Reveal your stance on MCC: Opposition tells Sajith

The Opposition today challenged presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa to reveal his stance on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement.

Election law violations: EC receives 2, 867 complaints

The Election Commission said it had received 2, 867 complaints on election law violations and election-related violence from October 8 to November 4.

30 injured in bus-lorry collision

At least 30 people were injured when a bus plying to Moneragala from Matara collided head-on with a tipper truck at Kuda Oya in Thanamalvila this afternoon, police said.

MCC should not be signed in haste: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today urged the government not to sign the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement in haste before the presidential election as planned and stressed the need to sign such agreements after a proper dialogue and in a transparent manner.

BASL requests govt. not to sign MCC Pact

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) today called on the government not to proceed with the signing of the MCC Pact and urged the President to inform the MCC and the US Government that it will be rescinded with immediate effect.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: IS leader’s sister ’captured by Turkey’

The sister of former Islamic State group (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been captured in northern Syria, Turkish officials say.

Fast by Monk against MCC agreement

Ven. Ududumbara Kashyapa Thera today launched a fast in protest against the controversial Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) agreement with the US, police said.

MCC causes no harm to Sri Lanka; Patali

While commenting that certain people were making baseless remarks about the Millennium Challenge Corporation agreement, Megalopolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka assured that the relevant agreement posed no threat on Sri Lanka whatsoever.

Lankan among 33 injured as bus overturns in France

Sri Lankans is among 33 people injured after a bus travelling from Paris to London overturned in northern France.

15 more parties ink MoUs with SLPP to back Gota

Fifteen new political parties yesterday signed memoranda of understandings (MoUs) with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) at its presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office in Mirihana. Accordingly, the number of parties which signed agreements backing Mr. Rajapaksa has topped 40.

EC identifies 13 dummy candidates

The Elections Commission (EC) has identified 13 presidential candidates who were in the fray merely to support either of the two main contenders, an official said yesterday.

Police to use mini cameras to record election violations

People who are involved in election violation activities will be monitored using sensitive video devices such as mini-video cameras during the Presidential Election, Police Spokesman SSP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Sajith pledges donor conferences for N-E development

The New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate yesterday pledged to hold two special donor conferences in the North and East to obtain foreign aid for the development of both areas. Speaking during an election rally in Mullaitivu, Mr. Premadasa said he would do it as soon as possible if elected to office

Peruse MCC pact before commentary: Samarasinghe

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) must be subjected to a social dialogue, tabled in Parliament and approved after a debate thereby enabling the opposition to propose amendments, MP Mahinda Samarasinghe told the SLFP–SLPP weekly news briefing held yesterday.

Police foil attempt to hurl slippers at ITAK leaders

Several relatives of those who went missing during the 30-year-long civil war attempted to hurl their slippers at leaders of Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) after a demonstration on Sunday in front of a private hotel in Vavuniya where the party held its central committee meeting.

Customs destroy Rs. 60 mn worth cigarettes

A consignment worth more than Rs. 60 million of illegally imported cigarettes from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was destroyed at the Ceylon Tobacco Company warehouse in Colombo today, Customs Director and head of the Risk Management Unit Sudath de Silva said.

Another close associate of Angoda Lokka arrested

Another close associate of underworld figurine ‘Angoda Lokka’ was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) at the Sal Mal Uyana area in Mulleriyawa this evening, police said.

Capital punishment alone can’t eradicate drug menace: AKD

While rejecting the move to reintroduce death sentence for drug smugglers, National People’s Power (NPP) presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today drug smuggling could not be done away with solely through the implementation of the death penalty.

ITAK’s support implies Sajith’s decision to accept pre-conditions: SLPP

The SLPP today said the ITAK’s decision to support New Democratic Front presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, indicated that the latter has accepted the conditions put forward by the TNA.

FM to make emergency purchase of 12000 metric tons of gas

The Finance Ministry has made arrangements to make an emergency purchase of 12000 metric tons of domestic gas in order to meet the prevailing domestic gas shortage in the market, the Finance Ministry said.

All Govt. schools to be closed on Nov. 15

All Government schools islandwide will be closed on 15 November in respect of the Presidential Election which will be held on the following day (16), the Ministry of Education announced.

PAFFREL receives complaints against 18 ministries

The Execute Director of the People’s Actions for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Rohana Hettiarachchi said that he has received complaints of violating of election laws against 18 ministries where government employees had allegedly been transferred, promoted, appointed and made permanent.

Vehicle price to increase due to luxury tax: Vehicle importers

The prices of vehicles presently valued around Rs. 3.5 million will be doubled effective from November 1 because of the luxury tax imposed, Sri Lanka Motor Vehicles importers’ Association said.

People in the North will receive their lands within two years : PM

The lands which belong to the individuals in the North will be handed over to them within the first two years of the future administration led by New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, the government assured over the weekend.

Seven nabbed with 224kg of heroin during naval raid

Seven suspects believed to be fishermen were arrested by the navy in the seas off Galle with 224 kilos of heroin which has a street value of more than a staggering Rs. 2 billion, the navy said.

Security personnel will not be used as domestic servants : Sajith

National Democratic Front (NDF) Presidential Candidate Sajith Premadasa said yesterday that he will not allow security personnel to be used by members of royal families as their domestic servants when he assumes office as president.

Will end poverty and gap between have and have-nots: Gota

SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday pledged to end poverty and the gap between the have and have-nots as stipulated in his manifesto if elected president.

No agreement with any political party in North: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said the UNP led-alliance has not signed any covert or overt agreement with any party in the north.

ITAK throws its weight behind Sajith

Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), the dominant party of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), decided today to support National Democratic Front’s presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, a party official said today.

New President should eliminate poverty: presidential candidate Liyanage

Whoever emerges as the new president, his priority should be to eliminate poverty and hunger, Sri Lanka Labour Party presidential candidate A.S.P. Liyanage said.