ICCPR, PTA applied in discriminatory manner: UN expert

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act, the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the Vagrants Ordinance are frequently applied in a discriminatory manner, visiting UN Expert Clément Nyaletsossi Voule yesterday said.

Banning of NTJ websites: AG officials admit they failed to provide advises to TID

The Attorney General’s (AG) Department yesterday admitted that they failed to provide advises to the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) regarding possibilities of banning websites and social media accounts of National Thowheed Jamat (NTJ) and the organization itself.

Industrial waste - CEA to take importers to Court

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) will take legal action against those who imported the containers of industrial waste without the proper a licence resulting in a public outcry, CEA Director General Hemantha Jayasinghe said.

Man who funded Zahran arrested in S’pore in May

A 36-year-old man, who is alleged to have funded National Thowheed Jama’at leader Zharan Hashim was arrested in Singapore in May, the Jakarta Post reported yesterday.

Mob vandalises Kovil in Jaffna

The Sri Vairavar Hindu temple located at Chundikuli in Jaffna and its statues were vandalized with some statues being taken away last nights by mobs.

FR filed against appointment of PC

In view of the President’s failure to follow a consistent and discernible criteria when appointing President’s Counsel (PC) and in the conferment of the ‘silk’, a fundamental rights violation petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking an order, specifying for such purposes.

Malinga masterclass, Perera ton seal Sri Lanka win

Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 91 runs and Lasith Malinga took the final wicket.

Batticaloa campus - May have escaped due to Legal loopholes: CB

The Batticaloa campus (Pvt) Ltd authorities may have escaped because of loopholes in the existing legal provisions, Central Bank officials today told the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) inquiring into the Easter Sunday attacks.

AG declines from testifying at the PSC

Attorney General Dapulla de Livera today appeared before the Parliamentary Select Committee probing Easter Sunday bomb attacks, but declined from testifying saying such an act would be detrimental when it came to performing his duties.

Re-export waste before Aug.12: BOI tells Hayleys

The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka has instructed the Hayleys Free Zone Limited (HFZL) to re-export the remaining waste lying at the Hayleys Free Zone premises on or before August 12 2019.

SL, Japan should increase naval cooperation to ensure maritime security: President

President Maithripala Sirisena today said that as Sri Lanka and Japan are both interested in maritime security, they should further increase cooperation between the two navies to ensure international maritime security as well as safety and security in international waters.

New Constitution impossible under this Govt: MR

While claiming that participating in constitutional reform under this government was not a feasible option, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said today they would put forward a set of proposals to reform the constitution at the forthcoming presidential elections.

Dappula De Livera before PSC

Attorney General Dappula De Livera commenced giving evidence before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday’s attacks a short while ago.

Rural Economic Affairs and Livestock Development swapped among ministers

The Rural Economic Affairs subject held by Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara and the Livestock Development subject held by Minister P. Harrison has been swapped among the two ministers, the President’s Media Division said.

SLPP signs MoU with 10 political parties

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 10 political parties to form a new political alliance.

Gotabhaya arrives at Special High Court

Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa arrived at the Special High Court Trial-at- Bar for the hearing of the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case.

PM, ministers, state ministers to be summoned by PSC

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, select ministers and a state minister are to be summoned by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday attacks on August 6, informed sources said today.

US Justice Dept resumes use of death penalty, schedules 5 executions

The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday reinstated a two-decades-long dormant policy allowing the federal government’s use of capital punishment and immediately scheduled the executions for five death row federal inmates.

Remaining seven Muslim MPs to be sworn-in today

The remaining seven out of the nine Muslim parliamentarians who resigned their ministerial portfolios, are to be sworn-in as cabinet ministers before President Maithripala Sirisena this morning at the Presidential Secretariat in the same positions they held previously.

Ajith Perera urges social media giants probed

Non-Cabinet Minister of Digital Infrastructure and Information Technology, Ajith P. Perera in a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Sectoral Oversight Committee of Legal Affairs, Corruption and Media had requested to arrange an investigation on curbing hate speech and fake news on social media.

Sampanthan calls for 1978 Constitution to be replaced

Introducing a motion in parliament, TNA Leader R. Sampanthan yesterday called for the Constitution introduced in 1978 to be abolished and a new one brought in.

Fmr. EP Commandant says he warned Zahran in 2014

Former Commandant Eastern Province Major General Lal Perera yesterday said he had warned National Thowheed Jamaath Leader Zahran in 2014 to desist from the extremist activities he was engaged in.

Expert medical panel can resolve Dr. Shafi case: Champika

The controversy surrounding Dr. Siyabdeen Shafi for alleged unlawful sterilisation of hundreds of women has to be resolved through a forensic investigation sooner than later because the problem has got out of hand, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

Serious communication gap between intelligence arm and law implementing institutions: Fmr. IGP

Former IGP and National Defence Advisor N. K. Illangakoon yesterday said that there had been a serious communication gap between the intelligence arm and law implementing institutions leading to the Easter Sunday carnage.

Requesting info from CJ, Judges: Minister rejects allegations

Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana today rejected allegations that the Additional Secretary to the Ministry had requested information on particular cases from the Chief Justice and Judges of the Colombo High Court and said he had only conveyed the request made by the visiting UN rapporteur seeking a meeting with them.

Gammanpila says Gota received final document in May

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila today said former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa received the final document pertaining to the renunciation of his US citizenship in May this year.

If not confined to handle narcotics, STF could’ve prevented the attack: Latheef

The STF could have prevented the April 21, 2019, terror attacks if it was not confined to handle narcotics and organised crimes and had the relevant sources provided sufficient information, its head Senior DIG M. R. Latheef said today.

Dr. Shafi granted bail

Dr. Mohamed Shafi Shihabdeen of the Kurunegala Hospital was granted bail by the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court this evening.

PM appoints committee to probe Ranjan’s remarks

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a three-member committee chaired by Foreign Affairs Minister Tilak Marapana to probe State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake’s controversial statements he had made on Buddhist monks on social media recently, Prime Minister’s office announced.

Suspicious aircraft at BIA: Reveal the truth, Thilanga insists Govt.

The Government should reveal to the country about the identity of an aircraft which had arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) a few days ago without any name on it, UPFA MP Thilanga Sumathipala said.