One suspect injured and one escaped when tried to arrest them

One suspect was injured and another escaped during a shoot out incident at the Pinwatte junction at Panadura by an army soldier, after hijacking a van from Mattagoda, Police spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said today.

Resigned Muslim ministers sworn in again

All Muslim cabinet ministers, deputy ministers and state ministers who resigned from their portfolios recently, were sworn in before President Maithripala Sirisena a short while ago, the Presidential Media Division said.

Bond Case: Tenth accused reveals vital info in writ petition

Filing a writ application in court, the tenth accused in the treasury bond case, Ajahn Punchihewa has stated that he could have given vital information regarding investigations over the bond scam, Mr Punchihewa advised he had information about a penthouse apartment in Singapore valued at Singapore Dollars 7.6 million, occupied by the family of Arjun Aloysius, which was purchased by a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands.

Schools close for second term on August 1

All Sinhala and Tamil medium government schools would end their second term for 2019 on Thursday (August 1), the Education Ministry announced today.

Kandy Perahera season: Army to provide special security

Army Commander Lt. General Mahesh Senanayake said that steps had been taken to beef up security in Kandy and the surrounding areas, in view of the Esala Perahera season, to enable the general public to watch the Perahera without any fear .

CID director complains over threat

Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shani Abeysekera has lodged a complaint with the Police against Attorney at Law Manoj Gamage over an alleged threat.

Bodies of twin infants found in Ninthavur

Bodies of twin female infants had been found murdered at a house in Ninthavur, Sammanthurai this morning, the Police said.

Unemployed graduates tear-gassed

Police used tear-gas and water cannon to disperse the protesting unemployed graduates near the Lotus Roundabout a short while ago, police said.

Mathematics tutor, 7 others further remanded

Eight suspects, including mathematics tutor Dinesh Nuwan Amaratunga were further remanded till August 5 by the Attanagalle Magistrate’s Court today.

Lotus Road closed due to protest

The Lotus Road in Colombo has been temporarily closed due to a protest staged by a group of unemployed graduates a short while ago, Police said.

Death of mothers during childbirth on the rise

The number of deaths among mothers during childbirth has increased in Sri Lanka with 40 deaths from 100,000 live births said Secretary Sri Lanka Medical Association Dr. Kapila Jayaratne.

Easter Sunday massacre: PM to give evidence before PSC on Aug. 6

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to testify before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe the Easter Sunday attacks. He is due to appear before it on August 6.

Three killed, eight injured in head-on collision

At least three people were killed and eight others were injured when a bus travelling to Jaffna from Colombo collided head-on with a lorry at Mahamalugollewa on the Medawachchiya-Anuradhaura Road last night, police said.

Tamils won’t support any southern leader: Sivajilingam

Former Northern Provincial Council Member M.K. Sivajilingam said that Tamils would not support any Sinhalese or Southern-based candidate at the forthcoming presidential election.

AG declines generation license for Turkish floating power plant

The Attorney General has declined to issue a generation license to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for the purchase of electricity from a 400-megawatt power plant installed in a Turkish ship citing several procedural defects.

Matale Mayor bitterly critical of UNP leadership

Mayor of the UNP-controlled Matale Municipal Council, Daljith Aluvihare, yesterday complained that he was disgusted with his party because it does not possess proper action to run the country.

Finance Ministry says no to Tissa’s daughter’s appointment

Finance Ministry has not given its consent for the proposal by Foreign Affairs Minister Tilak Marapana to appoint Dulmini Attanayake, the daughter of former General Secretary of the United National Party (UNP) as the third secretary in the Sri Lankan Embassy in Australia.

No fake candidates allowed at the Presidential election- EC

The National Elections Commission has informed the political parties that no fake candidates would be allowed at the forthcoming presidential election and if any candidate is found to be a fake candidate he would be severely dealt with.

Govt looking all option to give land: Gayantha

The Government had not abandoned enacting of State Lands (Special Provisions) Bill despite the decision given by the Supreme Court on it, Minister of Lands Gayantha Karunathilaka said today.

Easter bombings in SL likely to be NIA’s first case post amendment of Act

The Easter Sunday bombings case in Sri Lanka is likely to be the first case for the NIA to probe after Parliament amended an Act empowering it to investigate terror cases abroad, officials said on Sunday, the Times of India reported.

Fire at a factory in Ingiriya

A massive fire had broken out at a brush factory in the Ingiriya Town a short while ago, the Police said.

5,924 drunk drivers arrested

A total of 5,924 individuals driving under the influence of liquor, have been arrested as of today, following the implementation of the special operation to arrest drunk drivers, police said.

Water cut in Colombo

A water cut would be imposed until 3.00 p.m today in Kotte, Kaduwela, Maharagama, Boralesgamuwa and Colombo 5,7,8 areas due to a sudden break down in main transmission line, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) announced today.

One killed, another injured in shooting in Kohuwela

A man had been shot dead and another injured when two unidentified gunmen open fired at them while travelling in a Land Cruiser early this morning at Jambugasmulla in Kohuwela.

I will implement programmes envisaged by my father - Sajith

If the people take the correct decision at the end of this year, I will implement all the programmes that were envisaged by my father, the former President Ranasinghe Premadasa, Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa said yesterday.

Reforms to Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act necessary - Jezima Ismail

Muslim women’s rights organisations around the country yesterday urged the government to implement necessary reforms to Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA).

Strict action against garbage importers: Mangala

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said yesterday the importer of the container loads of garbage to Sri Lanka had violated all laws and regulations and assured he would take strict action against those who had imported them.

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.