Worker error caused power blackout: Interim Report

A mistake made by a worker of the Ceylon Electricity Board was responsible for the recent countrywide power outage which occurred on August 17, Co-Cabinet Spokespersons and Minister Udaya Gammanpila said.

Three flyovers to be constructed over Slave Island Railway Station

The Cabinet of Ministers today approved the proposal to construct three flyovers above railway lines across Uttarananda Mawatha and Judge Akbar Mawatha close to the Slave Island Railway Station.

Heated arguments over inclusion of Wigneswaran’s statement in Hansard

Heated arguments erupted in the House today over the inclusion of the statement made by Tamil People’s National Alliance MP C.V. Wigneswaran in the Hansard despite requests made by the Opposition to expunge it.

Matale Mayor Daljith Aluvihare suspended with immediate effect

Matale Mayor Daljith Nandalal Aluvihare has been temporarily suspended with immediate effect by Central Province Governor Lalith U. Gamage.

Ruwan willing to accept party leadership

UNP General Secretary and former State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene said that party sympathisers were requesting him to accept the party leadership and that he was prepared to do so and lead the party to victory in the future if they had confidence in him.

13 Chinese nationals nabbed for over staying visa

Thirteen Chinese nationals including nine women had been arrested in a lounge at Mount Lavinia last night by the Special Task Force (STF) officers for overstaying and violating visa regulations the Police said.

School uniform voucher validity period extended

The Education Ministry has announced that the validity period of the school uniforms vouchers for grade one students, which were scheduled to expire on August 31, has been extended until September 30.

Parliament debates VOA today

Parliament will take up the two day debate on Rs.1.6 trillion Vote On Account (VOA) today, which is expected to go on from 9.30a.m. to 6.30p.m. sans a lunch break on both days.

Parliament Public Gallery to remain closed

The Public Gallery of Parliament which was closed due to COVID-19 pandemic, will remain closed until further notice, Parliament sources said.

SJB to launch common protest against repealing 19A to Constitution

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is to launch a common struggle of civil organizations and political parties against the repealing of 19th Amendment to the Constitution, its seniors announced yesterday.

New UNP leader to be from WC, Executive Council

The future leader of the United National Party has to be a member of either the party’s Working Committee or the Executive Council, party members were informed when the Working Committee met on Tuesday night to discuss the leadership issue, the Daily Mirror learns.

SIS informed NSC on Islamic extremism in former Prez’s presence

Former President Maithripala Sirisena would have been more responsible than other officials if necessary action had not been taken by him on the issue of Islamist extremism and other related matters reported at the National Security Council meetings, responding to a question raised by Counsel Dilshan Jayasuriya, former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena yesterday informed PCoI probing the Easter Sunday attacks.

Maithri left hanging as no decision on ’senior position’ post

No decision has been taken as yet to offer a ’senior position’ post to former President Maithripala Sirisena in the SLPP government although it was earlier reported that he had asked for a post in par to a deputy prime ministerial position once the new 20th Amendment is brought in.

Hot weather to continue till mid-September: Met Dept.

The prevailing hot weather condition in several areas in the Island would continue until mid-September, Director General of the Department of Meteorology Athula Karunanayake said

Negligence by Nuwara Eliya police helped Zahran, NTJ members flee: Witness

The failure of the Nuwara Eliya Police to find anything suspicious from a search operation carried out on May 8, 2018 at a lodge where National Thawheed Jama’at (NTJ) Leader Zahran Hashim was operating a training camp, enabled Zahran and the NTJ associates to escape from the Police, it was informed yesterday at the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks.

Airport public viewing area open for public

Public Viewing Area at the Bandaranaike International Airport was declared opened yesterday by the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited Chairman Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) G.A. Chandrasiri.

Over 7,000 persons in quarantine centers; 32,816 complete quarantine

At least 7,058 persons are currently under quarantine at 65 quarantine centres in the country, National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Head Army Commander Shavendra Silva said.

Karu claims to be a firm UNPer

Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today denounced the claims made by some sections in the UNP that he is not a member of a party and stressed that he had obtained the membership for the year 2020.

Construction of Meerigama-Kadawatha expressway to go ahead

The government made the advance payment for the commencement of construction of the Meerigama-Kadawatha stretch of the central expressway, a statement said today.

Committee report presented to Cabinet

Power Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said the report which was handed over to him by the nine-member committee appointed to investigate the sudden countrywide power outage, was submitted to the Cabinet today.

9-hour long statement recorded from Maithri

A nine-hour long statement was recorded from former President Maithripala Sirisena by the officers from the Police Unit of the Presidential Commission probing Easter Sunday attacks.

Eradicating major crimes successful: Maj. Gen. Gunaratne

Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Kamal Gunaratne said today that they were successful in eradicating organized crimes, narcotic waves, extortion and underworld activities in the country.

Pramitha submits ’Minimum Age of Marriage’ Bill

Matale District SLPP MP Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon today handed over the first private member Bill in 9th Parliament to Parliament Secretary General Dhammika Dassanayake to set the minimum age of marriage of Sri Lankan Children at 18.

Prez reveals plans to promote Kitul & Palmyra as main export crops

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa revealed his intention to develop Kitul (Fishtail Palms) and Palmyra Palms plantation as main export crops of Sri Lanka in order to open a new avenue of foreign exchange earning, the President’s Media Division said.

Susil appointed Education Reforms State Minister

SLPP MP Susil Premajayantha was appointed as the State Minister of Education Reforms, Open Universities and Distance Learning Promotion by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today.

SI arrested for attempting to solicit sexual bribe

A Sub Inspector attached to the Horana Police Station was arrested at Nambapana in Ingiriya by the Bribery Commission officials for attempting to solicit a sexual bribe from a woman.

Angoda Lokka’s accomplice arrested with 42kg of heroin, firearms

An accomplice of underworld figure ’Angoda Lokka’ had been arrested with 42 kgs of heroin, three T-56 weapons, 170 rounds of ammunition and a 9mm pistol at Ambatale.

No postponement but slight delay in repatriation flights: FM

There is no postponement, but a slight delay in the repatriation flights scheduled for Sri Lankan migrants residing in the Middle East, a Foreign Ministry (FM) official said today.

AG concludes action in 23,645 criminal advise files in 18 months

The Attorney General has concluded action in a total of 23,645 criminal advise files and forwarded 12,503 indictments to the High Courts over the last 18 months, the AG’s Coordinating Officer State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said.

Guard, SLAF worker nabbed over drugs trafficking at Mahara Prison

Four persons including a prison guard and a civil worker attached to the Sri Lanka Air Force had been arrested over involving drugs trafficking at the Mahara Prison, the Police said.