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.

Mangala Yapa appointed BOI Chief

Mangala P.B. Yapa was appointed as the chairman of Board of Investment (BOI) by President Maithripala Sirisena today.

Liquor shops to be closed for New Year

All liquor shops and taverns will be closed on April 13 and 14 for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Department of Exercise announced today.

SF to be given Internal Affairs Minister post

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka was set to receive the additional post of Internal Affairs Minister on the recommendation of the government, sources said yesterday.

‘National Physical Plan 2050’ finalized: Patali

The National Physical Plan for the next 30 years had been finalized, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

SLPP skeptical over moves to postpone presidential polls

Bilateral talks between the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) became hard and direct yesterday since the former raised doubts about purported moves by President Maithripala Sirisena to postpone the presidential elections.

My successor will not tolerate character assassination: Prez

I am the most harangued and insulted Head of State by the media among all six presidents since J.R. Jayewardene, but the one to assume presidency after me will not tolerate mudslinging and character assassination like how I do, President Maithripala Sirisena said.

CMC raids Colombo supermarkets

A number of supermarkets within the Colombo Municipality were raided by the Colombo Municipal Council’s (CMC) Health Department officials today to check the hygienic conditions and food safety regulations.

Abstain from voting bigger offence than Nov. 11 betrayal: Dayasiri

A group of SLFPers cheated the party by joining the SLPP soon after President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and formed a government with opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister, General Secretary of the SLFP, former minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said.

Scientists capture first photo of black hole

Scientists released an image of a black hole captured by the Event Horizon Telescope, a project of eight radio-based telescopes tasked with taking the first ever photo of a black hole.

No fuel price revision tonight

Fuel prices will not be revised tonight despite the escalating fuel prices in the world market so as to provide relief to the people in the festive season, finance ministry said today.

Stop ragging: Ava group warn Jaffna undergrads

The Ava group had put up notices in the Jaffna University premises warning that the students who were involved in ragging newcomers would be punished and called for immediate stop of any ragging activities in the university.

SL maid jailed for setting ablaze to sponsor’s car

A Sri Lankan maid was sentenced to six months in prison and fined Dh5,000 by the Sharjah Criminal Court for setting ablaze the car of her sponsor’s wife parked in his house in Sharjah’s Al Seeyoh area.

SME interest rates reduced: PM

The special committee appointed to look into interest rate issues has recommended the reduction of interest rates granted to small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) by two percent, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

President sends note on bilateral ties to UAE President

President Maithripala Sirisena has sent a message dealing with bilateral ties to United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

China says stands ready to broaden practical cooperation with SL

The Government of China on Tuesday said it stands ready to broaden and deepen practical cooperation with Sri Lanka under the Belt and Road Initiative. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang expressed these views during a press conference held on Tuesday.

Third round of SLFP-SLPP talks conclude

The third round of discussions held between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) concluded at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo today. SLFP General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said the fourth round of talks would be held on May 9.

Governor signs gazette dissolving SPC

Southern Province Governor Keerthi Thennakoon today signed the gazette notification dissolving the Southern Provincial Council (SPC) with effect from midnight today.

Lotus Road closed

The Lotus Road between Ceramic Junction to NSA Roundabout has been temporarily closed due to a protest carried out by a group of railways contract employees, police said.

PM commends Maldives Prez on parliamentary election win

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has phoned Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to congratulate him on his party’s success in the parliamentary election, Raajje News reported on Tuesday.

Cyanide vials recovered from Marala Suranga at Welikada Prison

An inmate at the Welikada Prison, Samantha Pushpakumara, alias Marala Suranga, has been arrested by the prison officers on a tip-off by police for possessing cyanide vials.

Long-term power plan - Memo seeking approval deferred till Apr.23

The Cabinet is reported to have deferred till April 23 a memorandum submitted by Power, Energy and Business Development Minister Ravi Karunanayake seeking approval for a long-term power plan.

Gota committed to giving up US citizenship: SLPP

Amid reports of lawsuits being filed against former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the US, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said he had made an irrevocable decision to renounce his US citizenship despite it being the best source of protection against allegations of war crimes.

Police gear up to nab drunk drivers

Nearly 25,000 breathalyser devices used to measure blood alcohol content have been imported to Sri Lanka to be distributed among police stations countrywide, Traffic DIG Ajith Rohana said.