EC to restrict number of ballots counted in each room

The Election Commission has decided to halve the number of votes to be counted at a single counting room, an official said yesterday.

Sri Lanka among countries unsafe for travel

A day after Britain failed to include Sri Lanka in a list of countries from where visitors will not be required to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine, the British Foreign Office lifted a global travel advice on a number of countries except Sri Lanka and other countries seen as unsafe because of the coronavirus.

EC clarifies procedures to assist voters with disabilities

The Election Commission has issued the legal provisions regarding electors with disability to be accompanied by a person to assist in marking the ballot paper at the polling station.

President calls for full report on shortcomings in Polonnaruwa schools

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who was in Polonnaruwa yesterday called for a full report on shortcomings in Polonnaruwa schools.

Seafarer from Jinthupitiya tested negative for Covid-19

The seafarer from Jinthupitiya, Colombo 13, who had tested positive for Covid-19 few days ago, has been discharged from the hospital as five repeated PCR tests become negative, Health Services Director-General Dr Anil Jasinghe said.

SJB a cat’s paw of communal political parties-PM

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today requested all voters to give them an overwhelming mandate exceeding even that of the presidential election of 2019, in order to put an end to narrow minded communalism in the politics of this country.

Accident kills Asoka Wadigamangawa

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Puttalam District candidate and former parliamentarian Ashoka Wadigamangawa (68) has died in a road accident at Padeniya on the Kurunegala-Puttalam road, police said.

Sivajilingam released

Former Northern Provincial Councillor M. K. Shivajilingam, who was arrested today for evading the court proceedings, has been released by the Magistrate Court in Point Pedro.

Will give concessions: Ranil pledges in Athurugiriya

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today pledged to grant a package of concessions to people if his party was elected to office at the August Parliamentary Election.

Fire breaks out at a textile store in Wellawatte

A fire broke out at a textile store at W.A Silva Mawatha in Wellawatte. Fire Brigade said five fire trucks were dispatched to the location to douse the fire.

Over 1,100 mobile phones recovered during raids at prisons

More than 1,100 mobiles phones and over 100 grams of heroin had been seized during the raids carried out at 28 prisons during the last four weeks, the Prisons Department said.

Gangster ‘Battaramulle Bunty’ arrested in Thalangama

A gangster ‘Battaramulle Bunty’ who is an accomplice of underworld figure ’Angoda Lokka’, had been arrested in Thalangama this morning.

290 Sri Lankan expatriates arrive from Bahrain

A total of 290 Sri Lankan expatriates who were stranded in Bahrain arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport this morning.

SL not exempted from Global Travel Advisory at this initial stage-UK

Sri Lanka has not been exempted from the Global Travel Advisory or border restrictions for the British nationals against all but essential international travel, at this initial stage, the British High Commission in Colombo said today.

Sivajilingam arrested for evading court

Former member of the Northern Provincial Council M.K. Sivajilingam has been arrested by the Valvettithurai Police today for failing to appear in the court.

Woman injured in explosion at Kilinochchi

A 35-year-old woman was seriously injured and hospitalized following an explosion at her home in Iyakkachchi, Kilinochchi yesterday, police said.

Kusal Mendis arrested over fatal accident

Cricketer Kusal Mendis has been arrested following an accident that killed a 64-year-old man at Horethuduwa in Panadura, this morning, Police Spokesman Jaliya Senaratna said.

Legal provisions for persons accompanying voters with disabilities issued

The Election Commission has issued the legal provisions regarding electors with disability to be accompanied by a person to assist in marking the ballot paper at the polling station.

Hideouts of accused in fake Sri Lankan league scam raided

A day after The Indian Express reported about matches of Uva T20 League, purportedly being played in Sri Lanka, but actually held in Sawara village in Mohali district, (Indian) the local police conducted raids at the hideouts of the two accused arrested on Thursday night.

Three SEP candidates in Jaffna threatened

The fallout of the militarization process on some of the candidates in Jaffna contesting the general election under the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) was evident when some persons claiming to belong to military intelligence had forced three SEP candidates and their family members to provide personal information, SEP General Secretary Wije Dias, told a news conference yesterday.

Attorney General lambastes top cops

Attorney General Dappula De Livera yesterday reprimanded higher officials of the Sri Lanka Police Department stating that they were responsible for the state of affairs at the Police Department.

Malaka Silva assault case: Scottish Engineer’s name cleared

Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on Friday concluded the counter case filed by Malaka Silva, son of former Minister Mervyn Sliva, against Scottish Engineer James Cassserly who was allegedly involved in a brawl with Malaka Silva at a nightclub in 2014.

SL increases surveillance along northern coast

Sri Lanka has raised surveillance along its northern coast, following reports of some Sri Lankan refugees in India attempting to return by boats following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, authorities in Tamil Nadu denied any large-scale attempts by refugees to leave the country illegally.

DCS to conduct survey on economic impact of COVID-19

The Census and Statistics Department (DCS) will conduct a countrywide survey on the economic impact of COVID-19 with the participation of 20,000 large, medium and micro level businesses, industries and other commercial ventures in the private sector.

EC to propose extending quarantine to 21 days

The three member Elections Commission will on July 6 discuss and submit a proposal to the health authorities to extend the quarantine period of those in centers and home to 21 days from the existing 14 days so that two PCR tests can be conducted on them before the August 5 General Elections.

Condoms found in CMC workshop drain: Councillor

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) will carry out an investigation into the findings of condoms inside the blocked drains of the Municipal workshop, a CMC member Saman Abeygoonaratne told Daily Mirror yesterday.

AG’s Dept. says will raise preliminary objections

The Attorney General’s Department yesterday informed Supreme Court that it would raise preliminary objections against the Fundamental Rights petition filed seeking an order to immediately arrest Former LTTE commander and armed group leader Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias ’Karuna Amman’ over a controversial statement he made recently.

Match-fixing allegations - Aluthgamage risks court action if proved wrong

Former sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage runs the risk of being be tried under the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act if he the allegations he had made are found to be false with regard to the 2011 Cricket World Cup final, former sports minister Harin Fernando said today.

UK’s first female suicide bomb plotter says 'was planning a SL-style attack'

The UK’s first female suicide bomb plotter has told the police during an interview that she was planning a Sri Lanka-style terror attack on St Paul’s Cathedral as she is jailed for 14 years, Daily Mail reported.

Committee to look into concerns over JCT & ECT Terminals

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today appointed a five-member Committee to examine and report on the concerns regarding the development of Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) and East Container Terminal (ECT) of the Colombo Port, the President’s Media Division said.