PC polls: EC wants Govt. to intervene

The Elections Commission wants direct intervention by the government to conduct provincial council polls before the presidential election and has sought a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena to take a final decision on this matter.

We must live Buddha’s teachings to build peaceful society: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena said in his Vesak message that people must recollect the teachings of the Buddha to build a society with boundless peace by shunning all attempts to destroy each other for greed for power.

Dayasiri gives statement over incidents in NW Province

UPFA MP Dayasiri Jayasekara arrived at the Office of Deputy Inspector General (Colombo Division) to give a statement over the recent violent incidents in the North Western Province.

May Vesak replace malice with virtue, hatred with love: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his Vesak message yesterday expressed the hope that the full moon of Vesak will replace malice with virtue, hatred with love, injustice with righteousness and falsehood with truth.

May all forces of darkness be defeated this Vesak: MR

In his Vesak message, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday, ’’May all forces of darkness, ignorance, bigotry and hatred towards others be defeated in this Vesak’’.

Douse flames of hatred through love: Cardinal

Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith urged the followers of all faiths to make spirituality the centre of their lives and to live with love which was the ultimate truth taught by all religions.

Govt. won’t allow terror groups to disrupt Vesak: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has assured that the government will not allow any terror group to disrupt today’s celebration of Vesak.

People will send kids to schools if MPs, ministers do the same: MR

If the children and grandchildren of all ministers and MPs go back to school on Tuesday, the people will also send their children to schools without any fear,” Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.

India pledges support to SL to combat Jihadi terrorism

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu said today they would offer India’s fullest support to Sri Lanka in dealing with the common threat of Jihadi terrorism.

Sectoral committee suggests conversion into public-private institute

The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education and Human Resource Development has discussed the conversion of the Shariya University in Batticaloa into a public-private institution with the university management yesterday.

Peace restored, those creating unrest will be punished: Police

Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said today that peace had been restored in the entire country and warned that stern action would be taken against anyone who sabotaged the calm environment that now prevails.

Ban on social media lifted

The temporary ban on social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber, YouTube and Instagram has been lifted, Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) said.

Police seize 21 bags of ammonia nitrate

Twenty-one bags of ammonia nitrate that had been hidden inside a cage at the Asgiriya Police Kennel Unit was seized yesterday by the Kandy police.

Wellampitiya copper factory employee re-remanded

An employee, who worked at the copper factory owned by one of the Shangri-La Suicide Bombers, had been re-remanded till May 30 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage today.

Not raided, employee taken into custody at an undisclosed location: Virtusa

With reference to recent news reports, Virtusa Ltd. made a clarification and said its facility was not raided but a single employee was taken into custody while at an undisclosed location.

CDS assures Islamic nation envoys of security cover

A top military officer ensured the envoys of Islamic countries that a team of eight army personnel had been stationed at each police station concerned to assist the police in the event of any communal riot, the Daily Mirror learns.

US reiterates strong support for SL in its fight against terrorism

US State Secretary Michael Pompeo who met with Foreign Affairs Minister Tilak Marapana, has reiterated strong US support for Sri Lanka in its fight against terrorism, a statement said.

Principal and teacher linked to NTJ arrested

Two suspects alleged to have close links with the National Thowheed Jama’at (NTJ), were arrested at Horowpathana yesterday, police said.

Soldier in Nattanidiya video not at fault: Army Commander

Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake said yesterday the soldier who was seen in a CCTV video as having made a hand gesture to a mob during a violent incident that occurred in Nattanidiya in Thummodara last Monday, and was found to be not at fault.

Easter attacks pose no major threat to SL’s debt repayment ability: IMF

The recent Easter Sunday bombings and the resultant economic slowdown don’t pose a major threat to Sri Lanka’s debt refinancing capacity, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Number of Vesak dansals hits record low

For the very first time in history, the number of dansals during Vesak will be limited to 92. Although some 6,000 dansals were registered last year, the number stands at 92 this year according to the Association of Public Health Inspectors.

1 killed, 2 injured in shootout at Lunugamwehera

One person was killed and another two injured following a shooting incident reported at Beralihera in Lunugamwehera last night, police said.

UNP Catholic MPs vary on no-confidence motion

UNP Catholic MPs vary on the no confidence motion which was brought against Minister Rishad Bathiudeen by the joint opposition. Some UNP Catholic MPs are likely to vote in favour of the no confidence motion against Bathiudeen, the Daily Mirror learns.

Prez will decide fate of Governors Salley, Hizbullah: SLFP

President Maithripala Sirisena will soon take a decision on Governors Azath Salley and A.L.M. Hizbullah, former Minister Duminda Dissanayaka said.

MPs to urge govt. to bring in series of legislation

A group of MPs, from both the government and the opposition, are planning to urge the government to introduce a series of legislation to de-radicalize Muslims holding extremist views, regulation of Madrasas and the amendment of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to deal with the current situation, a Minister said yesterday.

Railways Dept. gets 10 container carrier wagons after 30 years

For the first time in 30 years, the Sri Lanka Railways Department (SLRD) today received 10 container carrier wagons at the Colombo Harbour under an Indian loan scheme, The Transport Ministry said.

Minister Bathiudeen made a request: Army Chief

Responding to reports that Minister Rishad Bathiudeen had influenced Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake to release a suspect arrested over the Easter Sunday attacks, the latter said today no one had influenced him but that the minister did make a request.

Minister Marapane meets US State Secretary

Foreign Affairs Minister Tilak Marapana, who is in the US, was welcomed by the Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo at the Department of State this morning.

Much less imminence of a second spate of attacks: Army Chief

Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake today assured that there is much less imminence of a second spate of terrorist attacks.

China to assist SL’s strategic capabilities to combat int’l terrorism

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, who met President Maithripala Sirisena, has said that China would soon take steps to assist Sri Lanka’s strategic capabilities to combat international terrorism.