Two Indian drug traffickers get life imprisonment

Two Indian nationals who were found guilty of importing, possessing and smuggling heroin in Sri Lanka, were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Negombo High Court today, police said.

Lotus Road closed due to protest

The Lotus Road from Ceramic Junction towards Galle Road has been closed due to a protest march carried out by disabled military personnel, police said.

Presidential Election: Will contest only with pro-abolition forces: Karu

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said today he would consider contesting the forthcoming presidential election only with the political forces which had since 1995 had consistently stood for the abolishing of the executive presidency.

Lotus Tower: Appoint commission to probe Rs.2 bn loss: Bandula

Responding to allegations made by President Maithripala Sirisena on the Lotus Tower project, Opposition MP Bandula Gunawardana today asked the President to appoint an independent commission to investigate the matter.

Baddegama PS Chairman arrested over assaulting two men

Baddegama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman (SLPP) Anura Narangoda was arrested today for allegedly assaulting two men on September 12, police said.

Fire breaks out at an apartment in Dematagoda

A fire broke out at an apartment building at Aramaya Road in Dematagoda a short while ago, the fire brigade said.

Three new MPs sworn in

Shantha Bandara, D.B. Herath and Manoj Sirisena were sworn in as members of parliament (MPs) before Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri in parliament today.

Doctors to stop work tomorrow

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) today said that it would launch a 24-hour token strike from 8 a.m. tomorrow over a salary anomaly issue.

I will not keep clinging like an octopus: Sajith

Minister Sajith Premadasa today said that if the public made a request that he is not suitable for politics and should retire he would not keep clinging to things like an octopus.

If no green light given: Sajith loyalists will seek alternative: Harin

Minister Harin Fernando yesterday said he and the others who are backing UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa will have to seek an alternative if Mr. Premadasa is not given the green light to contest for the presidency.

Top official of parliament spends Rs.23 mn on foreign tours

A top officer in parliament had undertaken 39 foreign tours in the past five years (2014 – 2019), according to an internal report.

Eight police officers interdicted

Eight police personnel including the OIC of the anti-vice squad attached to the Chilaw police have been interdicted due to alleged malpractice, police said.

No scientific survey on presidency, my personal views are of no value: Sajith

Minister Sajith Premadasa said today there has been no scientific survey done on the maintainability or the abolition of the executive presidency and his personal views are of no value.

Gota has plans to fight global warming: Dullas

SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa has given prominence to fight global warming which effects Sri Lanka directly, Mr. Rajapaksa’s Spokesperson MP Dullas Alahapperuma yesterday said.

Will back any move to scrap presidency: TNA

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said yesterday it would fully back any move to abolish the executive presidency even at this stage ahead of the election.

AMC sounds alarm on malaria outbreak

The Anti-Malaria Campaign (AMC) yesterday sounded the alarm on the possibility of malaria rearing its ugly head following the detection of five protozoan parasite Plasmodium-infected patients who returned from a pilgrimage to India.

Lotus Tower a landmark but questions over Rs. 2 bn lingers: President

While admitting that the ‘Lotus Tower’ is a monumental landmark of Sri Lanka’s technological and architectural achievement, the construction of this massive edifice began with a huge financial disaster as no one knows what happened to Rs. 2 billion of its investment to date, President Maithripala Sirisena said.

Daily Kerosene usage increased to 700MT: CPC union

Ananda Palitha, the secretary of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) chapter of the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS) alleged that the daily usage of kerosene which was at 300 metric tons had been increased to 700 metric tons per day due to widespread practice of buses and other commercial vehicles using kerosene mixed with diesel.

PM to discuss prez poll with TNA today

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have called for a meeting with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) today to discuss matters related to the presidential election.

Select candidate through secret ballot

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said today the presidential candidate of the United National Front (UNF) should be selected without any delay and through a secret ballot by its parliamentary group.

Plan didn’t yield expected results: PM tells PCoI

The plan devised by the government to relocate the Agriculture Ministry at DPJ tower and to house its Parliamentary Oversight Committees at ‘Govijana Mandiraya’ did not yield expected results, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe admitted today at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) to investigate corruption of the current administration.

People can visit Lotus Tower from next week

The Lotus Tower which was officially declared open by President Maithripala Sirisena this evening would be opened for the public from next week, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

Kelani River, Attanagalu Oya water levels rising: DMC

The water level of Kelani River at Nagalagam Street and Attanagalu Oya’s water level at Dunamale gauging station are rising, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.

Lotus Tower declared open

The Lotus Tower, South Asia’s largest tower, was declared open by President Maithripala Sirisena a short while ago. USD 104 million has been spent for construction of the tower and eighty per cent of the cost has been funded by the EXIM Bank of China.

SL forwards extradition request of Mahendran to Singapore

Sri Lankan High Commission in Singapore has forwarded the extradition request of former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran to the Singaporean Government to take necessary action, the Attorney General’s Coordinating Officer said.

PM leaves PCoI

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe left the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into fraud and corruption after testifying before its Commissioners.

ICC to analyse security situation in Pakistan ahead of Sri Lanka series

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will review the security arrangements put in place in Pakistan before appointing the match officials for the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka beginning September 27.

PM arrives again at PCoI

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) investigating corruption in the current administration again a short while ago to continue giving a statement.

Thewarapperuma granted bail

Deputy Minister of Social Empowerment Palitha Thewarapperuma and five others , who were remanded on charges of forcibly burying a body at an unauthorised land, were granted bail by the Mathugama Magistrate’s Court today.

Lotus Road closed due to protest

The Lotus Road in Colombo has been temporarily closed due to a protest staged by unemployed graduates, police said.