Govt. to present vote on account for Rs. 1,474 bn

The government will present a vote on account in parliament on October 23 to allocate government expenses for the first quarter of next year, the Speaker’s Office said yesterday.

UNF-led alliance will reform Sri Lanka: PM

The UNF-led alliance will reform Sri Lanka completely if its candidate wins the presidential election and then wins general election securing a sufficient majority, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

Under what law war victory cannot be campaigned? Bandula

Opposition MP Dr. Bandula Gunawardana today asked under what laws the Elections Commission has said that it was prohibited to use war victory and slogans in the election campaigns.

Aussie politician settles defamation dispute with SL student

Australian politician Mark Latham has settled a defamation suit with a Sri Lankan student at the University of NSW he accused of plotting to kill senior federal MPs, the Sydney Morning Herald said today.

Not afraid of int’l pressure: Sajith

UNF led alliance’s presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa today said he is not afraid of any international power and is ready to face the allegations which are being made by the international community against Sri Lanka.

SLPP says not aware of advertisement

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) today said it was not aware of the recent newspaper advertisement which said several army officers had pledged their support to SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa at this year’s presidential election.

Sajith has no deals with opposition: Hirunika

UNF led alliance presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa does not have deals with the opposition as some others in the government do, UNP MP Hirunika Premachnadra said today.

Senadhipathi remanded till November 8

Avant-Garde Maritime Services (Pvt) Ltd Chairman Nissanka Senadhipthi who was arrested upon his arrival from Singapore was remanded till November 8 by the Special Trial-at-Bar today.

Future President will also be powerful: Patali

While stressing that the 19th Amendment arbitrarily crippled the powers of the President, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said the future president would still be powerful.

Four tourists arrested over ATM scam

Four foreigners had been arrested in Mirissa for attempting to steal data from ATM machines, police said.

UNP MP Shantha Abeysekara re-remanded

UNP Puttalam District MP Shantha Sisira Kumara Abeysekara was further remanded till November 5 by the Chilaw High Court today for violating bail conditions over an incident in 2004.

Four arrested with heroin

Four suspects including an employee of the Dehiwala Zoo were arrested by the STF with 683 grams of heroin and cash worth Rs. 2 million in Dehiwala last night, police said.

Palaly Int’l Airport opens today, flights from Nov.1: Ministry

The Palaly Airport which had been upgraded to Sri Lanka’s third international airport would be opened today with flights operating from November 1, the Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry said. A spokesman from the Ministry said construction of the project had already been completed.

NEC Chief warns about fielding ’puppet’ candidates

Chairman of Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya yesterday warned that he will reveal the names of presidential candidates who field ’puppet’ candidates in order to get more facilities than they are entitled to during elections.

General election in 2 1/2 months after prez polls: Sujith Sanjaya

UNP Kegalle District MP Sujith Sanjaya Perera yesterday said a general election will be held two-and-a-half months after the presidential election.

Senadhipathi arrested by the CID at BIA

Avant-Garde Maritime Services (Pvt) Ltd Chairman Nissanka Senadhipthi has been arrested by the CID on his arrival from Singapore at the Bandaranaike International Airport earlier today, sources said.

General election in two and-a-half months after Prez polls

UNP Kegalle District MP Sujith Sanjaya Perera yesterday said a general election will be held two-and-a-half months after the presidential election.

Cabinet’s security prowess nil, says Gota

SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa said a secured country could not be expected from a Cabinet that did not have any knowledge on security. However, he assured a peaceful and secure nation under his leadership.

SLFPers joining UNP: Dayasiri rejects Sajith’s claim

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara said yesterday that the SLFP organisers who were said to have joined hands with the United National Party (UNP) were those who were sacked from the party.

Cops summon director Dewapriya over radio drama row

Scriptwriter and director Malaka Dewapriya has been summoned to the Police Organised Crimes Prevention Division (OCPD) tomorrow to give a statement regarding his award-winning radio drama series ‘Kanata Paarak’.

Opponents accept SF as real war victor: Sajith

New Democratic Front presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa today said his opponents had finally accepted that Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka was the real victor when it comes to the war.

Malaysia continues monitoring LTTE-linked photos and videos

The Royal Malaysian Police will not discount any piece of evidence linking several individuals, including politicians, to the LTTE following the circulation of related videos and photos on social media, the ’Star Online’ reported today.

Tea industry can generate US$ 5 bn revenue: Gota

SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa said many shareholders involved in the tea industry had said that it has the potential to generate up to US$ 5 billion foreign revenue and that it should be the target of the new government.

STF busts refuse tea racket: Three nabbed with over 14 MT of refuse tea

A large consignment of over 14,000 kg of refuse tea was seized by the STF during a raid at Kandegoda in Ambalangoda today.

Stop using war, war-victory slogans for election campaign: EC

National Election Commission (NEC) today said it was prohibited to use war and war-victory for the presidential election campaigns.

Sajith held only one public day in four years: Wimal

While saying that the simplicity of NDF presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa was not genuine, National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa said Sajith had held only one public day during the past four and half years as a minister.

AG orders SIU Director to arrest Sri Ranga

Attorney General Dappula de Livera has ordered the Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Director to arrest former MP Sri Ranga and five others and produce them in court over an accident that killed a policeman at Settikulam in 2011, the AG’s Coordinating Officer Nishara Jayaratne said.

Antonov An-124 lands at MRIA for the ninth time

Antonov An-124, the world’s second-largest cargo aircraft landed at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) for the ninth time this morning, MRIA media unit said.

Mattakkuliya car owner removes car, ends panic

The owner of the unidentified car that had created some panic in the Mattakkuliya area this morning had been identified and had removed the vehicle, the police said.

Brazilian gets life imprisonment for smuggling cocaine

A Brazilian national has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Negombo Magistrate on charges of smuggling 690 grams of cocaine into the country last year.