Lankan tourist drowns on holiday in Switzerland

A 22-year-old Sri Lankan man drowned in a pond on Tuesday in the northeastern Swiss city of St Gallen.

Galle Road closed due to protest

The Galle Road from Ceramic Junction towards the NSA Roundabout has been closed following a protest march carried out by a group of unemployed graduates, police said.

Army Commander before PSC for the second time

Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake commenced giving evidence before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into the Easter Sunday bomb attacks a short while ago for the second time.

Interim order issued preventing transportation of garbage containers

The Court of Appeal today issued an interim order preventing the transportation of garbage containers inside the country until September 20.

Hathurusingha given deadline to quit: Harin

Sri Lanka was considering applications from three “top international cricket coaches” to replace incumbent Chandika Hathurusingha, who has until mid-August to step down, Sports Minister Harin Fernando said Tuesday.

Mysterious death of a student

A grade 12 student of the Sapugaskanda Maha Vidyalaya, who had suddenly fallen ill while practising at the school sports ground, was pronounced dead on admission to the Kiribathgoda Hospital yesterday, police said.

Banning face veils in public: Thalatha seeks Cabinet approval

Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorale is reported to have yesterday sought Cabinet approval to impose regulations banning the wearing of face veils in public places.

Easter Sunday bomb attacks: I was not aware of prior warnings: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said the Easter Sunday bomb attacks could have been prevented had the officers attached to defence establishments informed him about the prior warnings they have received in early April.

Assets of Batticaloa Campus cannot be taken over under any law: Hisbullah

Former Eastern Province Governor M.L.A.M. Hisbullah said yesterday there was no legal provision to take over the assets of the Batticaloa Campus (Pvt) Ltd to the government as suggested by certain people.

Face developing world - By changing SL’s political & economic outlook: PM

Sri Lanka’s political, social and economic outlook should be changed if the country hopes to face a developing world, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday at a ceremony held to distribute appointment letters to graduates in the state sector.

Writ petition on garbage shipments: No waste imported: Hayleys PLC

Romesh de Silva PC, appearing for the Hayleys PLC, informed the court that his client as a company, which runs a hub operation in Katunayaka, had not violated any law as it had only done a separating process for re-exportation of containers of mattresses, which cannot be regarded as waste.

Ecstasy pills worth Rs. 15 mn seized

A parcel with 3050 ecstasy pills worth over Rs. 15 million was seized by Customs officers at the Central Mail Exchange in Colombo today, Customs said.

Duminda makes a statement to PCoI police unit

Former agriculture minister Duminda Dissanayake today made a statement to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) Police Unit on corruption in the current administration with regard to the renting out of the D.P.A. Jayasinghe building by his Ministry in 2017.

Proposed amendments to MLA detrimental: Opposition

The Opposition today said the proposed amendments to the Monetary Law Act (MLA) were detrimental to the economy and that it would go to the Supreme Court if and when the draft bill was presented to parliament.

Ban on sale of imported liquor without foolproof sticker

The Excise Department has banned the sale of all brands of imported liquor without its new foolproof sticker introduced recently.

Farewell speech: Some people slinging mud at Malinga: MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that some people were slinging mud at cricketer Lasith Malinga following his farewell speech made at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Gota’s alleged US renunciation certificate circulating in social media a forgery

A certificate distributed yesterday purporting to show that former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has renounced his US citizenship has been debunked as a forgery, the Daily Mirror learns.

SC serves charge sheet on Ranjan

The Supreme Court (SC) today served the charge sheet (ruling) on State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake over the allegations of contempt of court.

SC tells SLMC to provisionally register SAITM medicos

The Supreme Court has ordered the Sri Lanka Medical Council to provisionally register the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) graduates as medical practitioners in terms of Section 29 of the Medical Ordinance.

Thilan Samaraweera to assist Black Caps in Sri Lanka

Former Sri Lankan batsman Thilan Samaraweera will join the Black Caps coaching staff for the upcoming Test series in Sri Lanka.

Navy apprehends six Indians with 2, 379kg of beedi leaves

The Navy intercepted a fishing dhow carrying six Indian nationals with 2, 379kg of beedi leaves, in northwestern seas of Sri Lanka waters yesterday.

Zharan’s brother-in-law arrested

The brother-in-law of National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) leader Zahran Hashim was arrested by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) from Katupotha last night, police said

Opinion Poll shows 94.35 percent in favour

An Opinion Poll conducted at the Enterprise Sri Lanka exhibition held at Walisinghe Harischandra ground in Anuradhapura showed that 94.35 per cent of people were in favour of the application of Capital Punishment on drug racketeers and rapists.

I will realise my father’s dream: Navin

Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake has said that the country has so far not had a President hailing from up country though his father came close to becoming one.

Four names for UNP ticket

UNP MP for Anuradhapura District Chandima Gamage mentioned Public Enterprise Development Minister Lakshman Kiriella as yet another possible presidential candidate alongside Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa.

Ravi K. lashes out at Central Bank

Minister Ravi Karunanayaka hit out at the Central Bank yesterday, comparing its role to that of an economic hitman.

Police probing loss of Rs. 6 million from Hakeem’s home

Cinnamon Gardens police are conducting investigations into the loss of Rs. 6 million from the Colombo 7 home of former minister and parliamentarian Rauff Hakeem, a spokesman from Police Headquarters said yesterday.

Govt.’s move unlawful: SLPP

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday said that the government’s move to increase the size of the Cabinet through a parliamentary resolution was unlawful.

PCoI reveals BVD infection traced in 21 cows

Twenty one high-yielding milch cows imported from Australia in 2017 with an effort to boost local dairy production by the government, had been traced with Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) virus infection, it was revealed at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) to investigate corruption of the current administration yesterday.

At least 52 dead in Brazil prison riot: 16 decapitated

At least 52 prisoners were killed by other inmates during clashes between organized crime groups at the Altamira prison in northern Brazil on Monday, according to prison officials.