Govt. to compensate 31,000 political victims in next two months

The government will pay compensation to some 31,000 public servants in the next two months who have been subjected to political victimisation between 2005 and 2015, a spokesman to the Prime Minister’s office said recently.

Concerns over tensions after Easter Sunday attacks: UNHR Chief

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet today said that she was concerned that the terrorist attacks two months ago in Sri Lanka have fuelled increasing tensions.

UNP yet to decide on presidential candidate: Ravi

Power and Energy Minister Ravi Karunanayake said today the United National Party (UNP) had not yet decided on its presidential candidate though several party members had made comments about a person perceived to be fielded.

SL getting USD 2 billion from UK, US: PM

Sri Lanka is to receive a sum of US 2 billion from UK and USA, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

Constitution-making comes to a grinding halt

The Constitution-making process of the government has come to a standstill as the Steering Committee on Constitutional Reforms has not met since January this year, Daily Mirror learns.

Presidential poll three-pronged: Vijitha Herath

JVP Propaganda Secretary and MP Vijitha Herath said the forthcoming presidential election would most probably be a three-cornered fight between the JVP, UNF and the SLPP or SLFP.

176 children lost their parents in dastardly Easter Sunday attacks

One hundred and seventy-six children have lost either both or one of their parents in the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith told the foreign media during his recent visit to Rome.

Akila wanted his mugshot on school textbooks: Ilangasinghe

Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has instructed former Commissioner General of the Education Publications Department I.M.K.B. Ilangasinghe to include his photograph when printing school textbooks for future prospects, it was revealed today at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) to investigate the corruption of the current administration.

Three ex-LTTE members indicted over killing 26 Army, Navy personnel

The Attorney General (AG) indicted three former LTTE members at the Vavuniya High Court over the killing of 26 Sri Lanka Army and Navy personnel who were kept as prisoners during the last phase of the war.

April 21 blasts: AG directs criminal probe on ex-Defence Secy.

Considering the recommendations in the final report of the special board of inquiry appointed to inquire the Easter attacks, Attorney General Dappula de Livera has instructed the Acting IGP to initiate criminal investigations against former Secretary to the Defence Ministry Hemasiri Fernando over his failure to prevent or minimise the terrorist attacks, Coordinating Officer to AG, SC Nishara Jayaratne told Daily Mirror.

Glad President fathomed 19A an utter mess: MR

It is great that President Maithripala Sirisena has finally realised the 19th Amendment to the Constitution is a mess, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

Doctors launch token strike in Kalutara

The Government Doctors of the Kalutara District have commenced a token strike from noon today alleging that Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne was importing substandard medicine used by pregnant mothers and children, GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr Naveen de Soysa said.

Wellampitiya copper factory employee re-remanded

An employee, who worked at the copper factory owned by Insaf Ahmad, one of the Shangri La suicide bombers, had been re-remanded till July 8 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage today.

FR Petition filed by Pujith re-fixed for July 31

The Fundamental Rights Petition filed by former IGP Pujith Jayasundera against the President’s decision to send him on compulsory leave has been re-fixed for support on July 31 by the Supreme Court today.

Presidential candidate is Gotabaya: Basil

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) front liner Basil Rajapaksa said at a meeting of its parliamentarians that Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa would declare on August 11 the presidential candidate of his party.

Indonesia earthquake - No harm to Sri Lanka: Met Dept.

Meteorology Department Director of Forecasting, Anusha Warnasuriya told Daily Mirror that there was no harm to Sri Lanka following the deep earthquake of magnitude 7.5 that struck off the coasts of East Timor and Indonesia today.

How did Hizbullah obtain Rs. 3 bn from Saudi Arabia?

The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education and Human Resources Development in Parliament has recommended that an inquiry be held to find out how Rs. 3000 million had been channelled to Batticaloa Campus (pvt) Ltd.

Deshapriya threatens to quit as EC head

Chairman of the Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya threatened to quit as EC head if a presidential election was conducted without holding the provincial council elections first.

’Rathana Thera attempting to create rift among people’

Athuraliya Thera is trying to bring about a split between the Tamils and Muslims in the North and East, while engaging in the same ploy with the Muslims and Sinhalese in the South, Trincomalee Parliamentarian Abdullah Maharoof said in a media release issued yesterday.

Development is easy, when Govt. is a single party - PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the development work and other things are easy when the government is a single party driven one.

Indrani Wijebandara passes away

Popular yester-year songstress Indrani Wijebandara (Senaratne) passed away this afternoon at the National Hospital in Colombo at the age of 83, family sources said.

Fake document centre raided in Ratnapura

A house in Ratnapura, where counterfeit government documents were processed, had been raided by the Wellawaya Police yesterday, with two suspects being arrested so far.

1990 ambulance service now countrywide

With the launch of the 1990 Suwaseriya Ambulance Service in the Eastern Province today, the service was now available in all nine provinces of the country, officials said.

18A, 19A should be abolished, says President

President Maithripala Sirisena today said that both 18th and 19th Amendments to the Constitution should be abolished.

Expect more showers: Met Dept.

The Meteorology Department said today that several spells of showers would occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

No 6-pack but Malinga still a big-game hunter: Mahela

Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene praised Lasith Malinga for his ability to step up in big games after the paceman inspired his country’s shock World Cup win over England.

Sangaree expels two of members from TULF

The deputy mayor and a councillor of the Kalmunai Municipal Council had been expelled from their party membership of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), over allegations of corruption.

Waves sweep four out to sea at Yala, two dies

A girl and her father were drowned while her sister and mother hospitalised after the waves swept them away to the seas off Yala in Kirinda this morning, police said.

Six Indians arrested at BIA for attempting to smuggle gold

Six Indian nationals were arrested while attempting to smuggle gold biscuits worth Rs. 3 million to Chennai at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

Country needs brave leadership that loves people: MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that what Sri Lanka needed in the future is a brave leadership that loved its people.