Railway strike to continue: TU

Despite the Government declaring train services as Essential Service, the Railway Trade Union (RTUA) Co-Convener Lal Ariyaratne said that they would continue their weekly trade union action from tomorrow midnight.

Education Minister’s message not new, printed since 1980: Akila

While rejecting claims made by a certain media outlets, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam today said that the State had not incurred any loss because of the printing of Education Ministers’ message with the photo on school textbooks.

PSC postpones Bathiudeen hearing to Friday

Parliament Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe Easter Sunday attack postponed the hearing of evidence from former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen to Friday despite his presence before the PSC today due to the absence of three members of the Committee.

CBK awarded 2019 Common Ground Award

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was awarded the 2019 Common Ground Award by Search for Common Ground at a reception organised in her honour at the Cholmondeley Room, House of Lords in London last week.

Mastermind has been at Colombo embassy for two months

Abdulla Luthfee, the mastermind behind the terror plot of 1988 which killed 19 Maldivians, has been at the Maldivian Embassy in Sri Lanka for nearly two months until May, Maldivian authorities have confirmed.

Army Commander commences giving evidence before PSC

Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake a short while ago commenced giving evidence before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

SL tells UN it has made significant progress to ensure security of all

Briefing the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Sri Lanka said it has made significant progress in assuring the security of all Sri Lankans and upholding law and order through the implementation of relevant laws and legal processes.

Railways Dept. seeks retired staffers

With the government declaring railways as an essential service, the Railways Department had called retired employees back to service, an official said.

Modi’s visit is proof that Sri Lanka is safe: John

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka is a proof that the country is safe, Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said.

Whoever wins presidency should abolish 19A - President

President Maithripala Sirisena said that whoever comes to power at the next Presidential poll should abolish the 19th Amendment to the Constitution to create stability in the country.

President signs execution of four drug offenders

President Maithripala Sirisena today said that he had signed the documents for the execution of four big-time drug offenders currently convicted and awaiting death sentence and that it would be carried out soon.

SL refugees seek Indian citizenship

Scores of Sri Lankan refugees living in various camps in Virudhunagar district on Monday submitted separate petitions seeking Indian citizenship to Collector A. Sivagnanam.

Janaposha suspends free meals at hospitals due to misconstruals

The Janaposha Foundation said it has suspended its free meals project at hospitals with immediate effect saying that their noble intention of serving the poor and destitute had been misconstrued.

Court issued warrant on one respondent

In the Contempt of Court application filed against Sri Lanka Medical Council members over their failure to register a SAITM student according to the Supreme Court Judgement, the Court of Appeal yesterday issued a warrant against one respondent for failing to appear in court and directed another three respondents to submit reasons over their absence.

Lift operator complaints against IGP Pujith

The Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake ordered the CID yesterday to conduct an investigation over the incident where it has been alleged that IGP Pujith Jayasundera had arrived at the CID without prior notice and abused the police officers who were at the reception counter and had used criminal force on the lift operator.

Cabinet approves LTLCPGP

The Cabinet yesterday approved the Long Term Less Cost Power Generation Plan (LTLCPGP) of the Power, Energy and Business Development Ministry and also the proposal submitted to resolve salary dispute of engineers of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Minister Ravi Karunanayaka said.

Prez insists on a close scrutiny prior to approval

President Maithripala Sirisena told the Cabinet meeting yesterday that each clause of the agreement with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the United States should be scrutinized before it was approved by Parliament.

Female public servants - Can wear saree, ’osariya’ or other decent dress

The Cabinet today decided to amend the circular on the dress code for public servants, enabling them to wear any decent clothes without covering their faces.

CB Bond Scam - Parallel inquiry postponed for Aug.29

The parallel magisterial inquiry into the CB bond scam with regard to the deletion of phone call data from Perpetual Treasuries Ltd voice recording system and the alleged fabrication of evidence to the Bond Commission was postponed for August 29 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate today.

Court issues notice on Wennappuwa PS Chairman

The Marawila Magistrate’s Court today issued notice on Wennappuwa Pradesiya Sabha Chairman K.V Susantha Perera and five others on their decision to ban Muslims to trade at the Dankotuwa sathi pola (market), police said.

Presidential election - Our candidate will have a degree and vision: SLPP

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said today it would reveal its presidential candidate on August 11 and that the candidate would be someone who had a bachelors degree and a vision apart from experience and other qualifications.

Cabinet approves tablets to GCE Advanced Level students

The Cabinet today approved the proposal made by Education Minister Akila Wiraj Kariyawasam to distribute tablets among GCE A/L students and teachers.

China removes travel advisory on SL

China has removed its travel advisory on Sri Lanka from June 22, a spokesman said.

Man shot dead in Kaleniya

The owner of a jewellery shop which sells imitation jewellery in Kaleniya, was killed when two unidentified gunmen opened fire at him this evening, police said.

Dr. Shafi files FR petition, says allegations of illegal sterilisation false

A fundamental rights petition filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen states that the allegation of illegal sterilization is false and is a result of personal jealousy which followed the purchasing of a block of land in Kurunegala.

Five soldiers killed in train-bowser truck accident

Five soldiers were killed while two others injured when an Army bowser truck collided with the Yal Devi Train at Kilinochchi this afternoon, the Army Spokesperson said.

Army Commander and Bathiudeen before PSC tomorrow

Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake and former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen have been summoned to appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on the Easter Sunday attacks.

US relaxes travel advisory on Sri Lanka

The US State Department has relaxed its travel advisory for Sri Lanka, the US Embassy said.

24-hour water cut in Colombo and suburbs

The water supply to several areas in the Colombo suburbs would be interrupted for 24 hours starting from 9.00 a.m tomorrow (26) due to essential maintenance work, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) announced today.

Dehiwela hardware shop owner stabbed to death by robber

The owner of a building material shop near Waidya Road in Dehiwala was stabbed to death by a man who broke into the shop last afternoon, police said.