Zahran gave sister Rs.2 mn prior to bombings

National Thawheed Jamaath (NTJ) leader Mohamed Zahran Hashim had reportedly given his sister, Mohamed Cassim Mohamed Niyas Madaniya, a sum of Rs.2 million when he met her on April 12 in Colombo prior to the suicide bombings on Easter Sunday, police investigations had revealed.

Illegal deals signed to transfer SLIIT to private entity: Wijeyadasa

The Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund had incurred a loss of Rs. 48,000 million until now after signing two illegal agreements to transfer Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) to a separate private entity during the first 100 days of the ‘Yahapalana’ government, former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe informed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) to investigate corruption of the current administration yester

1,669 Madrasas, 317 Arabic schools registered under Ministry: Director

Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Director M.R.M.Malik said that there are 1,669 Islam ‘Madrasa’ schools and 317 Arabic schools registered under the Department of Muslim religious and Cultural Affairs all over the country.

All visa-violating foreigners ordered to be deported

Internal and Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardana yesterday instructed the Controller of Emigration and Immigration to take steps to deport all foreigners remaining in the country without visas and those overstaying their visas, under the prevailing security situation.

20 explosive laden vehicles in North?

All vehicles entering and exiting the Northern region are being subjected to rigorous inspection after the intelligence services had received information that 20 explosive-laden vehicles had entered the North from the South, the Army said.

600 letters containing defamatory remarks against President at CME

Three suspects were arrested with at least 600 letters containing defamatory remarks against the President at the Central Mail Exchange (CME) in Pettah, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Gota not behind Easter Sunday terror attack: SF

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka yesterday said that he did not believe former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa was behind the Easter Sunday terror attack.

Police protection will be provided to all schools: Minister

Police protection will be provided to all schools when they are re-opened next Monday, May 6, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today.

Forcibly entering school: Reuters journalist remanded

Reuters foreign journalist Siddiqui Ahamad Danish was remanded by the Negombo Magistrate today for forcibly attempting to enter the Maris Stella College in Negombo, police said.

Bodies of Sainthamaruthu terrorists buried sans rituals

The bodies of ten terrorists, who died following the explosion that took place in a house in Sainthamaruthu, were buried today without religious rituals, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

New move to legally identify age of child and youth

The Cabinet has given the nod to offer legal interpretation to a child and youth based on their age, Justice and Prison Reforms Minister Talatha Atukorale said.

Suicide kit found in house of Zahran’s brother

A suicide kit was recovered from a house in Kattankudy belonging to the brother of National Thawheed Jamaat (NTJ) leader Zahran Hashim, Rilwan, following a joint search operation carried out by the STF and police today.

Suspected Thawheed Jamath cadre remanded till May 7

A suspect who was detained by the Keselwatte Police in Colombo on suspicion of having links with the proscribed National Thawheed Jamath movement was today ordered to be remanded till May 7 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage.

Private Catholic schools to be closed until further notice

All private Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Colombo (Western Province) will be closed until further notice considering the prevailing situation in the country in the aftermath of the series of bomb attacks on Easter Sunday, National Director of Catholic Schools Rev. Fr. Ivan Perera told the Daily Mirror.

ISIS ’funded SL Easter bombings with Bitcoin donations’

ISIS allegedly funded the deadly Sri Lanka Easter bombings with Bitcoin donations, the UK based Mirror reported.

Hardline Indian group calls for ban on veil

An Indian Hindu nationalist group allied with Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Wednesday for a ban on veils after Sri Lanka prohibited the garments worn by some Muslim women following militant bomb attacks there.

Hizbullah’s security officer nabbed with rubber stamps of Govt. officers

Suspect, Mohammed Marsuk Mohammed Rizli, a security official of Eastern Province Governor MLAM Hizbullah, had been arrested by the Modara Police over suspiciously keeping some rubber stamps of Government officers.

Mavai now asks for Army security to North

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Mavai Senathirajah had requested the government to provide military security to the Northern Province considering the prevailing situation in the country.

Masses won’t be held this Saturday and Sunday

Sunday masses in the Colombo Archdiocese have been cancelled due to security concerns, the Archbishop’s House said today.

Artillery shell defused in Kilinochchi

The Army Soldiers had recovered an artillery shell abandoned in a garbage dump on a byroad on the Kilinochchi-Paranthan Junction and defused it in a controlled explosion.

Two persons arrested with 28 white skirts

Two Muslims were arrested in Anuradhapura, while they were transporting 28 white skirts in a van from Thihariya last evening, the Police said.

UK probes possible links between SL suicide bomber and British extremist group

British Intelligence services are investigating possible links between a Sri Lanka suicide bomber and an extremist group launched in Britain by a notorious hate preacher, The Telegraph reported.

SL to obtain US $ 100mn loan from China for Port City

Sri Lanka plans to obtain a US $ 100 million interest-free loan facility from China Development Bank (CDB) to expand the proposed Port Access Elevated Highway to Marine Drive through Colombo Port City.

Father, son nabbed with illegal drugs

Following a tip-off, an elderly man and his son were taken into STF custody along with a stock of illegal drugs worth of Rs.4 million when their house was raided at Wolfendhal Street in Colombo.

Assets of terrorists to be frozen: Police

The assets of the terrorists involved in the eight terror attacks across the country had been identified and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was conducting measures to freeze their assets, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said yesterday.

Bad politicians encouraged NTJ to flourish: Patali

While saying that Zahran Hashim who is deemed to be the leader of National Tawheed Jamath (NTJ), should have been nipped in the bud in 2014, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said some bad politicians had encouraged the NTJ to come to the strong position that they are in now.

Special circular issued to ensure security in schools

The Education Ministry Secretary had been advised by its Minister to issue a special circular which aims at assuring the safety of school children and the school community at large.

Special US economic corridor from Trinco to Colombo: Wimal

National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa yesterday said the government was making arrangements to allow the US to operate a special economic corridor stretching from Trincomalee to Colombo.

Swords may have been used to clear shrubs: Haleem

The caches of swords found from several mosques may have been used to clear shrubs surrounding those mosques, Muslim Religious Affairs Minister M. H. A. Haleem said.

Postponing polls citing security reasons bring dire results: EC

Asserting that it was inappropriate to talk about elections at this trying time, Election Commission’s Chairman Mahinda Desapriya said it would be horrendous if any attempt were made to postpone elections citing security reasons.