President has little time to enforce death penalty: SLPP

President Maithripala Sirisena, though had vowed to implement the death penalty by hook or by crook, has only four months to do so after sorting out legal barriers, the Sri Lanka Podujana Permauna (SLPP) said yesterday.

MR wants private sector salary increased

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday it was unreasonable that employees of the semi-government institutions such as corporations, authorities and statutory bodies, had not been granted the pay hike of Rs.2,500 which was given to government employees from July.

A price formula for flour and Milk powder

The government is to introduce a price formula for flour and milk powder soon, State Minister of Industry & Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Co-operative Development and Vocational Training & Skills Development Buddhika Pathirana said yesterday.

Even Trump re-imposing death penalty: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday that even US President Donald Trump is re-imposing the death penalty to execute those convicted of rape and child abuse.

Gota no longer has legal obstacles: SLPP

Former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa no longer has any legal obstacle to contest the upcoming presidential election, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said yesterday.

Gota must produce original certificate: SLFP

SLFP National Organiser Duminda Dissanayaka said if Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s claim of having renounced his US citizenship was correct, he must not hide behind newspaper articles but publish the certificate issued by the US State Department confirming he had relinquished his citizenship.

Will reconsider supporting extension: Opposition

The Opposition said today it would have to reconsider supporting extension of the emergency regulations the next time it comes up for voting because emergency regulations were being misused to curtail the rights of workers and to suppress anti-government protests.

Sabeetha gives statement at PCoI

D.P.A. Jayasinghe & Co. Director and actress Sabeetha Perera made a two and a half-hour long statement to the police unit of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) on corruption in the current administration on the building rented out to the Agriculture Ministry in 2017.

UPFA to announce presidential candidate on Sept.2

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) will announce its presidential candidate at the party convention to be held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on September 2, UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera said today.

Uva Province Governor resigns

Uva Province Governor Marshal Perera had reportedly tendered his resignation to President Maithripala Sirisena today.

AG’s Department concludes 7,503 cases in seven months

Statistics released by the Attorney General’s Department indicates that the Department had up to July this year concluded 7,503 criminal cases including 4,782 indictments in the High Court.

Objections filed by Pujith and Hemasiri dismissed

Colombo High Court Judge Vickum Kaluarachchi today rejected the preliminary objections raised by IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando.

CB advises caution when sharing account info

The Central Bank has advised people to be cautious when sharing any information that can be used to access their current or savings accounts, credit or debit cards and electronic wallets (e-wallets).

Abolition of Death Penalty Bill tabled

Abolition of Death Penalty Bill, which makes provisions to prevent the implementation of the death sentence, was presented to Parliament today.

MCC grant will assist SL to address constraints to growth: US envoy

The United States plans to become an equal partner to Sri Lanka from a donor by assisting the island nation to address the binding constraints to economic growth through Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) US $ 480 million grant.

PSC on Easter Sunday attacks: Deputy Solicitor-Generals to testify today

Deputy Solicitor-Generals Dileepa Peiris and N.H.M. Nawawi are expected to testify today before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Shangri-La bomber’s telecon proves April 21 a retaliatory attack: Ruwan

A telephone conversation between the Shangri-La Hotel bomber and his wife on April 21 reveals the series of explosions had been carried out in retaliation to Christchurch Mosque shootings and harassment against Muslims, State Minister of Defence, Ruwan Wijewardene told parliament yesterday.

New passport issued to Gota on May 7: Immigration Chief

Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, R. M. P. S. B. Rathnayake yesterday said a new passport was issued to former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on May 7 this year. However, he said the issuance of passport doesn’t necessarily mean a citizen has or has not renounced their dual citizenship.

’Prez told not to invite IGP to Oct. 2018 SC meeting’

Former Defence Secretary Kapila Wadiyaratne today said President Maithripala Sirisena informed him not to invite IGP Pujith Jayasundara to the Security Council meeting on October 2018.

AG Dept’s failure to ban NTJ questionable: Bimal

JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake today questioned as to what action the government intends taking about the failure on the part of the Attorney General’s Department to take steps to ban National Thowheed Jama’at when the Terrorist Investigation Unit made requests to this effect twice.

Tough task for UNP to win votes in South: Naveen

While saying that he was ready to fulfil the upcountry people’s dream of presidency, Plantation Industries Minister Naveen Dissanayake said it was indeed hard for the UNP to get the votes from the Southern Province.

Dayasiri, Weerakumara blame Dilan for backstabbing SLFP

General Secretary of the SLFP Dayasiri Jayasekara and Trade Union Organiser Weerakumara Dissanayaka today slammed Badulla District UPFA Parliamentarian Dilan Perera and warned him not to act like a nincompoop and betray the SLFP.

It’s a fake doc, I have the original: Gota

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa today said the document which is being circulated on social media sites purporting that he has renounced his US citizenship was fake and that he was in possession of the original certificate.

Soldier commits suicide by shooting himself

A soldier attached to the Anuradhapura 212 Brigade Headquarters has allegedly shot himself with his weapon, the Anuradhapura police said.

Ruhuna Science Faculty closed indefinitely

The Science Faculty of the Ruhuna University has been closed from today until further notice as a result of a group of students threatening the Dean, the University Office said.

Asian countries turning back wealthy world’s waste

Several Southeast Asian countries, sick of being the wealthy world’s rubbish dump, have in recent weeks turned back container-loads of waste from foreign shores, the AFP reported yesterday.

Airman on duty at diplomat’s residence shoots himself

An airman who was on duty at the Swiss Ambassador’s official residence in Colombo died after he allegedly shot himself today, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Won’t meet presidential hopefuls if probe not expedited: Cardinal

Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said today that he will not meet any presidential candidate until justice is meted out to the Easter Sunday bomb victims.

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.