Teachers, principals sick two days next week

Ceylon Teachers and Principals’ Services Union today said that they would hold a two-day token strike next Thursday over several demands including salary anomalies.

Emergency Cabinet meeting this afternoon

President Maithripala Sirisena has called an emergency cabinet meeting today at 3 p.m. at the Presidential Secretariat. It was reported that all Cabinet ministers had been told to be present at the meeting.

Kanjipani at GA’s Department to check voice sample

Drug kingpin Mohamed Najim Mohamed Imran alias Kanjipani Imran today arrived at the Government Analyst’s Department over an alleged death threat that he had allegedly issued to a police officer at Keselwatte.

Ex SLN Commander, SLAF Chief Marshal elevated to ranks of Admiral

Former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda (Rtd) and Air Chief Marshal Roshan Gunathilake (Rtd) were honoured to the ranks of Admiral of the Fleet and Marshal of the Air Force respectively by President Maithripala Sirisena at a State Investiture Ceremony held at the harbour premises, Colombo today.

31, 500 police officers promoted

A total of 31,500 police officers had been promoted including police constables and inspectors with the approval of the National Salaries and Cadre Commission and the National Police Commission, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said.

CID tracking down digital footprint of ISIS

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed court yesterday that it was probing several plans devised by ISIS based on information received from Interpol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on communication techniques of the terrorist outfit.

If president's claim wrong, officials to take blame

If President Maithripala Sirisena’s claim that Rs.2 billion was missing from the investment of Lotus Tower Project was incorrect, it is obvious that officials who gave him the figures were to be blamed for such misinformation, General Secretary of the UPFA, Mahinda Amaraweera said yesterday.

UNP will decide on prez candidate next week: Akila

UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today the party, together with its allies, would decide on its presidential candidate next week.

Qatar Police interrogate main suspect - CID informs court

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake through a B-report that Qatari police is interrogating the main suspect of the terrorist network in Sri Lanka which had maintained direct relations with the ISIS.

COPE to probe Lotus Tower Project

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) today decided to conduct a full-scale investigation on the alleged misappropriation of government funds on the Lotus Tower project.

PSC’s term extended by one month

Parliament today granted a one-month extension to the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe the Easter Sunday attacks to complete its final report.

Presidential poll on Nov. 16

Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said today the presidential election would be conducted on November 16, 2019. He said the nominations for the elections would be called for on October 7.

GMOA strike: Countrywide healthcare services crippled

Healthcare services in hospitals countrywide came to a virtual standstill today due to the 24-hour strike launched by the GMOA.

MR hits back over Lotus Tower fraud allegations

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa in a statement said today that the Auditor General in April 2019, published a 670-page special report on the Lotus Tower project, but it made no mention at all of a Chinese contractor who disappeared with Rs. 2 billion.

Former MP Mithrapala passes away

Former Kegalle District UPFA MP H. R. Mithrapala passed away at the age of 73 today. He passed away at the Karawanella Hospital.

Lotus Road closed due to protest

The Lotus Road from Lotus Roundabout towards Ceramic Junction was closed due to a protest march carried out by a group of employees of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), police said.

Court orders to bury Kingsbury bomber’s remains at Borella Cemetery

Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake issued an order directing the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretary to bury the remains of suicide bomber Mohammed Mubarak, who blew himself up at the Kingsbury Hotel, at the Borella Cemetery.

Interim order issued on disabled soldiers

Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake today issued an interim order preventing the protesting disabled soldiers from entering the Lotus Road and the vicinity of the President’s Office and the Prime Minister’s Office.

Heavy traffic in Town Hall

Traffic congestion is reported from around the Colombo Town Hall area due to a protest march carried out by the non-academic staff of the universities, police said.

Explosives found buried in Palamunai

A T-56 weapon, a magazine, 30 ammunition, seven detonators and four gelignite sticks were found buried in Akkaraipattu, Palamunai, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Former DG of TRC Anusha Pelpita rejects President’s claim

Rejecting as baseless the claim made by President Maithripala Sirisena that the government had incurred a loss of Rs. 2 billion due to a Chinese company that had received the amount as advance payment being nonexistent by 2016, former Director-General of Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Anusha Pelpita said yesterday that no amount of money had been paid to ALIT, the Company that was mentioned by the President in his speech.

Restructuring SriLankan: Ministers told to submit views on Eran’s proposals

At yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have asked the ministers to submit their views on the recommendations made by State Minister of Finance, Eran Wickramaratne on restructuring SriLankan Airlines on the basis of a public-private partnership.

JVP wants TRC before COPE

JVP MP Vijitha Herath said yesterday that the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) should be summoned before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) to probe the allegation made by President Maithripala Sirisena on the misuse of Rs. 2 billion from the Lotus Tower project.

Cabinet approves Bill to deal with ISIS terror

The Cabinet is reported to have endorsed a new Anti-terrorism Bill to deal with the latest threat of terrorism in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks by terror groups linked to ISIS.

J R will be happy, the day executive presidency is abolished: Karu

Late President J. R. Jayewardene will be happy on the day when the executive presidency is abolished, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said yesterday.

I’m ready to introduce new constitution: PM tells TNA

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told the parliamentary group of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday that he was ready to introduce a new constitution within a year based on the consensus reached at the Constitutional Assembly (CA).

Selecting UNP candidate - Campaign to show crisis in UNP: Akila

United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today certain groups had launched an organised campaign to show there was a crisis within the UNP and its allies with regard to the selection of the presidential candidate.

SLRC rank increased as two stations quit from rating list

Relating to the remarks made by Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) Chairman Inoka Sathyangani during a news briefing that Rupavahini’s rank was increased to 6 from 8th place, Kalum Palitha Mahirathna said it was not because of any progress of SLRC but two stations quitted from the rating list.

Elpitiya PS elections - FR seeks SC to cancel EC decision

Heshan Nayanajith and two other petitioners who are voters and residents within the limits of the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha today filed a fundamental rights petition seeking the Supreme Court to cancel the decision of the Election Commission to hold elections.

Senadhipathi to be tried in absentia

The trial against Avant Garde Martime Services (Pvt) Ltd Chairman Nissanka Senadhipthi has been fixed for October 22 and will be heard in the absence of the accused.