EC grants two special dates for postal voters

Postal voters who were unable to cast their votes on the allocated dates were granted special dates on July 24 and 25 at the respective district election offices to cast their postal votes, the Elections Commission (EC) announced today.

Suspect arrested with military uniforms, weapons, bullets

A 28-year-old suspect had been arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) in Elpitiya over possession of military uniforms, weapons, hand grenade and bullets.

SL must stop foreign interference in polls: Namal

Sri Lanka should act against the US interference in elections, following the pledge made by US presidential candidate Joe Biden to end foreign interference in US polls, SLPP candidate Namal Rajapaksa said yesterday.

Mt. Lavinia beach nourishment project: CA issues notices on respondents

The Court of Appeal today issued notices on respondent parties including Minister of Environment to appear in court on September 22 in connection with a writ petition filed seeking legal action against the recent Mount Lavinia Beach nourishment project (sand filling) and beach pollution.

152 including students quarantined after teacher tests positive with COVID-19

At least 152 people including students had been subjected to quarantine after they are alleged to have maintained close links with a physics teacher of a semi-government school at Gamapaha today, Gampaha Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Subash Subasinghe said.

CRD produces ‘Blue Guns’ for weapon training

Completing another successful research project, the Defence Ministry’s Centre for Research and Development (CRD) recently introduced a ‘Blue Gun’ production methodology to Sri Lanka Army’s Special Forces.

65 including students directed for PCR tests at Kahathuduwa

Another 65 people including a teacher, students and their parents were directed for PCR tests after a student who participated in a tuition class tested positive for COVID-19, Kahathuduwa Medical Officer of Health told Daily Mirror.

Gammanpila proposes to set up National Review Council

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila today proposed a ‘National Review Council’ to keep track of the implementation of the pledges made in the Presidential election manifesto.

13 PNB officers re-remanded

The 13 officers attached to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), who were arrested for alleged drug trafficking, were further remanded till August 4 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate today.

Writ petition for Karuna’s arrest dismissed

A writ petition filed seeking an order to arrest Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman over a statement he recently made, was dismissed by the Court of Appeal today.

Welisara Navy cluster comes to end as last three sailors recover from Covid-19

The Navy said that the Navy’s Covid-19 cluster had been completely controlled as the last three Covid-19 positive sailors recovered and were discharged from the hospital today.

SJB appeal over UNP membership dismissed

An appeal filed by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara challenging Colombo District Court’s order relating to UNP party membership of 99 SJB members was today dismissed with cost by Colombo Civil Appellate High Court.

Daluwakotuwe Neil arrested over illegal possession of firearms

Neil Aruna Fernandopulle alias Daluwakotuwe Neil had been arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) for the illegal possession of ammunition and two air riffles in Daluwakotuwa, Kochchikade yesterday.

Warrant on Shashi Weerawansa

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today issued a warrant for the arrest of Shashi Weerawansa in relation to the case filed against her, where she was accused of forging documents to obtain passports.

17 police officers transferred

Seventeen police officers, including a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) have been transferred due to service requirements.

Explosives similar to those used in attacks found in safe houses: Witness

Explosives which were similar to those used for disastrous attacks by members of National Thowheed Jama’ath (NTJ), had been found in the two safe houses located at Sammanthurai and Nintavur on April 26, 2019, after the Easter Sunday attacks, the current SSP of the Moneragala Police, former Senior Superintendent of Ampara Police Division, Samantha Deepal Wijesekara informed the PCoI probing the Easter Sunday attacks yesterday.

STF recover a cache of military-ware

A cache of military items containing military uniforms, weapons and live ammunition, was found from a house in Bowala, Walasmulla by Special Task Force yesterday, police said.

CID investigates threats made by underworld criminals

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has initiated an inquiry into the threats said to have made by prominent underworld criminals currently under detention in the Boossa Prison to three senior prison officers, that they have the capacity to kill anyone they want, even the president or the defence secretary.

Private buses to reduce operations by 50%

Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association President Gemunu Wijeratne yesterday said that they had decided to reduce the number of buses and bus journeys operated on certain roads by 50% from next Monday onwards.

PHIs to continue trade union action

The Public Health Inspectors Union of Sri Lanka (PHIUSL) Secretary M. Balasooriya told Daily Mirror yesterday that they would continue their trade union action launched last week as there was no positive response from the Health Ministry.

Change in UNP leadership needed; I think I can be the leader: Navin

UNP National Organizer and Nuwara Eliya District UNP candidate Navin Dissanayake said that the leadership of the UNP, which had remained unchanged for 26 years, needed to be changed and that he had the required qualifications to become the leader of the party.

Take legal action against those responsible: Ranil

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today urged the government to take quick legal action against those responsible for the recent destruction of the Assembly Hall of King Buwanekabahu in Kurunegala.

Target set for officials to increase fallen pepper price next year

At a discussion held over the issue of pepper prices today, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the target of the next year should be to receive higher prices for the pepper productions by adding value to Sri Lankan pepper exports.

T20 World Cup postponed until 2021

The men’s T20 World Cup due to take place in Australia from October 18 has been postponed until next year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the International Cricket Council announced Monday.

Archaeology Dept. Chief has failed in his duty: Akila

The Archaeology Department Director General has failed to safeguard the ancient assembly hall of King Buwanekabahu in Kurunegala, UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today.

Summons on Prof. Hoole, three others for contempt of court

The Colombo High Court issued summons on Elections Commission member Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole and three others for contempt of Court for allegedly publishing a distorted version of a court interim order.

Pinnaduwa-Imaduwa stretch on E01 reopened

The Imaduwa - Pinnaduwa stretch on the Southern Expressway (E01) which was closed due to a minor landslide was reopened this evening.

Two thirds majority needed to rid country of extremism: GL

Two thirds majority is needed to draft laws to rid the country of extremism and to strengthen the defence apparatus, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Leader Prof. G.L. Peiris said today.

Rare Buddha statue vandalised in Pakistan

A rare life-sized statue of Buddha that was smashed into pieces with a sledgehammer by construction workers in Pakistan’’s northwest Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province belonged to the Gandhara civilisation and was nearly 1,700 years old, a senior official has said.

HC issues summons on Patali, ex-Welikada OIC

The Colombo High Court today issued summons on former minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, ex-Welikada OIC Sudath Asmadala and the then minister Ranawaka’s driver Dilum Thusitha Kumara to appear in court on August 20 over the Rajagiriya accident case.