MR has only 102 military personnel for his security

While claiming that 500 soldiers had not been assigned to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at all as reported, his spokesman said that Mr. Rajapaksa was in need for  500 more military personnel for his security as his life was in danger, instead of current strength of 102.

​Minor flood situation remains

A minor flood situation remained in several parts of the country with sluice gates of almost all major reservoirs opened after the water levels reached spill level.

Youth hit by train in Maradana, dies

A 20-year-old man had been knocked down and killed by a train plying from Maradana to Fort railway station last night.

Sri Lanka is committed to world peace: MS

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said Sri Lanka is committed to world peace. He expressed these views when he met a group of representatives of the Comprehensive Nuclear- Test –Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) at the President’s Official Residence.

Chennai airport resumes commercial flight operations after 4 days

Commercial flight operations resumed today at the Chennai airport that was shut on Tuesday (Dec.1) evening due to excessive water-logging. As the flood crisis in the Tamil Nadu capital eased after days of torrential rain, train services also resumed this morning after being halted for four days.

Lane laws strictly implemented on more roads

Police said today the lane law regulation which was already in effect in Colombo would be strictly implemented along Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Duplication Road and Highlevel Road from Nugegoda to Colombo from tomorrow (Dec 7).

Foreign investor may get 5,000 acres on lease in SL: FM

Land to a foreign investor up to a maximum of 5,000 acres and relax the criteria in respect of projects which are “labour intensive with the focus on job creation,” Finance Minister, Ravi Karunanayake, told The Hindu.

​SL ready to resume Port City project -China

The Sri Lankan Government has expressed its willingness to resume the suspended Colombo Port City Project, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. South Asian Division Counsellor and Director Chen Feng told Sri Lankan journalists visiting China that the Chinese Government welcomed the SL Government’s decision to resume the project.

More SriLankan flights canceled

SriLankan Airlines said more flights have been cancelled following the announcement by the Indian aviation authorities that the aerodrome of the Chennai Airport would be closed for commercial operations till December 8.

SriLankan to bring back stranded pilgrims in Bodh Gaya

SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka have arranged a special flight tomorrow to bring back a group of 120 pilgrims who were stranded in the Buddhist holy city of Bodh Gaya (Buddha Gaya) due to the floods in India, a spokesman for the SriLankan Airlines said

Polonnaruwa-Somawathiya Road closed due to floods

The Polonnaruwa-Somawathiya Road was under water and impassable since this morning due to floods at Sungavila, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.

Heavy rains exceeding 150 mm: Met Dep.

The Meteorology Department said today heavy rains exceeding 100 mm were expected at some places as the atmospheric disturbance was still persisting in the vicinity of Sri Lanka.

Ex-SEC Chairman says unable to attend FCID today

Former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nalaka Godahewa, who was summoned to the Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) today had informed that he was unable to attend the FCID today, the Police said.

Ex- SEC official remanded

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) former Deputy Director General Dhammika Manjira Perera and an agent identified as Roni Abraham who were arrested by the FCID yesterday were remanded till December 07.

MR and Ranil hold closed-door meeting

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe held a one-on-one meeting in the Prime Minister's office in the Parliamentary complex yesterday.

SL in talks with India and Pakistan to bolster military

The government is holding discussions with several countries, including India and Pakistan, to strengthen Sri Lanka's military, State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene informed Parliament yesterday.

Abrew's FR petition: Debate continues over instituting criminal proceedings

The Counsel for Justice Sarath de Abrew yesterday submitted to the Supreme Court that there was no proper investigation or no sufficient evidence against Justice Sarath de Abrew to institute criminal proceedings against him.

President misled by Ravi's 6% claim-Dullas

UPFA MP Dullas Alahapperuma yesterday said Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake had even misled President Maithripala Sirisena by making false claims about the 2016 Budget allocations.

Heated argument over sharia law in Parliament

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran was today verbally confronted by Muslim MPs in Parliament creating chaos the House when he asked whether stoning a person to death had been recommended by Islam's Shariya Law.

FCID arrests ex- SEC official over alleged fraud

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) former Deputy Director General Dhammika Manjira Perera and an agent identified as Roni Abraham were arrested by the FCID today in connection with an alleged Rs. 5 million fraud which had taken place at the SEC in 2013.

Nine women arrested for polluting Kelani River

Nine women were arrested by the Peliyagoda Police Marine Division today on charges of throwing garbage, waste water and other effluent substances into the Kelani River.

Police professionally deficient: SLHRC

In its report on the police assault on the students of the Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (HNDA) during a protest in Ward Place in October, the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC) today recommended that the police should compensate those who were injured.

Those who shout now were silent during my regime: MR

Former President and Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa who spoke in Parliament for the first time since his election as an MP said yesterday that some who allege about wrongdoings during his regime remained silent then.

Appointing Karuna as SLFP VP was a good move: President

President Maithripala Sirisena today said appointing former LTTE member Vinyagamurthi Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman as a minister and as a SLFP Vice President was the right decision.

GMOA to decide on next step after meeting Finance Minister

Even though the outcome of the meeting with the President and the Health Minister was positive, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) said today its future action would be decided based on the outcome of the next meeting with the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister between December 10 and 19.

Looking at options for SL, no formal request: IMF

Sri Lanka has not made a formal request for International Monetary Fund help but the fund's staff is looking at ways to help the island nation, Reuters reported quoting an IMF spokesman.

Ex-Narahenpita OIC arrested by BC sleuths

Former Narahenpita OIC Chief Inspector Upul Dammika Gunathilaka was arrested by Bribery Commission (BC) sleuths a short while ago in connection with a bribe of Rs.2.5 million said to have been accepted by the Crimes OIC last week, Commission’s Director General Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe said.

Grant SL citizenship to Gunaratnam: Joint Opp.

The Joint Opposition today urged the government to grant Sri Lankan citizenship to Frontline Socialist Party Central Committee member Kumar Gunaratnam.

Paranawithana is new Mass Media Dy. Minister

Local Government and Provincial Councils Deputy Minister Karunarathna Paranawithana was in sworn by President Maithripala Sirisena as Deputy Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media before today.

DNA test confirms its Thajudeen’s body

The Genetech Laboratory at Kitulwatte in Borella has confirmed that the DNA samples removed from the remains exhumed from a grave sited at the Dehiwala Jumma Mosque Burial Grounds were those of murdered rugby player Mohamed Waseem Thajudeen. .