Govt. has sold SLIIT : Johnston

Former minister Johnston Fernando today alleged that the current government had sold the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) which was worth about Rs. 10 billion for a mere Rs.400 million without calling for tenders or without Cabinet approval.

Stay strong- Maithri to Kusal Janith

President Maithripala Sirisena had telephoned cricketer Kusal Janith Perera who is suspended by the International Cricket Council over dope charges, and had encouraged him to stay strong and face the future with courage.

Parliament sitting suspended for ten minutes

Parliamentary sessions were thrown into chaos and on the verge of fisticuffs with some opposition MPs attempting to assault government MP Mujibur Rahaman when he made a statement on the killing of rugby player Waseem Thajudeen.

SL in Group A for World T20 2016

Sri Lanka were drawn in Group A for the World T20 2016 alongside England, West Indies, South Africa and a fifth team which will be determined in the first round of the tournament., the ICC announced today.

Sri Lanka clears the decks for port city project

Sri Lankan government has cleared the decks for the controversial Colombo Port City project to resume, Finance Minister has told the South China Morning Post.

Kumar Gunaratnam further remanded

Frontline Socialist Party's polit-bureau member Kumar Gunaratnam was further remanded till December 18 by the Kegalle Magistrate’s Court today.

FCID quizzes Johnston, Cabraal

Former Minister Johnston Fernando and former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal were summoned to the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) this morning to record statements on two different cases.

LG Elections before Sinhala Tamil New Year: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today assured Parliament that elections for Local Government bodies would be held before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

MKDS gets three months leave

Parliament today approved three months leave for Lands Minister M.K.D.S. Gunawardane who is undergoing treatment in Singapore. Leave will come into effect from today.

Increased emission test fee on buses suspended

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has agreed to suspend the emission test fee which was increased from the budget on buses, Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) president Gemunu Wijeratne said.

Ex- Narahenpita OIC released on bail

Former Narahenpita OIC who was arrested in connection with a bribe of Rs.2.5 million said to have been accepted by the Crimes OIC was released on bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapititya today.

New fuel price mechanism in the offing

A retail price mechanism for fuel will be introduced during the first quarter of 2016, Petroleum Minister Chandima Weerakkody told Parliament yesterday.

Bill to make private sector pay hike compulsory

Legislation will be introduced soon to make the private sector salary increment compulsory, Labour Relations Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne told Parliament yesterday.

2 Lankans held with fake passport in Kolkata

Two Sri Lankans, and one Indian were arrested this morning at Netaji Subhas Chandra (NSC) Bose International airport, Kolkata in India for allegedly trying to leave the country with fake Indian passport.

Army is not there to provide protection to MPs: Ruwan

Stating that the government had taken a decision to stop providing army security to individuals, State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardane today said that the army was not there to protect Parliamentarians, but to protect the nation.

FCID visits D.A. Rajapaksa Museum

Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) officials today visited the D. A. Rajapaksa Museum in Weeraketiya to investigate the misuse of state funds amounting to Rs.90 million for setting up the museum.

SLC elections: Dayasiri inquires into objections against candidates

The Minister of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekera conducted an inquiry today into some of the objections made against candidates contesting the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) elections next month.

Update: One killed, 27 injured in bus-lorry collision

One person was killed and 27 others sustained injuries when a CTB bus collided head on with a lorry near the Gal Odaya Bridge on Mahaoya Road in Padiyathalawa a short while ago, Police said.

SL to sign Convention against Enforced Disappearances

Sri Lanka has signed the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances, the Foreign Ministry said.

Inspector suspended over HNDA attack

An Inspector attached to the Kirulapone Police Station who was found guilty for baton charging a female HNDA student at a protest held in Town Hall on October 29th was interdicted with immediate effect.

GMOA denounces Ranil’s statement

The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) today condemned the statement made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in parliament about the GMOA and its president Dr. Anurudda Padeniya and said a decision would be taken at Sunday's Central Committee meeting with regard to their future course of action.

Avant Garde pay list to be out soon: Rajitha

Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake would reveal the list of persons, who had accepted money from the Avant Garde Security Service Company soon, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.

Salman Khan acquitted of all charges in hit-and-run case

The Mumbai High Court has overturned Bollywood star Salman Khan's conviction for a 2002 hit-and-run case, BBC news reported.

Road closed in Fort

The road from the Ceramic Junction towards the NSA Roundabout in Colombo had been closed temporarily because of a protest march, the Police said.

Vass appeals over death sentence

Former DIG Vass Gunawardena, his son and four others filed petition before Supreme Court challenging the death sentence served on them in Mohammed Shiyam murder case.

Ind-Pak series in SL likely to be called off

The eagerly anticipated cricket series between India and Pakistan is on the verge of being called off.

Heavy traffic in Town Hall

Heavy traffic was reported in the Town Hall area because of a protest carrying out by the Engineering Faculty students of the Eastern University outside the University Grants Commission (UGC) in Colombo 7.

Thajudeen case: court wants report on CCTV footage within 14 days

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nihantha peiris today ordered the Colombo University to produce a report on the alleged CCTV footage connected to the death of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen within 14 days.

Texas-based TPG buys 28% of Asiri shares

Texas-based global investment giant, TPG, one of the world's largest private equity (PE) funds, has bought 28 percent of the shares of Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC in a transaction of over Rs. 7.5 billion this morning from Actis Investment Holdings SL Limited.

Hudson Samarasinghe at PRECIFAC

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) a short while ago to recorded a statement from former SLBC Chairman Hudson Samarasinghe over an alleged financial irregularity.