Two state officials arrested with Ice worth Rs.2.5mn

The police have arrested two suspects, a chief management officer at the Kolonnawa Divisional Secretariat and a sport officer attached to the Kelaniya Divisional Secretariat for the possession of 250 grams of crystal methamphetamine also known as Ice.

PCR testing capacity to be increased from August 1

While stating that over 40, 000 Individuals have been subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in the country so far, Chief Epidemiologist of the Epidemiology Unit, Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said the PCR capacity in Sri Lanka would be scaled up further and the number of tests performed would be increased from August 1.

Staff member at Lankapura D.S. Office tests positive for COVID-19

The Lankapura Divisional Secretariat office in Pollonnaruwa has been temporarily closed from today (30) after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19, Pollonnaruwa Regional Director of Health Services Dr. W. K. W. S. Kumarawansa said.

An unusual increase of students belonging to one community at Law College in 2012 : PCoI told

In 2015, the State Intelligence Service (SIS) had reported that there was an unusual increase in Muslim students at the Law college in 2012, former SIS Director SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena yesterday informed the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks.

5,601 election law violation cases reported so far: EC

The National Elections Commission has so far received a total of 5,601 complaints regarding election law violations and violent activities, the Commission said.

Voters at quarantine centres may lose chance for voting

Voters who are at the quarantine centres are likely to lose the opportunity to cast their ballots at the general election on August 5 due to the absence of legal provisions to arrange advance voting for them, an official said yesterday.

Cost of tobacco usage higher than tobacco tax revenue: ADIC

The cost of tobacco usage on health and SL economy was 214 billion rupees last year (2019), while the tax revenue from tobacco was 92.9 billion rupees, Executive Director of Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC), Mr. Pubudu Sumanasekera said addressing a media briefing held yesterday at Sri Lanka Foundation, Colombo.

CCD raids sophisticated distillery in Nagoda house

Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) raided a sophisticated liquor distillery operating in a two-storied house in Nagoda, Kalutara last evening and seized a bottling plant and a stock of arrack worth over Rs.10 million, the police said.

Will make mandatory to present to parliament before signing: PM

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said a new government will introduce laws making it mandatory to present agreements with regard to state properties in parliament before signing them.

SL mother in Australia forcibly removed from hospital-reports

A Sri Lankan mother whose Tamil family have been accused by Australian Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton of wasting $10million in taxpayer money by fighting deportation from Australia has reportedly been dragged from hospital by Border Force guards, the Daily Mail reported.

Police say drivers involved in fatal accidents to be charged with murder

Cases would be filed against the drivers who cause fatal accidents due to negligence and reckless driving under murder charges in future, the Police said today.

UNP to expel more members: Ravi K

UNP will expel more members from the party who had joined Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) by Friday, July 31, its Assistant Leader Ravi Karunanayake said today.

Consider politicians past and present when voting: GMOA

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) today requested the people to consider the past and present environment of the politicians along with the election promises that they make aiming the election.

Jayantha Dharmadasa appointed SLC Vice President

Former Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Jayantha Dharmadasa was today appointed to the Vice President position at SLC left vacant following the resignation of K. Mathivanan.

Maximum charge gazetted for Antigen Test for Dengue and FBC

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has gazetted maximum charges for NS1 Antigen Test for Dengue and Full Blood Count (FBC) Test with effect from today.

PM appoints Archaeological Advisory Committee to look into archaeological sites

An Archaeological Advisory Committee was appointed by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Buddha Sasana and Cultural Affairs Minister today to obtain assistance in protecting archaeological sites scattered across the country.

CBK returns four vehicles allocated to her office

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has returned four of the allocated fleet of vehicles for her office to the Presidential Secretariat earlier this month considering the financial constraints of the government.

All schools to start from August 10 under several stages: Edu. Ministry

The Education Ministry had decided to restart all Government and Government approved private schools from August 10 under several stages following recommendations of the health officials.

Relief package for grade five Students

Taking into consideration the impact and pressure on Grade 5 students studying for the examinations during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Education Ministry has decided to act in a relaxed manner with a focus on fairness and humanity.

Mathivanan resigns from SLC

Vice President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), K. Mathivanan has resigned from his post today, sources said.

Top prison official assaults prison jailor; probe launched

A probe had been launched in relation to the incident where the Prison Commissioner (Operations) had allegedly assaulted a prison jailor at the Welikada Prison last night.

Excise officer arrested for transporting ethanol and liquor illegally

En Excise officer attached to the Dankotuwa Excise Office had been arrested for illegally transporting ethanol and liquor bottles belonging to a private liquor factory at Pamunugama early this morning.

SL should end intimidation & threats against human rights defenders: report

The Sri Lankan Government should end the targeted arrests, intimidation and threats against the lives and physical security of lawyers, activists, human rights defenders and journalists, a statement issued by ten international human rights organizations said today.

Sri Lanka to resume repatriations from July 31

Sri Lanka will resume repatriations from July 31 as there are 6,000 to 8,000 Sri Lankan nationals who urgently need to be brought back into the country due to job losses and loss of their places of accommodation in their countries of stay, Additional Secretary to the President for Foreign Relations, Admiral Jayanath Colombage told Daily Mirror yesterday.

Health guidelines in the offing for safe environment

Deputy Director-General of Health Services, Dr. Lakshman Gamlath said yesterday health guidelines to conduct parliamentary sessions in a safe environment were being prepared and would be submitted to Parliament Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayake next Friday.

Easter Sunday attacks - Mastermind not Zaharan: Ex-SDIG

Former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena yesterday informed the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks that mastermind of the Easter Sunday bombings was not Zaharan, but his mentor Nawfar Moulavi.

Rs.11Bn financial misappropriation at CCF from 2016 to 2019: Report

A financial misappropriation amounting to Rs.11 billion had taken place at the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) during 2016 to 2019, a committee appointed to probe financial irregularities at the CCF said in its report yesterday.

SIS maintained middle path: Ex-SIS director

When sharing intelligence with the previous yahapalana government the State Intelligence Service maintained a middle path, State Intelligence Service (SIS), former SDIG of the Eastern Province and a former SIS Director, Nilantha Jayawardena informed the Commission probing the Easter Sunday attacks.

Govt. to talk to India on reclaiming 25 tanks

Amid government plans to hold discussions with the Indian government and the Indian Oil Company (IOC) on reclaiming 25 oil tanks in the Trincomalee fuel storage complex CEYPETCO is exploring the possibility of wooing a foreign investor to build a new oil tank complex at Hambantota, Power, Energy Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said today.

Health guidelines in the offing for safe environment

Deputy Director General of Health Services, Dr. Lakshman Gamlath said yesterday health guidelines to conduct parliamentary sessions in a safe environment were being prepared and would be submitted to Parliament Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayake next Friday.