MR’s henchmen to blame for his behaviour: Rosy

Ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa turning aggressive cannot be blamed for the incident at the Akuressa rally because those who pushed him to make a comeback have to be blamed for such behavior, State Minister for Child and Women’s Affairs, Rosy Senanayake said today.

Dinithi barred from going abroad

Dinithi Aloka Ranasinghe -- the student alleged to have been abducted and held in custody by Minister Rajitha Senaratne’s son Eksath -- has been prevented from travelling abroad on an order by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya.

21 hour water cut in Colombo

A 21-hour water cut will be imposed in some parts of Colombo from 08.00 a.m. tomorrow to 05.00 a.m. on Sunday (26) because of a compulsory repair work in the Kalatuwawa water treatment plant, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said.

Five accused sentenced to death

Five accused found guilty of the charge of clubbing a man to death at Great Western Estate in Lindula in 2000 were sentenced to death by Nuwara Eliya High Court Judge Lalith Ekanayake today.

Sajin’s FR petition rejected

The Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by former UPFA MP Sajin de Vass Gunawardena challenging his arrest was rejected by the Supreme Court today.

Two Lankan refugees killed in Australia

Two Sri Lankan refugees in Australia were killed when their car slammed into a tree after losing control on Trower Road in Nakura on Wednesday, ABC news reported.

Vehicle seized at K’gollewa doesn’t belong to Army

The vehicle, with an army number plate, seized today at Kebithigollewa does not belong to the army and the number plate was a fake, the Army said.   

Run around S’wewa stadium instead of parliament: Ranil

Former MPs who wish to seize the Mace and run around parliament can do so at the Sooriyawewa Cricket Stadium in Hambantota instead, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told those who had gathered for an election rally held in Bandaragama on Thursday.

SL fishermen warn India not to use banned nets

Sri Lankan fishermen have reportedly warned their Indian counterparts that they would be attacked if they continued using banned fishing nets and damaged nets anchored in the Lankan Sea, the PTI reported.

Janaka Bandara Tennakoon resigns

Provincial Councils and Regional Development Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon has sent his resignation letter to President Maithripala Sirisena today.

CHEC rejects reports of funding SL politicians

The China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd (CHEC) on Thursday rejected reports that it had offered financial assistance to any politician during Sri Lanka's January presidential elections.

Janaka Bandara Tennakoon to resign today

Provincial Councils and Regional Development Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon is to resign today, sources said yesterday.

Video: Politicians misusing Mirihana incident: ‘Api Ranaviruwo'

An organization calling itself 'Api Ranaviruwo' yesterday that the recent incident involving the arrest of three army soldiers in Mirihana was been used by some politicians to gain a political advantage in the run up to the polls.

Controversial LPG tanker 'Maria' returns

'Maria,' a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker which reached the Sri Lankan waters in the last week of June, had returned to the Litro Gas private terminal and has been carrying out operations for the last three days, sources reported.

Govt. plans to privatise Litro gas-Bandula

Former UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardane said today that the government had given the green light to privatise state owned Litro Gas Lanka Ltd by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shell Gas Lanka Ltd.

Video: More legal teeth to probe financial crimes: Rajitha

The UNP- led alliance today pledged to prioritize the enactment of legislation to deal with those involved in financial crimes and other wrongdoings under the regime of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, if it was elected to office.

Video: Ranil wants report on alleged SL combatant

Cabinet spokesperson and Minister Rajitha Senaratne announcing the Cabinet decisions said that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had requested the IGP to investigate the incident and close associates of the deceased involved the recent Syria attack and submit a report to him.

GS says drunken man was the culprit

A Grama Seva Niladhari caught in the Akuressa election rally incident involving former President and Kurunegala district UPFA candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa, said today a drunken person who was behind him had grabbed the hand of Mr. Rajapaksa.

Video: Sujeewa had to withdraw enjoining order: DEW

Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) D.E.W. Gunasekera said today that the Deputy Justice Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe had to withdraw the enjoining order that prevented the publication or circulation of the COPE subcommittee draft report on the sale of Central Bank Bonds in fear of the statement made by Prof. G.L. Peiris recently.

Video: UNFGG manifesto pledges 60-month dev. plan

The United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG) which launched its manifesto in Colombo today pledged more amendments to the 19th Amendment and rename the Constitutional Council set up under this legislation as the State Assembly.

Video: ​I just pushed him away-MR

Commenting on the Akuressa incident where former President Mahinda Rajapaksa seemed to be moving towards a supporter angrily, the ex-president said that he just pushed away an individual, a supporter of SLFP, who grasped his finger very hard.

​Two SL refugees killed in TN

Two Sri Lankan refugees were killed in a road accident near Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu in the small hours of Wednesday.

Enjoining order on COPE report dissolved

The enjoining order that prevented the publication or circulation of the COPE subcommittee draft report on the sale of Central Bank bonds has been dissolved by Colombo district court following a request made by the petitioner Sujeewa Senasinghe.  

Soon-to-be-married Lankan dies in car accident

A Sri Lankan youth, who was driving his own vehicle died instantly in an accident which occurred in Riyadhl on Sunday. The deceased, Riswan Mohamed Hilmy, 28, from Colombo, had been working for Splash as a salesman.

JVP to abolish executive presidency

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), in its election manifesto titled "Accord of Conscientiousness", has said it would abolish the executive presidency and have a parliamentary system.

Five foreign missions get new ambassadors

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) today announced the appointment of new ambassadors for five countries - France, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Kuwait and Seychelles.

Six Chinese fined for begging

Six Chinese who pleaded guilty to the charges of begging near the Fort Railway Station and of obstructing the people there were fined Rs.100 each by the Colombo Fort Magistrate.

Some UPFA Ministers to resign soon

The cabinet ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers loyal to ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa are expected to submit their resignation to President Maithripala Sirisena soon, a Minister said today.

Mirihana incident had no political links: Army

The arrest of three Army personnel armed with a weapon while travelling in a white van at Mirihana had no political links and in no way poses a threat to any individual, Military Spokesman Jayanath Jayaweera said today.

Assassination attempt on Gota; suspect sentenced

A man, who was found guilty of having concealed information of an attempt to assassinate former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa by the LTTE, was sentenced to six months imprisonment by Colombo High Court Judge Lalith Jayasuriya today.