Japan-SL talks on East Container Terminal

Japanese Premier’s special adviser Hiroto Izumi yesterday called on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to develop the East Container Terminal of the Colombo South Harbour as a joint venture partnership with Sri Lanka and India.

IS was initially unaware of Easter attacks-top official

The Islamic State (IS) may have claimed responsibility for the Easter terror attacks in Sri Lanka, but its chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was initially not aware of the horrific serial bombings, according to a top official familiar with the probe, the Hindu reported today.

Gota becoming presidential candidate a mere dream: Duminda

The Rajapaksas have ruled the country more than enough and therefore the electorate must choose a leader not related to the Rajapaksa family for the upcoming Presidential poll and at the Parliamentary election that would follow, Propaganda Secretary of the SLFP, Former Minister Duminda Dissanayaka said yesterday.

PM and several ministers to be called before PSC?

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, State Minister of Defence, Ruwan Wijewardene, and two former Law and Order Ministers are scheduled to be called before the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Easter Sunday attacks.

Easter Sunday attack: All living suspects have been arrested: PM

All living suspects responsible for the Easter Sunday bomb attacks have been apprehended by the security forces so far as two months have elapsed since the carnage, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Emergency regulations extended by another month

An extraordinary gazette notification was issued extending the emergency regulations by another month.w

UNP-led political alliance - Several SLFP MPs as electorate organisers

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MPs are to be appointed as electorate organizers in the proposed political alliance led by the United National Party (UNP) ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

SriLankan airlines: Questionable US citizen appointed CCO

The Opposition yesterday claimed that the government had appointed a corrupt and inefficient US citizen as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of SriLankan airlines paying a monthly allowance of Rs.3.5 million.

DIG questioned over Dr. Shafi issue

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday recorded an eight hour statement from Kurunegala DIG Wasantha Kithsiri Jayalath over the alleged sterilization of women by Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Shafi Shihabdeen of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital.

Police top brass reshuffled following Easter Sunday report

Police Headquarters announced a sudden reshuffle on the police top brass last night where senior most officers in charge of Western Province and the Colombo District were transferred elsewhere with immediate effect, in a bid to support probes prescribed by the recent Presidential Report on Easter Sunday attacks.

Residence earlier used by Kabir Hashim: Kiriella

Responding to reports about the financial allocation for the renovation of a house belonging to the Public Enterprises Development ministry, Minister Lakshman Kiriella told in Parliament yesterday that it was used by his predecessor Minister Kabir Hashim only.

Sri Lanka beat England by 20 runs

Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga achieved Men’s Cricket World Cup career-bests to set up a thrilling 20-run victory for Sri Lanka over England.

NTJ, JMI and WAS banned under PTA

The Parliament today approved the regulations under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act to ban three Muslim organisations -- National Thawheed Jama’at (NTJ), Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem (JMI) and Wilayat As Seylani (WAS).

Advanced Level cut off marks by mid July

Cut off marks for university entrance for 2019 will be released by the second week of next month, Acting Higher Education Minister Lucky Jayawaradane said today.

UNP to launch election campaign on July 1: Akila

The United National Party (UNP) will launch its election campaign from July 1, General Secretary and Minister, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today.

UK Minister Mark Field suspended after grabbing protester by neck

UK Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field, has been suspended as a minister after a video showed him pushing a female Greenpeace activist against a pillar and grabbing her neck while she protested at the chancellor’s Mansion House speech, The Guardian reported.

Modi thanks President for popularising yoga

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today thanked President Maithripala Sirisena for his efforts taken to popularise yoga.

AG requests CJ to appoint three-member bench over Welikada prison riots

The Attorney General Dappula de Livera has requested Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya to appoint a three-member Special High Court Trial-at-Bar over the Welikada Prison riots in 2012.

US downgrades SL in human trafficking report

The US has downgraded Sri Lanka in its annual Trafficking in Persons Report which was released on Thursday.

Oversight Committee recommends govt. to takeover Batti Campus

The Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Education in its report presented in parliament today recommended that the government should immediately take over the controversial Batticaloa Campus under the provisions of emergency regulations.

15-hour water cut in Colombo suburbs

The water supply to several areas in suburbs of Colombo would be interrupted for 15 hours from 9.00 am tomorrow (22) till 12.00 midnight owing to a power interruption by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) announced today.

Madras HC permits 65 Lankans to apply for Indian citizenship

Hearing a plea for Indian citizenship by 65 Tamils from Sri Lanka - the descendants of indentured labourers - the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has permitted them to submit a fresh application seeking citizenship to the District Collector concerned.

Kuliyapitiya vehicle assembly plant investor given deadline

The investor of the Western Automobile vehicle assembly project in Kuliyapitiya is said to be given a deadline of two months to set up the proposed vehicle assembly plant. This was revealed by Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama in parliament last morning.

Govt. hiding truth over Easter attacks: cardinal

The head of the Catholic church in Sri Lanka on Thursday issued a scathing criticism of the government over the Easter attacks that killed more than 250 people, decrying a “total lack of interest” in determining why intelligence reports were ignored.

20 trains operated, 45 cancelled: GMR

Despite the ongoing strike by railway trade unions, nearly 20 trains including nine office trains and the Jaffna-Colombo train (Yal Devi) were operated this morning bringing the office crowd to Colombo, Railways General Manager (GMR) Dilantha Fernando said.

I alerted TID when Zaharan spoke of jihadism in 2016 - Abdul Razick

Ceylon Thawheed Jama’ath (CTJ) General Secretary Abdul Razick who testified before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) looking into the Easter Sunday Attacks, yesterday said he had informed Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) about National Thawheed Jama’ath (NTJ) Chief Zaharan about violent attacks in 2016.

Finance Ministry seeks approval for rail project in Colombo

The Finance Ministry has sought Cabinet approval for the implementation of a Mass Rapid Transit Project (MRTP) in Colombo connecting the Port City with Negombo through rail links, the Daily Mirror learns.

Zaharan came to Akkaraipattu a month prior to April 21 attack

Sri Lanka Thowheed Jamath (SLTJ) President A. K. Hisham said yesterday he had informed intelligence officers that the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks Zaharan Hashim had come to Akkaraipattu in a Prado a month prior to when the attacks took place.

Maithripala Sirisena to be SLFP contender?

Though not officially announced, President Maithripala Sirisena would be the absolute choice of the SLFP as its presidential candidate at the forthcoming polls, UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera said yesterday.

Sajith Premadasa next president: Thalatha

Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorala said yesterday that Minister Sajith Premadasa will definitely be the next president of the country and that he would get the blessings of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in this regard.