Sangakkara joins Surrey

England’s Surrey County Cricket Club has confirmed the signing of Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara.

Video: NFF won’t join Govt. but support 100-day programme

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader and former Minister Wimal Weeranwansa said yesterday his party would not join the new government but would support its 100-day programme.

I will hand over SLFP leadership to MS today-MR

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a statement today said that he will hand over the leadership of Sri Lanka Freedom Party to President Maithripala Sirisena today.

PM assumes duties

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremeisnghe assumed duties at his office in Temple Trees this morning after a religious ceremony.

NCPC UPFA members support Maithri

All UPFA members of the North-Central Provincial Council have unanimously decided to support President Maithripala Sirisena, NCP Chief Minister S.M.Ranjith announced today.

Video: State Minister of Defence assumes duties

{jcomments off}UNP Gampaha district Parliamentarian Ruwan Wijewardene assumed duties as the State Minister for Defence at the Ministry of Defence, this morning.

Sub inspector injured after being fired at

A Police Sub inspector attached to the Padukka police station is reported to be injured after several armed men opened fire early this morning in Athurugiriya, Police said.

Suspects shot dead in Wellawaya

A 34-year-old suspect was shot dead by the police during a raid to arrest in Wellawaya last night, police said.

Orders to remove cut-outs, banners of President

Banners and cut-outs featuring President Maithripala Sirisena that had been put up in some parts of the island are to be removed  immediately , on the instructions of the presidential secretariat.

Pope tweets in Sinhala and Tamil

Pope Francis, who left for the Philippines after the successful conclusion of a two-day visit to Sri Lanka, blessed Sri Lanka in a twitter message today.

34 members give affidavits to change Central PC CM

Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa received 34 affidavits from members of the Central Provincial Council, requesting that UPFA member Thilini Bandara Tennakoon be appointed as the Chief Minister of the Province replacing the present Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake.

Austin Fernando appointed as Presidential advisor

President Maithripala Sirisena today appointed former senior civil servants Austin Fernando, Tilak Ranaviraja and W. J. S. Karunaratne as Presidential Advisors.

People want money back from Gammanpila

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) National organiser Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe today said that Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila should pay back the Rs.100 which he collected from the people.

Basil resigns as SLFP national organiser

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa today resigned from his post and notified his decision to party General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, sources close to him said.

Video: WPC disputes Uva CM appointment

The Western Provincial Council today said the appointment of UNP Provincial Councillor Harin Fernando as the new Uva Chief Minister was against the Constitution.

Video: Set up police unit to nab extortionists: LPBOA

Lanka Private Bus Owners Association (LPBOA) President Gemunu Wijeratne said today they would not allow extortionists to solicit bribes from bus operators.

Van on expressway catches fire

A van travelling on the southern expressway from Galle to Kottawa is reported to have caught fire close to the Dodangoda exit point Police said.

T’phone Nos. to report post-election violence

President Maithripala Sirisena today appointed Defence Ministry’s additional Secretary Ms. D.M.S. Jayaratne to carry out an investigation on post-election violence.

Video: I’m ‘Matara Sunil’: Ranjan

United National Party (UNP) MP Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday revealed that he was the person who made a phone call during a political programme telecast live on a private television channel under the identity ‘Matara Sunil’.

MR says ready to handover SLFP Chairmanship to Maithri

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had told party leaders of the UPFA last night that he was willing to hand over the Chairmanship of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to President Maithripala Sirisena.

Fly Dubai flight delayed

A Fly Dubai Airline flight was delayed for more than an hour because of a bird hitting theplane as it was landing at the MahindaRajapaksa Airport in Mattala.

Pope Francis leaves for Philippines

His Holiness Pope Francis left for Manila, Philippines in a Sri Lankan flight concluding a successful two-day official visit to Sri Lanka a short while ago.

Rs. 170mn loss to CPC from Sajin’s petrol station

The Petroleum Corporation has refused to issue fuel to a petrol station in Ambalangoda town which is said to have been owned by a well known politician of the former government due to his failure to pay a sum of Rs. 170 million due to the corporation.

President to meet MR today

A special meeting is to take place this afternoon between President Maithripala Sirisena and former president Mahinda Rajapakse, political sources said. They said the meeting would be held at President Sirisena’s residence on Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo.

Pope Francis meets MR and Gota

Pope Francis met former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ayoma Rajapaksa at the Vatican embassy, in Colombo, last evening, Papal spokesman Fr. Fedrico Lombade said.

Fresh look at UNHRC probe

In its handling of the country’s foreign policy, the new Government has decided to look afresh at the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL), a deputy minister said yesterday.

Pope visits Mahabodhi Temple in Maradana

Pope Francis made a surprise visit to the Mahabodhi Temple in Maradana late this evening and viewed the sacred relics of the Buddha's disciples, Papal spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi said today

Video: Mangala complains to CID on alleged attempt to thwart democracy

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera lodged a complaint with the CID this afternoon, requesting an immediate investigation into an alleged conspiracy that was hatched at Temple Trees, which, if successful would have dealt a hammer blow to Sri Lanka’s democracy.

​SL processes the release of Indian fishermen-FM

Video: Truck set on fire: Man burnt

Police Spokesman Ajith Rohana said investigations were underway into an incident where a truck parked outside a house at Hakuruwela in Weeraketiya had been set on fire by a group of people and killing a mentally retarded person who was sleeping inside the vehicle.