Two-week reprieve for Lankan Tamil asylum seekers facing deportation

The Tamil family facing deportation back to Sri Lanka will be allowed to stay in Australia for another two weeks before facing court for a “full and final hearing”.

Parliament adjourned

The House was adjourned till September 17 after the government withdrew the day’s business, today.

Lankan illegally fishing in Seychelles ordered to return

A Sri Lankan national who pleaded guilty for fishing illegally in Seychelles’ waters will be repatriated to his country as a prohibited immigrant as part of the sentence imposed by the Supreme Court.

Zimbabwe’s founding leader Robert Mugabe dead at 95

Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s first post-independence leader, has died aged 95.

Man shot dead inside a passenger bus

A 41-year-old man shot dead by an unidentified gunman inside an SLTB bus travelling from Aluthgama to Elpitiya this morning, police said.

Shooting injures two cops in Akuressa

Two policemen were injured after they were shot at by unidentified gunman on a motorcycle in Akuressa in the early hours today, police said.

Urea nitrate used for Easter Sunday bombings: Govt. Analyst

It has been found that a powerful improvised explosive called urea nitrate - widely used by terrorists, had been used for the Ester Sunday explosions, Government Analyst K.A Waliyange said.

Will come to presidential poll with blessings of Ranil, Karu: Sajith

I believe that I would be fielded as the United National Party (UNP) presidential candidate with the blessings of Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and with the consent of other party members, UNP Deputy Leader Minister Sajith Premadasa said yesterday.

Some UNP MPs under pressure to back Sajith

A few MPs have complained to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that they were under pressure from some ministers to place their signatures on a petition seeking presidential candidacy of the party to Minister and UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa, sources close to the Prime Minister said yesterday.

Dilantha Malagamuwa’s Instagram account hacked

Sri Lanka’s racing legend Dilantha Malagamuwa yesterday said that his Instagram account ’dilantha.malagamuwa’ had been hacked.

Black Day in Parliament: Bimal

The absence of all ministers from whom oral questions were raised during today’s session prompted JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake to call it a black day in parliament.

SLFP to field its own candidate

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) would field its own candidate at the upcoming presidential election, SLFP Spokesperson MP Weerakumara Dissanayake said today.

Ministers busy picking presidential candidate: Dayasiri

Most of the government ministers are avoiding parliament and spending time to pick a candidate for the presidential election, UPFA MP Dayasiri Jayasekera told parliament today.

US Embassy responds to Wimal’s allegations

Responding to the allegations made by MP Wimal Weerawansa, the US Embassy yesterday said it takes security in Sri Lanka very seriously.

No liquor licences issued to current MPs: Finance Ministry

Although liquor licences were issued to owners of hotels, the Finance Ministry said today that none of the current parliamentarians has been issued with liquor licences.

Assets exceeding Rs. 6 bn, Rs.134 mn in 100 bank accounts of suspects: Police

Assets exceeding Rs. 6 billion were found from suspects who had abetted the mastermind of the Easter Sunday terrorist attack, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Prez consents to appear before PSC: Amaraweera

President Maithripala Sirisena has consented to appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe the Easter Sunday attacks, MP Mahinda Amaraweera said today.

Parliament sessions suspended

A tense situation arose in parliament yesterday after the government proposed to postpone the vote on the regulations imposed under the Sri Lanka Export Development Act while the opposition called for a vote claiming that it was against Standing Orders to postpone it.

Singapore to consider extradition request for Mahendran

Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said that it would consider the extradition request for Singapore national of Sri Lankan origin and former Sri Lanka Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran once the necessary supporting information and documents were received, The Strait Times reported.

Six US persons refuse their bags checked in Sri Lanka: Wimal

Six US persons, who had arrived in Sri Lanka in a US State aircraft, had refused to hand over their luggage for inspection at a hotel in Colombo and at the airport, National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa alleged.

115 suspects remanded, 178 under detention: Police

Some 115 suspects of the 293 arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks have been produced in the respective magistrate courts and remanded, while 178 suspects remain under detention, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Sajin Vass served indictment

The Colombo High Court today served indictment on former MP Sajin de Vass Gunawardena over money laundering charges and granted bail.

44 Indians overstaying visas arrested

At least 44 Indians were arrested by the Department of Immigration and Emigration for overstaying their visas at a construction site at Slave Island today.

Sri Devi to KKS starts service today

A new train service titled Sri Devi was commissioned from Colombo Fort to Kankesanthurai (KKS) this morning, the Railway Control room said.

Seven including Kudu Roshan arrested over Grandpass murder

Seven suspects including Prasad Ruwan alias ’Kudu Roshan’ and a Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP) PS member were arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) in connection with the incident where two underworld gang members were hacked to death near the Madampitiya Cemetery in Grandpass on August 15, police said.

Ahimsa rebuts Gota’s attempt to block Lasantha murder case

Attorneys for Ahimsa Wickrematunge have filed papers opposing the attempt by SLPP presidential hopeful Gotabaya Rajapaksa to halt the case filed against him in California on the alleged extrajudicial killing of her father, The Sunday Leader founding editor-in-chief Lasantha Wickrematunge.

Integrated electronic solution on traffic law violations: Govt.

The government had decided to implement a comprehensive and integrated electronic solution on traffic law violations in the country soon.

FBI report submitted to CID

The report probing telephone records of Easter Sunday bombers – examined by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – has been submitted to the CID which will continue further investigations, the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court was informed yesterday.

Elect Gota based on his service as Defence Secy.: MR

People should decide whether or not to elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa as president taking into account the service he rendered in his capacity as the former Defence Secretary, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.

Cabinet shows green light to CEB

The Cabinet granted approved for a letter of comfort for the cash-strapped Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to get further credit facilities from the state banks and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Daily Mirror learns.