Will present a Cabinet paper to amend MMDA: Faizer

UPFA MP Faizer Mustapha today said all Muslim MPs have unanimously decided to amend the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) and accordingly, a Cabinet paper would be presented to amend it soon.

Our candidate will certainly win: MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa today said the presidential candidate they would field would certainly win the election.

Sajith’s wife speaks as future first lady

Jalani Premadasa, the wife of Sajith Premadasa on Saturday addressing and event said that she appeared before them as the first lady of future leader of the country.

Will declare National Day of Mourning if bill against death penalty presented: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena said today he would declare a National Day of Mourning if a bill to abolish the death penalty was brought before Parliament.

12 youths on way for boat ride arrested with narcotics in Mirissa

A group of 12 youths who were about to leave for a boat ride from the Mirissa Harbour were arrested over the possession of various narcotics on Saturday, police said.

Western Australia earthquake: No tsunami threat to Sri Lanka

There was no tsunami threat to Sri Lanka at present from the 6.5 magnitude earthquake that had hit off the West Australian Coast, the National Tsunami Early Warning Centre of the Meteorology Department said today.

Death threats: Police launches probe over MP Roshan’s complaint

The Senior DIG of the North Central Province had been instructed to launch a probe into the complaint made by UPFA MP Roshan Ranasinghe that he was threatened by President Maithripala Sirisena’s brother Dudley, police said today.

Army cab topples in Mullaitivu: One killed, eight injured

One soldier was killed and eight others were injured when a cab they were travelling in had veered off the road and toppled this morning at Kepapilau in Mullaitivu , Army Spokesman Brigadier Sumith Atapattu said.

Sri Lankan arrested for using Filipina wife as cybersex slave

A Sri Lankan national was arrested by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the Philippines for turning his Filipina wife into a cybersex slave, the GMA News reported.

PM distributes land deeds

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe while participating in a function organised to distribute land deeds to the landless in Nawalapitiya, said the opposition cannot even conduct a proper debate in parliament. Minister of Lands and Parliamentary Affairs, Gayantha Karunatilleke and Minister of National Enterprise and Hill Country Development, Lakshman Kiriella, also participated in the event. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

CMC inspects Colombo Sports Club kitchens

The Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) inspected 12 sports clubs throughout the week and took legal action against six of them for maintaining their kitchens in an unhygienic manner in violation of food safety regulations.

Initial project of Google Transit facility launched

Making a giant transformation in the transport sector, the National Transport Commission (NTC) launched the initial project in introducing the Google Transit facility in Sri Lanka to assist in easy public transportation.

Kalmunai north gets fully fledged divisional secretariat

The government has set up a fully-fledged divisional secretariat in Kalmunai north having acceded to a request by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) ahead of the vote on the no-confidence motion on Thursday, a parliamentarian said yesterday.

Prez’s brother threatened to kill me: Roshan Ranasinghe

An impartial investigation will be carried out on allegations made by UPFA MP Roshan Ranasinghe was threatened by President Maithripala Sirisena’s brother Dudley Sirisena, State Minister of Defence, Ruwan Wijewardene told Parliament yesterday.

Railway Unions warn of strike action

Railway Trade Union Alliance (RTUA) warned that they would stage another railway strike if all the casual employees of the Railway Department were not made permanent immediately.

Attending a ITN TV programme - I was stopped on Prez’s instructions: Hirunika

UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra yesterday raised a privilege issue alleging that under the advice of President Maithripala Sirisena, she had been prevented from participating in a TV programme on July 1 telecast on ITN.

TNA voted for NCM on promise of a separate divisional secretariat: Dayasiri

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs voted for no confidence motion against the Government on Thursday on the promise pledged by the Government that it would grant a separate divisional secretariat for them, SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara alleged yesterday.

NCM against Bathiudeen - If Muslim ministers sworn in

UPFA MP Dilan Perera said yesterday if the Muslim ministers, state ministers and the deputy minister, who resigned from their posts in support of MP Rishad Bathiudeen were sworn in again, the joint opposition would move a no-confidence motion against Mr. Bathiudeen.

Defeat of NCM, a show of confidence in Govt: PM

Parliament has accepted that the government had done its part to arrest those responsible for the April 21 bomb attack by rejecting the no-confidence motion (NCM) against the government, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Epidemiological and statistical study - On allegations against Dr. Shafi

The opposition yesterday urged the government to conduct an epidemiological and statistical study into the allegations against Obstetrician and Gynecologist Dr. Shafi Shiabdeen of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital without trying to sweep the allegations under the carpet.

Appoint properly qualified officials as diplomats: JVP

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP Nalinda Jayatissa today alleged that the government had appointed A/L qualified personnel who had no experience in the Foreign Service as Ambassadors and High Commissioners to some important countries such as Britain similar to what happened during the previous regime.

Abolition of Death Penalty - House approves Bill for gazetting

Parliament today approved a motion calling for the gazetting of the ‘Abolition of the Death Penalty Bill’ deviating from the procedure to refer it to the Attorney General.

CPC didn’t import low grade 92 octane petrol: Anoma Gamage

Referring to the complaint lodged by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has imported low grade 92 octane petrol, Petroleum Resources Development Deputy Minister Anoma Gamage said the particular sample had been taken for testing from a Lanka IOC fuel filling station.

Man trained by Zharan arrested

The Terrorist Investigations Division (TID) today arrested Mohammed Thajudeen Aship Ahamad, who had received armed training from Easter Sunday mastermind Mohammad Zharan in the Nuwara Eliya, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

India monitoring SL protests against SOFA

India is keeping a close watch as protests grow in Sri Lanka over the proposed Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the US, which could enable the setting up of an American military base in Sri Lanka, the Economic Times reported today.

Parliament adjourned till July 23

The Parliament session was adjourned until July 23 due to lack of quorum in the chamber today.

Dharmasena and Madugalle to officiate in World Cup final

Kumar Dharmasena and Marais Erasmus will umpire the World Cup final at Lord’s on Sunday while Ranjan Madugalle will be the match referee, it has been confirmed by the ICC.

Hearing of FR petition against Hemasiri, Pujith postponed to July 25

The hearing of the fundamental rights petition filed against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and IGP Pujith Jayasundara over the Easter Sunday attacks, was postponed to July 25 by the Supreme Court today.

Eight police officers transferred based on service requirements

Eight police officers including five superintendents of police (SP), two assistant superintendents of police (ASP) and an inspector of police (IP), have been transferred based on service requirements, police said today.

UK arrests three men for illegally importing diazepam from SL

Three men were arrested for importing more than 350,000 illegal diazepam tablets from Sri Lanka to Wales, UK, Wales Online reported yesterday.