Day

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has extended her best wishes to the people of Sri Lanka who are celebrating the Independence Day tomorrow.

I will reassert national independence: MR

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he would not deviate from the path of reasserting national independence, ensuring the territorial integrity, restarting the stalled process of economic development and re-establishing national self respect  even if he and his entire family was imprisoned.

FCID redundant, says Lakshman Yapa

The procedures of the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) were not clear, the State Finance Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said today.  

SF joins UNF

The Democratic Party (DP) led by Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka on Wednesday joined the United National Front (UNF) after signing an MoU with the UNP- the leading party of the alliance.

Plane with hole in side makes emergency landing in Somalia

A commercial airliner made an emergency landing at Mogadishu's international airport late Tuesday after passengers heard a loud bang and a fire broke out on board, leaving a gaping hole in the fuselage, officials and witnesses said.

Traffic at Town Hall

Heavy traffic has been reported in Town Hall, Colombo 7 due to a protest launched by the Student Unity of the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL).

SL Hockey team passports impounded

The Colombo District Court issued an enjoining order preventing the National Hockey team from participating in the SA Games in India.

Token strike by Port Workers

About 12,000 port workers have launched a token strike protesting against the increase in prices inside the port, the Port Users Collective Union said.

115 migrant workers brought home

Four Sri Lankan men and 111 Sri Lankan women who were allegedly harassed by their employers in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait returned to the country today, the Foreign Employment Bureau said.

Fmr Embilipitiya ASP remanded

Former Embilipitiya Police ASP D.W.C Dharmaratna who was arrested yesterday over the death of a youth was remanded until February 17.  

Basil arrives at FCID

Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa arrived at the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) a short while ago to give a statement over allegations of financial fraud.

First sexually transmitted Zika virus reported in US

The first sexually transmitted case of the Zika virus is confirmed in Dallas, in the United States.

Sri Lankan convicted in Germany for backing LTTE

A Sri Lankan-born man received an 18-month suspended sentence in Germany on Tuesday (Feb 2) for membership of the rebel group the Tamil Tigers which Germany considers a terrorist organisation.

Justice Jayamanne sworn in as Fiji’s new HC judge

The Former Additional Solicitor General, Sarath Jayamanne has sworn in as Fiji's new High Court judge.

Dulanjalee Premadasa tells MR where to get off

Dulanjalee Premadasa, the daughter of former president R. Premadasa, in a hard hitting letter addressed to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday, said the latter should not drag her name to a case in which she was not accused of

SLFP Dy. Ministers ready to resign from Govt: Mutuhettigama

Deputy Minister Nishantha Muttuhettigama, who visited remanded Yositha Rajapaksa at the Welikada prison, said yesterday that the FCID had no legal powers and they as Deputy Ministers appointed by the SLFP were ready to resign from their portfolios if political witch hunt by the FCID was not stopped.

Only if Monks approve it: PM

The government will not proceed with the Theravada Kathikawath Bill if the monks oppose it, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told a group of monks, who met him at Temple Trees today.

I have not been invited- MR

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa said today that, though the government had finalised arrangements to hold the 68th Independence Day celebrations at the Galle Face Green, he had not yet been invited to the event.

Sushma Swaraj to visit SL on Friday

The Minister of External Affairs of India, Sushma Swaraj will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from February 5-6 for the Ninth Session of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

President gives more powers to PRECIFAC

President Maithripala Sirisena has empowered 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 obtain Information relating to bank accounts and details of asset declarations made to the Inland Revenue Department, of suspects accused of serious frauds and corruption without prior approval.

Three Bulgarians arrested in ATM scam in Galle

Three Bulgarian tourists who had illegally withdrawn money belonging to other people using forged ATM cards, were taken into custody by the Galle police this afternoon.

Refer Yoshitha's case to Court without delay: Nimal Siripala

While emphasizing the necessity to have a speedier judicial system to hear sensitive and public interest cases, SLFP ministers today urged the government to refer the charges against Yoshitha Rajapaksa to Court and to let it decide his innocence or guilt.

Singaporean nabbed with Rs.22mn in foreign and local currency

A 47-year-old Singaporean was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to smuggle Rs.22 million worth foreign and local currency to Singapore this afternoon.

Impeachment motion if NA sung in Tamil: PHU

An impeachment motion could be brought against President Maithripala Sirisena if he allows the National Anthem (NA) to be sung in Tamil violating the Constitution, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila said today.

Bodies of five missing fishermen found

The bodies of five fishermen, who went missing since last Sunday when their boat capsised after it collided with a ship while fishing in deep sea off the Galle coast have been found by the navy.

ASP to refill the swimming pool with sand

Businessman and Sri Lanka Labour Party Leader A.S.P. Liyanage said today he would refill the swimming pool at his Peacock Mansion with sea sand after the police failed to find any valuable items.

MR visits Yoshitha

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the Welikada Prison a short while ago to visit his son, Yoshitha, who is in remand over alleged financial irregularities at the CSN.  

Fmr Embilipitiya ASP arrested

The former Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of the Embilipitiya Police Station has reportedly been arrested in connection with the death of a youth in Embilipitiya.