SriLankan Airlines suspends operations to Cochin till Sunday

SriLankan Airlines today announced that its operations to Cochin, India has been suspended till August 11th Sunday following the closure of the Cochin Airport due to floods.

HC issues arrest warrant on former CB Governor

The Colombo High Court today issued a warrant for the arrest of former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran who is the first suspect in the bond scam case.

COPE proceedings open to media from today

The proceedings of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) will be open to media from today, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced yesterday.

UNF leaders keen to expedite NDF constitution

UNF leaders who met yesterday have decided to expedite the compiling of the Constitution of the new alliance - the National Democratic Front (NDF), which is slated to form in order to contest the presidential election.

Ready to face any legal challenge: GL

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman Professor G. L. Peiris yesterday said they were ready to face any legal challenge if Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa’s parliament membership was challenged after he was appointed SLPP leader.

Will remain independent if expelled from UNP: Ranjan

State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday said he will sit as an independent MP in parliament if he is expelled from the UNP over the comments he had made on Buddhist monks.

SriLankan airlines suffers colossal losses: Ashok

Transport and Civil Aviation State Minister Ashok Abesinghe today said that 1,000 flights had been cancelled only during the month of May, due to the Easter Sunday attack, causing a direct loss of US$ 11,000 and an indirect loss of US$ 48,500 to the economy.

Despite criticism, CID had resolved many crimes: Director

A total of 10,379 cases are being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the primary investigative arm of the Sri Lanka Police.

Speaker expresses concern over Wijeyadasa’s remarks

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today said he was saddened by MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s remarks that parliament was the most corrupt institution in the country.

Talks will continue even after nomination of SLPP candidate: Amaraweera

The SLFP would not discontinue ongoing talks with the SLPP, aimed at forming an alliance to powerfully confront the UNP at the presidential poll, even after the SLPP nominated its candidate on Sunday, UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera said.

No need to be afraid of Gota: Basil

People need not fear former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and he would not become a strict leader, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa said today.

Zero trend for opponent if Sajith doesn’t contest: Harin

It would be a cakewalk for the rival candidate to win the upcoming presidential election unless the United National Party (UNP) fields its Deputy Leader Minister Sajith Premadasa, Foreign Employment and Sports Minister Harin Fernando said.

King Sihamoni commends SL progress under leadership of Prez

Cambodia stands firmly together with Sri Lanka in further cementing bilateral relations in economic, trade, social as well as the renaissance of Buddhism, King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boronmeath Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia said today.

Sajin Vass indicted over money laundering charges

The Attorney General has indicted former parliamentarian Sajin de Vaas Gunawardane under the Money Laundering Act for alleged suspicious deposits of money worth of Rs. 306 million through his several companies.

271 houses damaged due to gusty winds: DMC

At least 271 houses were partially damaged by the gusty winds that blew across Ratnapura, Vavuniya, Kegalle, Puttalam, Hambantota and Nuwara Eliya today, Disaster Management Centre ( DMC ) Deputy Director Pradeep Kodippili said.

Litro Gas case: Gamini Senarath acquitted

Former President’s Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath and two others were acquitted and released by the Special Trial-at-Bar High Court over the Litro Gas case today.

Two flights diverted to MRIA due to bad weather

Two flights which were scheduled to land at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake were diverted to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) this morning due to the adverse weather condition, the MRIA duty manager said.

Hizbullah’s contract with Govt. contravenes Constitution - AG’s Dept.

Attorney General’s Department had informed the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education in Parliament that former Eastern Province Governor M. L. A. M. Hizbullah had engaged in a conflict of interest by getting into a contract with the government to establish the Batticaloa Campus while being an MP, it was revealed yesterday.

UNP leader has a right to reveal his intentions: Mayantha

During the UNP parliamentary group meeting held recently, MP Mayantha Dissanayake said it was Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s prerogative as party leader to reveal his intentions on the presidential candidate.

Sajith loyalists to seek vote

The MPs of the United National Party (UNP), who are loyal to Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa, are planning to make representation to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe asking for a vote at the parliamentary group and the Working Committee to decide on the presidential candidate, Daily Mirror learns.

Appoint independent commission to probe April 21: MR tells Prez

Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday requested President Maithripala Sirisena to appoint an independent commission to investigate the dastardly Easter Sunday bombings and take action against those responsible for the heinous act.

No majority settlement in N/E to change ethnic ratio: PM

Government has no intention of settling Sinhalese in the North and the East and change the ethnic ratio in any area, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament today.

We will attend SLPP convention: SB

UPFA MP S.B. Dissanayake said today the group of 16 SLFP MPs who left the government in April last year, would participate in the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) convention to be held on August 11 except for Dayasiri Jayasekara.

Head-on collision in Nittambuwa leaves three dead

Two women and a man died while two others were injured when a private bus collided head-on with a van on the Kandy-Colombo Main Road at Nittambuwa this evening, police said.

Pakistan suspends trade, downgrades diplomatic ties with India

Pakistan has decided to suspend bilateral trade and downgrade diplomatic relations with India after a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday as a response to India’s move to revoke the special status to the Indian-controlled Kashmir, according to the Prime Minister’s Office in a statement.

Assault on Rivira Editor: Six military men to be released from case

Criminal Investigation Department officials today informed the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court that the Attorney General’s Department has no plans to take legal action against six military officers including Major Prabhath Bulathwatta, in connection with the assault on former Rivira Newspaper Editor, Upali Tennakoon and his wife.

Rumesh Ratnayake to be appointed interim head coach

Former fast bowler Rumesh Ratnayake would be appointed as the interim head coach of the Sri Lanka Cricket team, the SLC announced today.

Three more JMI activists arrested

Three members of the banned Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) Organisation have been arrested by the Ampara Police today.

C’wealth Chief thanks Sanga for commitment to deliver ’Peace at the Crease’

Commonwealth Secretary- General Patricia Scotland yesterday thanked Kumar Sangakkara for his commitment to working with the Commonwealth to deliver ‘Peace at the Crease’.

Protesting HNDA students tear gassed

Police used water cannons and fired teargas to disperse the protesting Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (HNDA) students at the Lotus Road in Colombo a short while ago.