Case against Pujith, Hemasiri postponed till Oct. 3

The case against former IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando in connection with the Easter Sunday terrorist attack was postponed till October 3 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne.

Beliatta PS Chairman arrested over assault

Beliatta Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Siril Munasinghe has been arrested today over an assault of a former PS member, police said.

Easter Sunday attacks: We don’t have faith in probes - Cardinal

Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said yesterday that he did not have faith in any of the probes carried out on the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.

Leading politician has 17 additional secretaries for official duties

A leading politician has deployed 17 additional secretaries for his official duties while his successors have had services of only five or six additional secretaries, as revealed.

Multi-faceted Kusum Peiris no more

Veteran broadcaster and lyricist Kusum Peiris passed away late last night at the age of 74.

Easter Sunday attack: 90 percent of allegations baseless

Senior police officers have expressed that 85 to 90 per cent of the information received about the Easter Sunday attacks and about the incidents following are baseless and framed on suspicion.

Will begin programme to enthrone the common man in December- Sajith

Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa hit back at critics of his housing programme saying that those living in highly residential areas such as Kollupitiya and Cinnamon Gardens in Colombo were the ones who were trying to rubbish his project.

Person without O.L and A.Ls should not contest Prez polls: Ranawaka

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said it would be a grave insult to the educated strata of society if a person who had not even passed the Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations were given the nomination of the party to contest the upcoming Presidential Election.

Rs.12.35 mn paid to victims in Easter Sunday massacre

The Ministry of Education says Rs.12.35 million has been paid to the families of the children and the parents who were killed in the Easter Sunday massacre.

7 SPs and 15 ASPs transferred

Seven Superintendents of Police (SPs) including SP M.A.M. Nawaz of the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) and 15 Assistant Superintendenst of Police (ASPs) had been transferred, police said

Postal workers to engage in sick-leave trade action

Postal workers would launch a 24-hour token strike from midnight today, Joint Postal Trade Union (JPTU) Convener Chinthaka Bandara said.

U.S. wants military cooperation pact with SL to tackle red tape

The United States wants a special forces cooperation agreement with Sri Lanka to sidestep bureaucracy and has no intention of setting up a military base in the country, the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka said in a television interview, the Reuters reported.

Windy conditions may continue till tomorrow: Met

The windy conditions prevailing in the Northwestern, Western, Southwestern and the Southern sea areas of the island will likely to continue until the tomorrow morning, the Meteorology Department said today.

Four remanded over attack on a van at Kalagedihena

Four suspects who were arrested over attack on a van at Kalagedihena, have been remanded till July 22 by the Attanagalla Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

One ‘Awa’ member killed during a clash with police in Manipai

An individual was killed after police opened fire at suspected members of the ‘Awa’ group when they tried to attack a group of police officers at Manipai in Jaffna last night, police said.

Removing Dr. Shafi’s probe from CID: Acting IGP says ’not possible’ to NPC

The Acting IGP has written to the National Police Commission (NPC) yesterday saying it is not possible to remove the CID from investigating Dr. Mohammed Shafi’s case and hand it over to the Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU).

Aftermath of April 21 attacks - UN expert lauds SL efforts to ensure rule of law

The visiting UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Freedom of Association and Peaceful Assembly has appreciated the fact that Sri Lanka was able to recover and ensure the rule of law in the aftermath of the April 21 tragedy, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

Govt. has not signed SOFA: PM tells BASAL

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told a delegation from the Sri Lanka Bar Association that the government had not signed the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the United States.

Batticaloa Campus - Sectoral Committee calls for forensic audit

Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Education under the parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education and Human Resources Development, Ashu Marasinghe yesterday called for a forensic audit on the Batticaloa Campus.

Ranjan’s remarks - Reveal decision taken at disciplinary inquiry: Ven. Omalpe

Leading Buddhist monk Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera yesterday urged the government to reveal the decision taken after the disciplinary inquiry conducted on State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake over his controversial remarks on the Buddhist clergy.

SL politics should cater to aspirations of youth - PM

Sri Lanka’s politics should change in order to cater to the aspirations of youth, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Soldier killed, five others including Major injured in accident

One soldier was killed and five others including a Major were injured when their cab vehicle crashed into a tree after hitting a three-wheeler on the A-20 Road at Rambewa in Anuradhapura last evening, police said.

Inclement weather easing slightly

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today the inclement weather in the country had improved to some extent though risks still prevailed.

Defender jeep connected to VIP security personnel attack found

The Defender jeep (CAD-8850) connected to VIP security personnel attack on a van at Kalagedihena, was found from Elhena Road Maharagama today, police said.

Return waste material to country of origin: CEA tells importer

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has ordered the Hayleys Free Zone Ltd. also known as Advantis, which had imported several containers of industrial waste to be exported to the country of origin with immediate effect.

Govt. taking steps to bring down Arjuna Mahendran: DSG

Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Priyantha Nawana today informed the High Court Special Trial–at- bar that the Government was taking steps to bring down Central Bank’s former governor Arjuna Mahendran from Singapore under extradition laws.

Nine SSPs promoted as DIGs

Nine Senior Superintendents of Police (SSP) have been promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) with the approval of the National Police Commission.

NPC Secretary remanded till August 2

Former Additional Secretary of Defence and National Police Commission Secretary D.M. Saman Dissanayake, who was arrested by the CID yesterday over the Avant Garde armoury case, was remanded till August 2 by Gangodawila Acting Magistrate Thissa Wijeratne today.

Tree falls killing three in Sooriyawewa

A mother, her daughter and another girl died after a tree had fallen onto a three- wheeler parked near a school in Sooriyawewa this afternoon, Police said.

French investors interested in H’tota Port: Envoy tells MR

French Ambassador Eric Lavertu, who called on Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said French investors were showing a keen interest in investing in the Hambantota port and the plantation sector.