IUSF protest tear-gassed

Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesting university students at the Lotus Roundabout in Colombo a short while ago, police said.

Four interdicted over near miss of trains at Maradana

Fours officials attached to the Railways Department had been interdicted following the incident where the Kalutara bound train from Maradana almost collided with the Chilaw bound train near the Kovil between Maradana and Colombo – Fort this morning, General Manager of Railways (GMR) Dilantha Fernando said.

MS, MR meets again

Hot on the heels of the discussion between the SLFP and the SLPP yesterday morning, President Maitripala Sirisena and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa met last night for a one on one meeting, informed sources said.

Suspect arrested for reorganising LTTE in Kalmunai

A 41-year-old suspect had been arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) at Natpiddimunai Kalmunai last night on the suspicion of reorganising the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), police said.

Sun directly over Sri Lanka till Sept. 7

Sun will be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka during the period starting from August 27 until September 7th, 2019, as it’s movements begin from the Northern hemisphere to the Southern hemisphere, the Department of Meteorology said yesterday.

’’Issues on candidacy will be resolved soon’’: Sajith

The proposed National Democratic Front (NDF) will be formed within the next few days while the issues pertaining to its candidate will also be resolved soon, UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa said yesterday.

SL would be bankrupt in September: Patali

The country would be bankrupt if the government is unable to repay the borrowings obtained from the International Financial Market in September, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said yesterday.

Rs.1.2 Bn missing from CCF: PM appoints probe committee

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have appointed a committee headed by his Secretary Saman Ekanayake to inquire into allegations that Rs.1.2 billion had disappeared from the Central Cultural Fund (CCF).

Rathana Threra expresses his dismay

MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera yesterday expressed displeasure over the delay in hearing the case filed by the FCID against former Governor M.L.A.M Hizbullah and said the President and the Prime Minister should make a statement on the matter.

Thajudeen’s killing: Ex-JMO indicted on charges of falsifying evidence

The Colombo High Court yesterday indicted former Chief Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) Ananda Samarasekera on charges of concealing evidence in the killing of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen.

Tense in Kalladi; Police use tear gas to disperse protesters

The police used tear gas to disperse a group of protestors, who were protesting near the Kalladi Bridge in Batticaloa against the burial of Zion church suicide bomber’s head at the Kalliyankadu Cemetery.

Elephant Thissa Petiya on the brink of death: Ven. Sudaththa Thera

The elephant popularly known as Thissa Petiya belonging to the Tissamaharama Raja Maha Viharaya was now on the brink of death due to inaction of the Wildlife Department, the Attorney General’s Department, the CID and the Government, the Convener of the National Movement to Protect Tame Elephants Magalkande Sudaththa Thera said yesterday.

No response from those in power - Cardinal

Colombo’s Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said today he had still not received a positive response from those in power for his call to have an independent probe on the Easter Sunday attack and to provide relief to those killed and injured in the attack.

Talks end on positive note: SLFP

SLFP General Secretary, Dayasiri Jayasekara said today’s discussions with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) ended on a positive note with both parties deciding to continue the talks until they arrive at a compromise with President Sirisena and SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa given the option to finalise the agreement on the proposed alliance.

Ajith, Sujeewa have done no wrong: Kabir

UNP Chairman Kabir Hashim said today he did not hold the view that State Ministers Ajith P. Perera and Sujeewa Senasinghe had done anything wrong for the party to conduct a disciplinary inquiry.

I won’t support a person having dealings with Prez: Hirunika

United National Party (UNP) MP Hirunika Premachandra said today she would not back a UNP candidate, who has backroom dealings with President Maithirpala Sirisena at the next presidential election.

Army chief appointment affront to victims of rights abuses: OHCHR

A group of UN experts today expressed serious concern at the appointment of Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva as Sri Lanka’s army chief, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said.

INTERPOL Medal for President

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock praised the steps taken by President Maithripala Sirisena, the Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka Police and intelligence services for swiftly taking action to apprehend the criminals who were responsible for the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.

PM to undertake official visit to Maldives

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe would travel to the Maldives on September 2 on an official visit on the invitation by Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the government said.

Two more JMI activists arrested in Ampara

Two more activists of the banned Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem (JMI) Organisation have been arrested by the Ampara Police today, police said.

UNP calls for show cause from Sujeewa, Ajith

The UNP today called for show cause from ministers Sujeewa Senasinghe and Ajith P. Perera before September 9, since they failed to appear for preliminary inquiries.

SLFP-SLPP discussions successful: Basil

Discussions between the SLFP and the SLPP concluded successfully today, SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa said.

Girl and brother hacked to death in Wennappuwa

A 19-year-old girl and her 8-year-old brother were found hacked to death at Waikkal in Wennappuwa this morning, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

UNP to institute disciplinary action against Ajith, Sujeewa

The United National Party (UNP) has decided to institute disciplinary action against two of its MPs – Non-Cabinet Minister of Digital Infrastructure and Information Technology Ajith Perera and Non-Cabinet Minister of Science, Technology and Research Sujeewa Senasinghe – for making certain remarks in breach of party discipline, the Daily Mirror learns.

Allegations are mere allegations: Army Commander

Responding to war crimes allegations levelled against him, Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva yesterday said that anyone can make allegation but those are only allegations.

Only Yahapalana govt. opened door for external interference: SLPP

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday said that only the Yahapalana Government opened the door for external interference to the extent of commenting on the appointment of army commander.

Questioning of Palali JMO: Police recover weapons, ammunition

Following the questioning of Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of the Palai Hospital, police yesterday recovered of a stock of weapons and ammunition from the Karandiya area in Palai, the police said.

Pakistan attaches high value to ties with SL: Imran Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said on Monday that Pakistan deeply valued its close and friendly relations with Sri Lanka which had been nurtured over decades through a continuous interaction at bilateral, regional and international levels, APP News reported.

Batti campus; Rs. 4.4 bn in account reduced to Rs.36,000 now: FCID

The FCID yesterday informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna that more than Rs. 4 billion had been received from foreign countries and credited to one account of a state bank in Sri Lanka on behalf of the university being constructed in Batticaloa by Batticaloa Campus (Pvt) Company which is said to be owned by ex-governor of Eastern Province, M.L.M.Hizbulla. But, the amount now lying to the credit of that account is said to be Rs. 36,000.

China ratifies extradition treaty with SL

China’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress on Monday approved an extradition treaty with Sri Lanka, Chinese media reported yesterday.