Namal criticises TNA

Opposition MP Namal Rajapaksa today criticised the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for failing to fulfill the aspirations of the Sri Lankan Tamil community in the north, warning that the weak northern economy would lead to a social unrest in the area.

Julampitiye Amare sentenced to death

G. G.Amarasiri alias ‘Julampitiye Amare’ was sentenced to death by Tangalle High Court today after he was found guilty of killing two and injuring another in 2012.

Will appoint a new PM: Sajith

New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa said once voted into office he would appoint a new prime minister who he felt could command a majority in parliament.

Death sentence for Ratmalana triple murder convict

Colombo High Court Judge Vickum Kaluarachchi imposed death sentence on a murder suspect - Madura Manaranga De Silva - for killing his wife, 26 year old Sachethana Sandamali, a teacher of Prince of Wales College Moratuwa and her two children, three years old Prabash Banuka and one month old infant son Krishantha Sandaruwan at Ratmalana on December 17th, 2012 by strangling and thereafter setting fire to their bodies.

TNA announces its support to Sajith

All parties affiliated to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) have decided to support New Democratic Front Presidential Candidate Sajith Premadasa at the upcoming presidential election.

Obstructing SB’s vehicle: MSD officers to be produced for identification parade

The two police MSD officers who were arrested for shooting at a crowd that obstructed Parliamentarian S.B. Dissanayake’s vehicle would be produced for an identification parade today, the police said.

Angunakolapelessa prison guard nabbed with heroin, cannabis, ecstasy pills

A prison guard attached to the Angunakolapelessa Prison had been arrested with heroin, cannabis and ecstasy pills by the Police Special Task Force officers yesterday, the police said.

Corroborate testimony before 16th: Mangala challenges Gota

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera openly challenged SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa to produce the certificate of loss of nationality or renunciation of his US citizenship prior to the presidential poll.

Eran complains of tweet on orchestrated bombing

State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne yesterday lodged a complaint with the Elections Commission (EC) and the IGP with regard to a twitter message warning of a bomb attack, planned with the knowledge of a leading political party.

Will interact with anyone rooted in SL: Patali

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said he would engage in any dialogue or interaction with anyone only if rooted in Sri Lankan soil.

Point out a single word detrimental to nat’l interests

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday challenged the SLPP and the opposition to show a single clause, paragraph, sentence or word in the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement that indicated the sale of land to the US or establishment of an American military base in Sri Lanka.

Two injured as SB’s security opens fire

Two persons were injured after parliamentarian S.B. Dissanayake’s security personnel opened fire to disperse a group of people who obstructed the vehicle carrying Mr. Dissanayake at Polpitiya in Ginigathhena this evening, police said.

Colombo may have been affected by Delhi air pollution: NBRO

National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) Senior Scientist Sarath Premasiri said today that air quality deterioration in Colombo could have been a result of the pollution in New Delhi which is categorised as hazardous.

MCC Agreement copy sent to Ven. Kassapa: PM’s office

Prime Minister’s Senior Advisor Charitha Ratwatte in a letter addressed to Ven. Ududumbara Kassapa Thera had informed him to propose amendments to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Agreement which is to be signed with the USA.

Will enable braille voting facility: Gota

SLPP Presidential Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa today said he would enable the visually handicapped people to vote using the braille facility under a government of his.

US anticipates finalising MCC pact after presidential poll

While welcoming the cabinet decision to approve the MCC pact, the US today said it anticipates working toward grant signing and parliamentary approval with the Sri Lankan Government after November 16.

Man offloaded from Chennai-Colombo flight for performing ’yoga’ onboard

A seemingly ’’mentally unstable’’ air passenger was on Wednesday offloaded from a Colombo-bound carrier after he caused ’an ’inconvenience’’ to others by performing yoga and exercise onboard, the PTI reported quoting police.

Air quality unhealthy in Colombo: US Embassy

The US Embassy’s Air Quality Monitor in Colombo indicated unhealthy values of air quality with 167 Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded by 10 p.m. on Tuesday.

Pujith, Hemasiri further remanded

IGP Pujith Jayasundera and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando were further remanded until November 16 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage today.

Ven. Kashapa Thera calls off strike on Sajith ’s request

Venerable Ududumbara Kashapa Thera has called off the fast unto death protest that started yesterday demanding that the proposed agreement with Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) be cancelled.

One thousand bakeries closed due to gas shortage

The Chairman of the All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association N.K. Jayawardene said that 750 to 1000 bakeries had found it difficult to continue their operations due to the present gas shortage.

Police draw sketch of wanted Maldivian

The CID investigating the vandalising of Buddha statues in Mawanella yesterday released a sketch of a Maldivian who is reported to have maintained a close relationship with the main suspect in the incident.

Remove face cover when entering polling centres: EC

Muslim women can wear either the burqa or niqab when they come for voting but should remove their face cover at the entrance to the polling centre, Election Commission (EC) Director-General Saman Sri Ratnayake said.

Sajith will be hailed by SL women: Hirunika

New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa will be hailed by all Sri Lankan women as he has been bold enough to talk about a health issue which women in Sri Lanka are facing, UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra said yesterday.

Will end violence against women: Gota

SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday assured to put an end to violence against women and to uphold equal rights for the differently-abled.

MCC agreement - Only after parliament’s approval: Mangala

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera today assured that the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement would only take effect after parliament ratifies it and that it would be presented to the House after the presidential election.

Cabinet approval obtained to prevent losing grant

The only reason to get Cabinet approval for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement was to avoid Sri Lanka from losing the grant of US$480 million which the country will receive as a result, State Minister Finance, Eran Wickramaratne said today.

CBK, Welgama endorse Sajith

Former President and senior patron of the SLFP, Chandrika Kumaratunga and SLFP stalwart and former Minister Kumara Welgama made a fervent appeal to SLFP voters today not to vote for the SLPP candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and use their vote discreetly and wisely if they want to save the nation, the country and the party.

My family and I received death threats from MR: Sajin Vaas

Former MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena today said he had lodged a police complaint saying that Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa had told another SLPP MP that Sajin and his family will be killed if he continued to support the New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa in the presidential election.

Govt. won’t sign MCC in a hurry: Patali Champika

The Government will not sign the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in a hurry but will only do so after subjecting the agreement to a broad discussion, Megapolis and Western Region Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said today.