India to transfer dornier reconnaissance aircraft to SL

India is hoping to transfer a Dornier reconnaissance aircraft to Sri Lanka in a bid to boost defence collaboration between the two countries, Swarajya news reported yesterday quoting Times Now.

Presidential candidate - UNP working committee to decide

Amid speculation that President Maithripala Sirisena is attempting to strike a deal with a section of the United National Party (UNP) to secure his presidential candidacy, a senior minister said yesterday that it was the Working Committee which would decide on the candidate.

PC polls delay - Pointless holding talks with Govt: PAFFREL

Election monitors have decided not to hold any more talks with either the government or the various political parties on the failure to hold elections to the seven provincial councils whose term of office has expired.

SL experiencing highest temperatures in 140 years: Prof. Jayaratne

Sri Lanka is experiencing its highest temperature levels in 140 years, Professor Chandana Jayaratne from the Department of Physics, Colombo University said today.

Compensate me for my arbitary arrest: Samadanam

Roy Samadanam, a Sri Lankan now holding Canadian citizenship said he had filed action in the US against former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa through the International Project for Truth and Justice with the intention of obtaining compensation for his arbitrary arrest and the torture he suffered on the alleged orders of then defence secretary Rajapaksa.

Won’t allow Pohottuwa to dominate SLFP: Duminda

We are not prepared to allow the ’Pohottuwa’ to dominate the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) as anticipated by the members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP), SLFP National Organiser and MP, Duminda Dissanayake said.

Failure to implement our power projects led to crisis: MR

The failure to implement the power plants and projects launched by the previous government has plunged the country into a power crisis, former president and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said in Hambantota yesterday.

Printing Dept. gazetted under Ministry of Lands

The Department of Government Printing which was under the purview of the Ministry of Defence, has been gazetted under the Ministry of Lands and Parliamentary Reforms today.

245 arrested for drunk driving in 24-hour operation

Some 245 people had been arrested by the police across the country for driving under the influence of liquor during a 24-hour search operation carried out between 6 am on yesterday (11) to 6 am today (12), police said.

Maldives releases 21 SL fishermen detained there

The 21 Sri Lankan fishermen who were detained in the Maldives after they were arrested in late February for trespassing into Maldivian waters, had been released, State Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Dilip Wedaarachchi said.

Pope Francis kisses feet of rival South Sudan leaders

Pope Francis has kissed the feet of South Sudan’s previously warring leaders during a two-day spiritual retreat at the Vatican.

Procedure to renounce US citizenship successfully concluded: Gota

Former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said today that all steps needed to renounce his US citizenship were successfully concluded while he was in the US.

Gota returns

Former defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa returned to the country this morning after a private visit to the USA.

PM asked by EC to hand over review to Prez

The Elections Commission (EC) has written to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe requesting him to hand over the review into the Provincial Councils Electoral Delimitation Report to President Maithripala Sirisena.

Israeli spacecraft crash-lands on moon

An Israeli spacecraft came within a few kilometers of the historic touchdown bid before it suffered a technical glitch and crashed on the moon surface on Thursday.

UNP not against Prez seeking SC opinion: Minister

The UNP is not against the President’s decision to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court as to when his first term in office expires but he should do so without delay, Digital Infrastructure Development Minister Ajith P Perera said yesterday.

Increase allowances given to senior citizens: MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said the allowances given to senior citizens should be increased and these allowances should be sent to their homes directly.

CEB neglected submitting important reports to us: PUCSL

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) had neglected submitting some important reports regarding power interruptions and generations to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) for a period of nearly one year, PUCSL Director Corporate Communications Jayanat Herat told the Daily Mirror.

Tea exports to Iran: Crisis brews over receipt of monies

The Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) chairman yesterday said Sri Lanka faced a crisis over tea exports to Iran in terms of recovering monies, due to the economic sanctions imposed on Iran.

Rahaman writes to Speaker: Act against Foreign Secretary

UNP MP Mujibur Rahaman, in a letter addressed to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, has requested action against Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinghe whom he had accused of making defamatory references on Mr. Jayasuriya in parliament.

Will bring no faith motion against Mangala: JO

Joint opposition frontline and former minister, Bandula Gunawardena, said the JO would bring a no faith motion (NFM) against Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera claiming that he had misled parliament by presenting inaccurate information, statistics and other data in the Budget 2019.

Mangala betrayed the country: SB

Former minister and SLFP stalwart S.B.Dissanayaka charged today that Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has betrayed the country and war heroes to secure a position in the UNO and added the joint opposition would do its utmost to thwart it.

Survey on navy camp: Sivajilingam and others protest

A protest was organised by a group led by former northern provincial councillor M.K. Sivajilingam over a survey conducted to extend the Mandaitivu Navy camp in Jaffna.

Sudan’s military overthrows president following months of protests

Sudan’s defence minister said on Thursday that President Omar al-Bashir had been taken into military custody, effectively announcing a military coup to end his 30-year rule, the Washington Post reported.

Decisions on education should be taken by educationists: Prez

The responsibility of taking decisions on the country’s education should be taken by educationists and intellectuals without letting politicians to do so, President Maithripala Sirisena said today.

India votes in world’s biggest ever poll

The world’s largest ever election has started in India, with voters in 20 states casting their ballots in the first phase of a marathon six-week poll.

Assange’s arrest a dark moment for press freedom: Snowden

US fugitive whistle-blower Edward Snowden has warned that the arrest of Julian Assange is a ’dark moment for press freedom’, Daily Mail said today.

Julian Assange arrested in London

Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange has been arrested at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, BBC News reported a short while ago.

SriLankan employee nabbed with gold worth Rs. 32 mn

A 23-year-old employee of SriLankan Airlines was arrested by Customs officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) last morning while attempting to smuggle out gold biscuits worth Rs. 32 million.

Ryan further remanded

Actor Ryan Van Rooyen, who was arrested for possession of cannabis, was further remanded until April 25.