Ranil likely to give statement to CID tomorrow

Former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is likely to report to the CID tomorrow to record his statement on the Central Bank bond scam, sources close to Mr. Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Match-fixing claims: Upul Tharanga summoned by Police

Cricketer Upul Tharanga has been summoned by the Special Investigation Division of the Ministry of Sports to record a statement over the 2011 ICC World Cup Final match-fixing allegation.

Govt. saying new lies to cover old lies: Hadunnetti

National Peoples’ Power (NPP) candidate and former MP Sunil Hadunnetti said today the government was using new lies to cover up the lies it uttered at the presidential election and urged the people not to be deceived this time.

No note from Sri Lanka on match-fixing claims: Indian Cricket Board

The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not received any correspondence from Sri Lanka regarding the 2011 World Cup match-fixing claims.

Aravinda gives over 5-hour long statement

Former Selection Committee Chairman Aravinda de Silva, who arrived at the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) on sports-related corruption, attached to the Ministry of Sports this afternoon left the premises after giving a 5-hour long statement over match fixing allegations made by former minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage.

Displaying of political adverts during film screenings prohibited: EC

The National Elections Commission has informed the National Film Corporation not to display advertisements for the promotion of a candidate or a political party during film screenings, police said.

FR petitions on liquor ban on women fixed for hearing

Fundamental Right petitions filed, by several social activists including popular actress Samanalee Fonseka seeking a court order to suspend the re-imposition of the liquor ban on women in 2018, were today fixed for argument on February 16 next year by the Supreme Court.

Wijeyadasa returns Rs.1.9 Mn worth unused stamps

Former MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has returned Rs.1.9 million worth of stamps given to him for official use.

Countries that haven’t opened airports not allowed entry to EU: SL

The Ministry of Foreign Relations today said the European Commission has informed Sri Lanka that it has not yet considered to open the region for countries that have not yet opened airports nor accepted visitors from the EU region.

GMOA warns of risk of Covid-19 second wave

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) today warned of a risk of a Covid-19 second wave in the country if the situation was not kept under control.

Police Narcotics Bureau - DIG Aponso replaces DIG Medawatta

Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) OIC DIG Sajeewa Medawatta has been transferred to the Police Welfare Division with DIG G.K.J. Aponso being appointed as the new head of the PNB.

EC helpless on Karuna’s issue: EC Chairman

Elections Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said the dicision on the candidature of Karuna Amman alias Vinyagamurthi Muralidaran has to be taken by the Supreme Court and the EC was helpless on the issue.

Tuition classes can house only 500 students

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has granted permission to conduct tuition classes for 500 students in two time slots, President’s Media Division said.

Dinesh briefs Pompeo on MCC Review Report

Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has briefed US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the Review Report of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the Foreign Relations Ministry said today.

Lankan caught along with 39 barrels of liquor in Kuwait

Security personnel managed to shut a local liquor factory in Salwa. According to a security source one of the security patrols who was deployed on night duty saw a person carrying a bag, and as soon as the expatriate saw the security patrol, he threw the bag and ran into one of the buildings.

Live bullet takes the life of another elephant in Maha Divul Wewa

Another elephant was found lying dead near the Inginimitiya reservoir in Maha Divul Wewa. The post-mortem report confirmed that the bullet has pierced through the elephant’s skull and has reached the brain.

Six month imprisonment for Englishman

A British tourist who assaulted an Italian who fell in love with the former’s Sri Lankan fiancée and took her to a hotel in Unawatuna area was fined Rs.20,000 and sentenced to a six month light imprisonment suspended for five years, by Galle Chief Magistrate Harshana Kekulawala yesterday. He was sentenced for a further one month light imprisonment in default of the fine.

Aravinda arrives at special probe unit to give statement

Former Selection Committee Chairman Aravinda de Silva arrived at the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) on sports-related corruption, attached to the Ministry of Sports, to give a statement over match fixing allegations made by former minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage.

Senior police officers responsible for curbing crimes in their areas: Def. Secretary

Senior police officers-in-charge of provinces should be ashamed of wearing their uniforms if drug trafficking, extortion, underworld activities, illegal logging, running brothels, illegal sand mining and other illegal activities were taking place in massive scales in their respective divisions, Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne said.

Health officials allocated July 13 to cast postal votes

Health officials including Public Health Officers, Family Health Workers and employees at the offices of the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) had been allocated July 13 to cast their postal votes, the Elections Commission said.

Aranthalawa massacre: Injured monk seeks action against living terrorists

A Buddhist monk who sustained critical injuries following the Aranthalawa Massacre filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an order to prosecute any living terrorist involved in the massacre.

Acting IGP requests transfer of PNB heads

Acting IGP C.D. Wickramaratna has requested the National Police Commission (NPC) to transfer the DIG and the Director of the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB).

Ballot paper counting to commence on August 6

Counting of ballot papers of the General Elections 2020 will commence at 8 am on August 6, Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said today. The General Election is scheduled to be held on August 5.

Rajitha withdraws appeal petition

The appeal filed by former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratna challenging the Colombo High Court’s decision to refuse bail was yesterday withdrawn by himself.

150 stranded Sri Lankans in Malaysia return to SL

A total of 150 Sri Lankans, who were stranded in Malaysia due to the Corona-19 pandemic has arrived in the country this morning at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), the airport duty manager said.

IGP didn’t take any preventive measures to avert Easter attack: Former DIG

IGP Pujith Jayasundara, who was sent on compulsory leave, should have act immediately to prevent Easter Sunday attacks after receiving information about possible attacks from Islamic extremists, retired Head of State Intelligence Service (SIS), DIG Keerthi Gajanayake informed the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks yesterday.

PSD was unaware about the attack: ASP

Former President Maithripala Sirisena’s Security division was unaware about Easter attacks until it happened on April 21, 2019, ASP S.G Satharasinghe who served at the Presidential Security Division (PSD) informed the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks yesterday.

Liquor industry giants spread false campaign for undue profits: Ex-MP

An ex-parliamentarian yesterday lashed out at local liquor industry giants saying they are spreading false campaigns that the locally made ethanol had drastically affected the quality of their liquor.

President to join PM on SLPP campaign on July 3

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would be joining Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) political campaign from July 3, the party said yesterday.

Economy is in shambles: Champika

Sri Lanka’s economy is slated to suffer a major breakdown soon as a result of wrong economic policies, former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka alleged yesterday.