Denuwara Menike marks first journey to Badulla

The imported new luxury S14 Chinese Power set named ‘Denuwara Menike’ made its first journey to Badulla this morning, the Railways Department said.

Sajith’s manifesto pledges building of strong nation

New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa in his election manifesto launched yesterday, pledged to bring in a new constitution which will build a strong nation, to create a democratic pluralistic society and to devolve maximum power to provinces.

Most politicians instigating racism and extremism: Liyanage

Most of the current politicians are attempting to instigate racism and extremism to stabilise politically, Sri Lanka Labour Party Presidential Candidate A. S. P. Liyanage said yesterday.

Dreaded torture chamber operator nabbed in Wennappuwa

An accomplice of ’Olu Mara’ who is alleged to have maintained a torture chamber in a house in Sirigampola, Wennapuwa, identified as ’Ran Chamara’, has been taken into custody on suspicion by a team of Wennappuwa police officers on Wednesday in the Kirimetiyana area.

Prez assures that MCC won’t be signed before Nov. 16

President Maithripala Sirisena had today assured that the Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) agreement will not be signed before November 16.

EC says final results could be announced by Nov. 17 morning

The Elections Commission (EC) would be able to announce the winner of the presidential poll 2019 in the morning of November 17 and if the top two candidates fail to obtain 50%+ votes for an absolute majority, the releasing of the final results would be delayed till the dinner time of the same day, Chairman of the EC, Mahinda Deshapriya said today.

UNF to sign agreement with CBK tomorrow

The United National Front (UNF) led by United National Party (UNP) would sign a memorandum of understanding with former president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga tomorrow, the UNP said.

MCC drafted with the consent of AG: FM

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement was drafted with the consent of the Attorney General and would be presented in parliament, the Finance Ministry said today.

MCC Pact shouldn’t be signed hurriedly before poll: MR

SLPP and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa today said no agreement including the MCC Pact should be hurriedly signed with a foreign government just days before a decisive presidential election.

Court upholds former JMO’s objections over indictment

Colombo High Court upheld a preliminary objection raised against the indictments framed in court by the Attorney General accusing former Chief Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) Ananda Samarasekara for concealing evidence in the killing of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen.

Four complaints over sharing marked ballot papers on social media: ITSSL

Four complaints have been received to the Information Technology Society of Sri Lanka (ITSSL) in connection with sharing marked postal ballot papers on social media.

MCC Champion County match to be held in Sri Lanka in 2020

Marylebone Cricket Club has today announced that next season’s Champion County match against Essex will be held in Sri Lanka.

Twitter to ban all political advertising

Twitter is to ban all political advertising worldwide, saying that the reach of such messages ’’should be earned, not bought’’.

Gota’s stay order confirmed despite objections

The Court of Appeal today confirmed its order: granting a stay order till December 3 in favour of Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa preventing him being summoned as a witness to the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court.

At least 70 dead after fire on Pakistan passenger train

At least 70 people have died and dozens have been injured after a fire broke out on a passenger train in Pakistan.

Sajith’s manifesto launched

Election manifesto of New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa was launched in Kandy a short while ago.

Two arrested with drugs worth Rs.20 mn

Two persons who were engaged in drug smuggling were arrested with Rs.20 million worth drugs by the Special Task Force (STF) in Wellampitiya this morning.

Agreement signed to form Podujana Nidahas Sandhanaya

Seventeen political parties including the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) signed an agreement to form Sri Lanka People’s Freedom Alliance (SLPFA) or Sri Lanka Podujana Nidahas Sandhanaya at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute a short while ago

102 SPs promoted as SSPs

A total of 102 superintendents of police (SP) have been promoted as senior superintendents of police (SSP).

Postal voting for Prez polls underway

Postal voting for the presidential election commenced this morning and will continue till 4.00 pm this afternoon.

Beware of social media loan scammers: CERT warns

People should be aware of scammers who use social media, impersonating a loan company who is looking to empty your bank account once you share your financial data, the Computer Emergency Readiness Team/Co-ordination Centre (CERT|CC) warned.

We come with 56% votes in hand: Gota

SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa today said that based on the votes secured by their allies at the last local government election, they come to the presidential election fray with 56% of votes in hand.

Probe on fresh excavation at Zahran’s Wanathawilluwa house

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), backed by the Government Analyst (GA), launched an investigation into a recent excavation carried out by a group of unidentified individuals in a residence at Lactowatta, Wanathawilluwa in Puttalam, which allegedly belongs to National Tawheed Jamaat (NTJ) leader Zahran Hashim.

Hitch in Wennapuwa LG polls

The Election Commission (EC) is yet to resolve reported discrepancies in the results of two wards in Wennapuwa in the 2018 Local Government (LG) elections, a Commission member said.

446 ha Port City land handed over to UDA

The reclaimed land with the extent of 446 hectares on which the Port City is located was officially handed over to the Urban Development Authority (UDA) yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat at a ceremony attended by President Maithripala Sirisena.

Payment of pension anomalies will be paid on November 8: Minister

With the rectification of pension anomalies, the payment of arrears of over half a million pensioners would be paid on the November 8 with the five months arrears, Public Administration Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara said.

SLFP not empty-handed, joined SLPP with 1.5 mn voters: Amaraweera

One of the top priorities of a Gotabaya Rajapaksa-led government would be to eliminate corruption and misappropriation in the public sector and as such, in the shortest possible time Arjuna Mahendran would be brought back to Sri Lanka from Singapore after November 16, General Secretary of the UPFA, Mahinda Amaraweera said yesterday.

Empowered State sector vital for nat’l development: Gota

SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa said yesterday a country could not be developed sans an empowered State sector which was efficient and free from undue influence.

PCoI commences probing Easter Sunday attacks

Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) to investigate and inquire into the Easter Sunday terror attacks will commence its commission’s proceedings today (Oct 31), Secretary to the Commission H.M.B.P. Herath informed Daily Mirror today.

We will protect all ethnic groups, not extremists: Sajith

New Democratic Front (NDF) Presidential Candidate Sajith Premadasa today pledged to ban all forms of extremism in the country, but not to harm any religious or ethnic group under the pretext of doing so.