Cases against cops annulled if not probed within six months

Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera said that a system will be formulated to automatically cancel the cases against police officers if the charge sheets against them are not completed within six months.

Strict surveillance causes traffic at Welipenna interchange

Heavy traffic has been reported at the Welipenna interchange on the Southern Expressway towards Galle, police said.

British MP Sir David Amess killing was terrorism, police say

The killing of British Conservative MP Sir David Amess is being treated as a terrorist incident by police.

Russian submarines and warship dock in Colombo

Two Russian submarines and a navy warship arrived at the Colombo Port, the navy said.

Govt. rules out talks with banned diaspora

The Government has ruled out talks with banned Tamil diaspora groups but will instead look at engaging with others.

SJB Chairman Sarath Fonseka pledges to defeat government

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Chairman Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka yesterday pledged to build up a giant political force to defeat the government and called for people’s support for the same.

Govt. urged to improve social security for employees and employers

As the COVID-19 pandemic delivered a massive hit on the local labour market, the government going forward should urgently look at improving and expanding access to social security for employees and employers, the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) said.

I’m not here to entertain anyone’s personal satisfaction or arrogance – Namal Rajapaksa

Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa claimed that he would not be bullied into selecting players to fulfil personal satisfactions and arrogance following the Daily Mirror article on Friday (15) titled ‘SLR Made to look like Puppets.’

US to lift travel ban on Nov. 8 for those fully vaccinated

The US has announced that it will reopen its borders to fully vaccinated travellers from 8 November.

Dairy farmers call for Rs.120 price hike for 1 Lt. milk: Federation

The All Ceylon Dairy Farmers’ Federation is inrequesting a minimum of Rs.120 price hike for one litre of milk, National Centre for the Protection of Dairy Farmers Susantha Kumara Navaratne said.

Health guidelines to be followed from Oct. 16 -31 issued

The Health Ministry today issued a new set of guidelines to be followed by the public from October 16 to 31.

Sharp increase in post-Covid syndrome among children: Medical specialist

A noticeable increase in the cases of post-Covid syndrome called “Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome in children’ were reported among children during the last couple of weeks, a medical specialist said today.

Writ petition challenging AG’s decision to withdraw indictments against Karannagoda fixed for support

A writ petition filed by parents of the youths who went missing in 2008 seeking an order quashing the decision of the Attorney General to withdraw the indictment filed against Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda was today fixed for support by Court of Appeal.

Basil released from GI pipes case after AG’s decision to withdraw indictment

The Colombo High Court today ordered to release Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and former Director General of Divi Neguma Department Kithsiri Ranawaka from a case filed against them for allegedly misappropriating Rs.36.5 million of funds belonging to Divi Neguma Department to purchase GI pipes.

Inter-provincial travel restrictions extended till Oct. 21

The Government has decided to strictly enforce inter-provincial travel restrictions that are current in effect until October 21, the Presidential Media Division (PMD) said.

Reveal secret deal with New Fortress Energy: JVP urges Govt.

Claiming that the Kerawalapitiya Power plant and the contract to supply LNG to the country’s power plants have been secretly handed over to New Fortress Energy company which was running into bankruptcy, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today urged the Government to reveal the agreement to the country.

Writ petition against awarding supply of security stickers to Indian Company: Notices issued on respondents

The Court of Appeal has issued notices on respondents including the Minister of Finance returnable for February 7 in connection with a writ petition has filed seeking an order quashing the award of supply of security stickers to an Indian security printing company by the Excise department.

IGP tells no sufficient evidence against HC Judge Gihan Pilapitiya

The Inspector General of Police has informed Court of Appeal that investigations carried out against High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya had not revealed sufficient evidence regarding the controversial telephone conversations with former Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake.

MILCO increases Highland milk powder prices

The price of a 400 gram pouch of Highland milk powder has been increased by Rs. 90 and a 1 kg pouch has been increased by Rs. 225, state-run dairy producer MILCO (Pvt) Limited confirmed this.

A/L students get Pfizer as pilot project starts from Colombo

The pilot project to administer the Pfizer vaccine to students sitting for the A/L Examination 2021 commenced in the Colombo District today.

India to allow foreign tourists after 19 months

India is set to reopen its borders to overseas travellers as it relaxes Covid-related restrictions amid a drop in daily infections.

Increased demand for kerosene stoves in Pettah: Traders’

There is an acute scarcity of kerosene cookers in the Pettah market due to the sudden and colossal price increase of cooking gas, the Pettah United National Association of Self-Employed Traders President Charles Pradeep said.

UNP will continue to consult national matters with Buddhist clergy: Ruwan

UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene, General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara with Venerable Abanpola Gnanaloka Thera at the launch of the UNP affiliated Buddhist Organisation at Sirikotha.

Pfizer booster shots for all before March

The Health Ministry has acquired the needed doses of the Pfizer vaccine to complete administering a booster shot to all those above the age of 20 years by March, a senior health official told Daily Mirror yesterday.

Vet. student batch suspended for ragging, keeping COVID students captive in campus

A batch consisting more than 70 students attached to the Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science Faculty of the Peradeniya University were suspended for ragging their fellow students who had contracted Covid virus, a senior official of the university said.

Sports Ministry’s Self-Serving Manual of Rugby - SLR Made to look like Puppets!

Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) on Wednesday made a haughty announcement that Kandy players would be included in the final pool subject to the condition test supervised by K. Kumara, based on which the Kandy players including Danush Dayan continued to work hard not knowing they are about to be stabbed in the back once more by SLR and the Ministry of Sports.

New Circular on issuing permits for metals, sand, soil, gravel and clay

A new Circular will be issued to give effect to the process of issuance of permits for mining, transportation and trade of metals, sand, soil, gravel and clay, the Presidential Media Division (PMD) said.

Prevailing restrictions to be reviewed tomorrow

The restrictions that are in effect at present will be reviewed at the COVID-19 Task Force meeting to be convened tomorrow (15), Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardane said.

205 rounds of ammo found at 5-storey building in Colombo

Police have found 205 live bullets hidden at a 5-storey building in Bristol Street, Colombo.

21 more die of COVID-19

A total of 21 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (13) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 13,429.