Lonely Planet chief due in Colombo

The chief of international travel guide book publisher Lonely Planet is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka in coming weeks, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) Chairman Kishu Gomes said yesterday. Lonely Planet last year ranked Sri Lanka as the top country for travel in 2019.

Biggest decline from China, arrivals from Russia intact

Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals in May fell 70 percent year-on-year (YoY) to 37,000 in the aftermath of Easter Sunday attacks, with the largest decline in arrivals recording from China.

Man found dead inside car in Athurugiriya

A 48-year-old man was found dead inside a car in Athurugiriya early this morning, police said. The Athurugiriya Police found the body following an information received to the police hotline number.

Zahran was engaged in extremism from 2013: DIG Nalaka

Former TID DIG Nalaka Silva yesterday said that National Thawheeth Jama’ath (NTJ) Leader Mohammed Zahran had been engaged in extremism from 2013 while he had embraced violent extremism from the year 2016.

MS agrees to appoint UNP MP as State Minister of Law and Order

Sounding what appears to be a conciliatory note, President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have agreed to appoint two members of the United National Party (UNP) one of them as the Minister of Media and the other as the State Minister of Law and Order.

President does not agree

President Maithripala Sirisena is reportedly not in agreement with the move to purchase a bullet proof vehicle for the use of Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Opposition says bad precedent

The opposition yesterday said the decision by all Muslim ministers to resign was not only a bad precedent but also a ‘spectacle’ which lacked transparency.

Muslim ministers, state ministers resign - Vacancies not likely to be filled

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has decided not to fill the Cabinet vacancies arising from the resignation of three Muslim ministers, a reliable government source said yesterday.

Prez ready to forge ahead with UNF Govt.

In what is seen as an extension of his conciliatory note to the government, President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have told the Cabinet yesterday that he was ready to forge ahead with the United National Front (UNF) if there was a fresh outlook for it.

Kiriella invites UPFA to participate in PSC

House Leader Lskshman Kiriella today invited the UPFA to participate in the proceedings of Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to inquire into the Easter Sunday attacks.

Rathana Thera’s protest swept main issues under carpet: Ven. Gnanasara

Because of the hunger strike launched by Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera outside the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, the main issues that should be focused upon have been swept under the carpet, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera said.

Air Vice Marshal Sudharshana Pathirana as new airforce chief of staff

The Air Forcehe Commander Air Marshal D.L.S Dias appointed Air Vice Marshal Sudharshana Pathirana as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force today.

PSC - Summoning intelligence officers may risk their lives: MR

Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa today urged the government not to put the lives of intelligence officers in danger by summoning them before the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe Easter Sunday attack.

Even the Prez and PM must resign: Bimal

JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake said today not only the Muslim Ministers but also the whole government including the President and the Prime Minister should resign over the Easter Sunday attack.

Colombo Archdiocese condemns Mangala’s tweet

The Archdiocese of Colombo today condemned the tweet posted by Minister Mangala Samaraweera saying, ‘Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith had fanned the flames of hatred and communalism by visiting Athuraliye Rathana Thera who was fasting in Kandy’.

NCM against govt. to take up on July 9, 10

The party leaders who met in parliament today have decided to take up the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against the government on July 9 and 10 in parliament, Leader of the House, Lakshamn Kiriella said.

Did Managala express govt. view? Wimal

Opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa today asked whether the statement made by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera that the Cardinal was engaged in fanning flames of hatred is the official stance of the government.

Nalaka De Silva appears before PSC on Easter attacks

Former DIG of Terrorist Investigation Division (TID), Nalaka De Silva today appeared before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into Easter Sunday attacks.

Police Committee to accept complaints against Sally, Hizbullah, Rishad

The three-member committee comprising senior police officers has been appointed to receive complaints against former Western Province Governor Azath Salley, former Eastern Province Governor M. L. A. M. Hizbullah, and former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Muzammil sworn in as Governor of Western Province

A. J. M. Muzammil was sworn in as the new Governor of the Western Province before President Maithripala Sirisena.

Met Dept. warns of sea surge

The Meteorology Department today warned that there is a possibility of surging of the sea along the coastal areas from Mannar to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle.

Amith Weerasinghe released on bail

Mahasohon Balakaya leader Amith Weerasinghe was released on bail by the Colombo Additional Magistrate’s Court today.

SL the first country that recovered fast after IS attack: Mangala

Sri Lanka was the first country in the world which was able to recover fast after an IS terror attack, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said.

Sterilisation story, 'highly unlikely’: Prof. Senanayake

Professor Hemantha Senanayake, Head of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo and Former Chairperson of Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists speaking to the Daily Mirror said despite allegations still being levelled, the ’’sterilisation story is highly unlikely’’

Minister’s picture causes bloated costs: PCol told

When printing school textbooks for 2018 and 2019, the Education Ministry had included a message of Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam along with his photograph and it had incurred considerable loss to the government, it was observed at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) to investigate the corruption of the current administration yesterday.

Loss from VAT, NBT to reach Rs.26bn by year end: CBSL

In an assessment of the damage caused to the economy as a result of the Easter Sunday attacks, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) put the revenue loss from VAT and NBT alone at approximately Rs.26 billion for the remaining period of the year. The CBSL said pending economic activities would slacken thereby affecting revenue collection.

Govt. turning blind eye to hotbed of extremism: SLPP

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said yesterday the government had turned a blind eye to the rise of extremism while proceeding with the witch-hunt of the Rajapaksa family.

Country belongs to people, not to its rulers: Cardinal

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith who visited MP Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thera during his fast unto death said the problem would not have blown out of proportion today if President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had acted against those who discreetly aided and abetted the terrorist attacks.

All Muslim ministers decide to resign

All Muslim ministers including cabinet, state and deputy ministers have decided to resign from their portfolios, Minister Rauff Hakeem said today.

EC amenable to PC polls sans delimitation process

The Elections Commission today indicated to the Court of Appeal (CA) that he was, in principle, willing to conduct Provincial Council elections without recourse to delimitation process.