Showery and windy conditions to continue: Met Dep.

Prevailing showery and windy conditions are expected to continue over South-western part and in Central hilly areas of the island and over the North-western, Western, South-western and Southern sea areas till Saturday (20), the Meteorology Department said today.

Two spill gates of Laxapana reservoir opened

Two spill gates of the Laxapana reservoir have been opened following the incessant showers experienced for the last week, the Disaster Management Centre said today.

Gota’s appeal against HC Trial-at-Bar deferred to September 9

The five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court today deferred to September 9, the appeal petition filed by former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa challenging the Trial-at-Bar order dated January 11, 2019, in the D. A. Rajapaksa Museum case.

EU reiterates its strong opposition to death penalty

The European Union (EU) today reiterated the strong and unequivocal opposition of the EU and its Member States to capital punishment.

Rumassala selfie tragedy: One body found

Body of one of the two youths, who had gone missing after they fell to the sea while they were attempting to take a selfie at Rumassala, Unawatuna on Tuesday (16), was found this morning, the police said.

Postal strike continues as talks fail

Following the failure of discussions with Minister Abdul Haleem last evening, the Joint Postal Trade Union (JPTU) has decided to continue its strike indefinitely.

Health Minister has not influenced me on SLMC activities: Chairman

Referring to the GMOA’s remarks that Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne makes influence on functioning of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) and social media dissemination regarding claims about the SLMC, its Chairman Prof. Harendra de Silva said the Minister had not influenced him on any matter in relation to the proper functioning of the activities of the SLMC.

Independent investigation into April 21 attacks a must: Auxiliary Bishop

What is important is to carry out a proper investigation on the Easter Sunday attacks by an independent committee and to reveal who was really responsible for the carnage, Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo J. A. Anthony Jayakody said yesterday.

Wheat flour companies will be brought down to their knees: Buddhika

Wheat flour companies would be brought down to their knees just as we did to milk powder companies, if they try to increase wheat flour prices arbitrarily, Industry and Commerce acting minister Buddhika Pathirana said yesterday.

PSC to finalise report on April 21 attack in August

The Parliamentary Select Committee probing the Easter Sunday attacks is to finalise its reports by August 25 this year, a member of it said yesterday.

Met Dept. forecasts squall

The Department of Meteorology yesterday warned of rough seas and heavy showers exceeding 100mm in the island during the coming days.

Buddhasasana Minister deplores Ranjan’s statement

The remarks made by State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake in regards to a group of Buddhist monks were vehemently deplored by Minister of Buddhasasana Gamini Jayawickrama Perera at a media briefing held in Polonnaruwa on Tuesday.

PM advises Ranjan not to hurt feelings of Maha Sangha

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has advised State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake to refrain from utterances that would hurt the feelings of the Maha Sangha in future, it was revealed today.

Airmen among A’pura base camp fuel theft

Five suspects, including an air force soldier handling disciplinary matters and a leading airman who were apprehended on suspicion over the theft of 2900 liters of fuel stocked for the use of the Anuradhapura SLAF Base Camp, were refused bail by the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Janaka Prasanna Samarasinghe, when they were produced in court on Monday (15) and ordered to be remanded until July 29.

SLC coaching staff urged to step down

Minister of Sports Harin Fernando today urged the entire coaching staff of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to step down after the home series against Bangladesh.

Substandard bowsers bought in 2018, received without checks

The five oil bowsers that were procured in 2018 were found to have defects and Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd (CPSTL) had received them without carrying out the proper inspection on the vehicles and realising the consequences it would cause in the future.

Police vehicles, the major traffic lawbreakers: Dayasiri

In a shocking exposure, General Secretary of the SLFP, Dayasiri Jayasekara today revealed that none of the police vehicles has full insurance, revenue licence and vehicle emission test certificates and added if anyone had met with an accident involving a police vehicle, the compensation has to be paid by the police driver.

Harshana Dissanayake, most popular sportsman of the year

Young chess champion Harshana Dissanayake of Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala has bagged the presidential award for the ‘most popular sportsman of the year’ at Presidential Sports Awards held at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre this evening.

Prez, PM rift leads country nowhere: SLPP

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) today said the conflict of opinion between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was leading the country astray.

Vehicular movement on E01 returns to normal

The vehicular movement, which was restricted on the Southern Expressway (E01) between Kahathuduwa and Kottawa after a bowser toppled over at the ninth mile post, has returned to normal, the Road Development Authority (RDA) said.

Cabinet SC plotting to prevent Batti Campus taken over: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today alleged that the Cabinet Sub Committee appointed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was planning to prevent the Batticaloa Campus being taken over as recommended by the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Education in its report presented in parliament.

Heavy traffic in Town Hall

Heavy traffic was reported in the Town Hall area due to a protest march organised by the university students.

Mahela to apply for Indian cricket head coach post?

As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invited fresh applications for the head coach and support staff of the cricket team, Indian media has reported that some of the candidates who are likely to apply for the post include Mahela Jayawardane as well.

Anticipatory bail application of NPC Secretary rejected

The anticipatory bail application filed by National Police Commission Secretary and former Additional Defence Secretary Saman Dissanayake, seeking to prevent the arrest him over the Avant-Garde floating armoury case was rejected by the Colombo Fort Magistrate today.

Kanjipani Imran’s father files motion Citing B Report as erroneous

The father of notorious drug kingpin Mohommad Najim Mohammad Imran, alias Kanjipani Imran, had filed a motion in the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court citing that the B-Report submitted by the police to the Court relating to his son was erroneous.

Bread up by Rs.5 from tonight: AIBOA

After the increase of the price of wheat flour by Rs.8 per kg, All Island Bakery Owners’ Association (AIBOA) had decided to increase the price of a loaf of bread by Rs.5 from midnight today.

CMC waste transported to Aruwakkalu

The transporting of solid waste from Colombo to Aruwakkalu began yesterday, the Megapolis and Western Development Ministry said.

World CUP trophy could have been shared: Dav Whatmore

Former Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore Tuesday weighed in on the boundary count rule which handed England the World Cup, and said that the trophy could have been shared with New Zealand as it would have been a fair reflection of the two teams’ “tenacity”.

Congress and BJP spar over proposed Sita temple in Sri Lanka

Accusing the Madhya Pradesh government of “checking the facts” instead of executing his proposal to build a temple to Sita at Divurumpola in Sri Lanka, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that he is “surprised that this Kamal Nath government is talking about checking the facts”.

PC Elections - EC officials may meet Prez on overcoming snags

Elections Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Desapriya said yesterday EC officials were likely to meet President Maithripala Sirisena this week to discuss the steps that need be taken to clear the ground for conducting the provincial council elections.