Sumanthiran regrets boycott by Northern Tamils

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who contested the presidential election in 2005 was unfortunately defeated as a result of the Tamils in the North boycotting the elections, TNA MP M.A Sumanthiran said.

Open economy leads people away from religion: Cardinal

Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said on Saturday that the open economy had created a consumerist society which had, in turn, led people to deviate from religion.

UNP Govt. will devolve more powers to PCs: PM

The United National Party (UNP) led alliance will seek a fresh mandate at the next parliamentary elections to devolve more powers to provincial councils, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

No room for politically aligned polls monitors: EC

The Elections Commission (EC) has said key officials of election monitoring groups found engaging in political activities will be removed from election monitoring at the upcoming presidential election.

PAFFREL asks candidates to present programme of work

The Peoples Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) is to convene a meeting of all potential presidential candidates and request them to present their manifestos to develop the nation while the people will be given an opportunity to question them.

Basil to lead SLPP’s Elpitiya campaign

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has entrusted the campaigning for the forthcoming election to the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha to its national organiser Basil Rajapaksa.

Sevmi Tharuka second runner up at Miss Italia 2019’

The 20-year-old Sevmi Tharuka Fernando - daughter of a Sri Lankan couple who had migrated to Italy about 30 years ago - has claimed the second runner up in the ‘Miss Italia 2019’ beauty contest held in Jesolo, Venice, Italy on Friday night.

Two killed, many fall sick in healing meeting

A 39-year-old woman and a 78-year-old man had died and 18 others were hospitalised due to illness during a spiritual healing program in Horowpathana, Anuradhapura, the police said.

Australian Sri Lanka bomb victims offered compensation

Australian residents who were injured or lost a family member in the Easter Sunday suicide bombings in Sri Lanka can apply to the federal government for compensation.

Jagath Gunawardene appointed as SDIG Elections

Senior DIG Jagath Abeysiri Gunawardene has been appointed as the Senior DIG in charge of Elections, police said.

Bringing Mahendran to SL not easy: Prof. Mahanamahewa

Bringing back Central Bank’s former governor Arjuna Mahendran to the country is not as easy as the President Maithripala Sirisena thinks, Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Technology Jamaica, West Indies, Prof. Prathiba Mahanamahewa said.

Minimum age for marriage should be 18 in South Asia

Parliamentarians who took part in the two-day summit on child rights in South Asia have principally agreed that the age of marriage for an individual should be a minimum of 18 years in the South Asian region and that the general law of the country should be supreme.

Talks with SLFP ended on hopeful note: Gota

While saying that the talks which were held between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) were successful, SLPP presidential hopeful Gotabaya Rajapaksa said yesterday said the talks ended with some hope.

PM says he agrees with Cardinal’s proposal

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said he would agree with Colombo’s Archbishop His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith’s proposal to appoint an independent commission to probe Easter Sunday attacks.

Future presidents as powerful as present President: Gammanpila

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila reiterated that future presidents were as powerful as the present President.

MPs perturbed over media reports on cost of feeding them

Government and Opposition members yesterday raised concerns over reports on the food served to them in parliament and urged the Speaker to submit a detailed report on this matter.

Zoo employees stage strike seeking hikes

More than 750 employees attached to five locations of the Department of Zoological Gardens including the Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala and Dehiwala struck work yesterday due to non-payment of overtime for a long time.

Kiriella-Kabir in heated verbal clash

Ministers Lakshman Kiriella and Kabir Hashim had a showdown at today’s meeting of UNP seniors.

Malinga’s double hat-trick helps SL win by 37 runs

Sri Lanka skipper Lasith Malinga wreaked havoc on New Zealand batsmen with one yorker after another to help his team come out on top in a low-scoring affair.

I will contest for presidency: Ranil

At a meeting of party seniors, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is known to have expressed his desire to contest the presidential elections.

D.P.A. Jayasinghe Building - Lease signed sans AG’s approval: PM’s Secy

Prime Minister’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake testifying at the Presidential Commission today said the lease agreement with D.P.A. Jayasinghe & Company to rent out a building for the agricultural ministry in 2016 was signed without the Attorney General’s approval.

Daughter of SL migrants at Miss Italia contest

Sevmi Tharuka Fernando - daughter of a Sri Lankan couple who had migrated to Italy about 30 years ago - qualified to participate in the finals of “Miss Italia” held yesterday night.

Chandrasiri Gajadeera passed away

Former Minister and UPFA Matara district MP Chandrasiri Gajadeera (73) passed away at a private hospital in Colombo this evening, family sources said.

Speaker unhappy over MPs conduct in parliament

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today expressed his displeasure at the conduct of MPs in parliament and said media reports on ministers not being in the House to respond to questions on Thursday was a blow to the reputation of parliament.

Prez signs documents to extradite Mahendran

President Maithripala Sirisena today signed documents related to the extradition of former Governor of the Central Bank Arjuna Mahendran from Singapore to Sri Lanka, President’s Media Division said.

Bread up by Rs.2 from tonight: AIBOA

After the increase of the price of wheat flour by Rs.5.50 per kg, All Island Bakery Owners’ Association (AIBOA) had decided to increase the price of a loaf of bread by Rs.2 from midnight today.

Prima wheat flour increased by Rs.5.50

The National Movement for Consumer Right’s Protection (NMCRP) said the price of one kilogram of Prima wheat flour had been increased by Rs.5 from today.

Check name in the electoral register

The Elections Department today requested the people to ensure that their names were in the 2019 electoral register.

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.