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.

Empowering the working class - New Labour Act shortly: Minister

A new Labour Act incorporating all labour laws, bylaws and ordinances passed over the years with more benefits and facilities to the working class, Labour and Trade Union Relations Minister Ravindra Samaraweera said.

Rains in some areas, hot weather in others

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing mixed weather conditions with temperatures reaching up to 38 degrees Celsius in the North Central Province, while some areas in the Southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces are experiencing heavy rains.

Prez to seek SC ruling on date his tenure ends

The SLFP is seriously considering whether to seek a Supreme Court ruling on when President Maithripala Sirisena’s five-year term of office expires under the 19th Amendment on the basis that it was signed into law by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on June 21, 2015, General Secretary and MP, Dayasiri Jayasekara said.

Train strike cancelled

The railway strike scheduled to commence from midnight tonight has been temporarily cancelled after discussions were held with Transport Minister Arjuna Ranatunga this evening, Locomotive Engine Operators’ Union (LEOU) Secretary Indika Dodangoda said.

SL caught up in vicious cycle: MR

Sri Lanka is now caught up in a vicious cycle of increasing government spending for the electioneering needs of the incumbent government, heavy borrowing to finance that expenditure and increased taxation of the public to service those loans, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

Court permits to detain suspect deported from Dubai

The Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court today permitted the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) officers to detain Mohommad Nazeem Mohammad Faizar, one of the two suspects who were deported from Dubai on Sunday and arrested by the CID.

Madush will be brought to SL in two weeks: DSG

Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Dileepa Peiris informed court today that steps had been taken to bring down Makandure Madush to Sri Lanka within the next two weeks.

Drug trafficking charges - Chilaw UC member detained

The Negombo Magistrate today permitted the Negombo Division Crimes Unit officers to detain Chilaw Urban Councillor Warnakulasuriya Stanley Lewis Fernando, who was arrested on charges of drug trafficking.

Blacklisted two SL women deported from Kuwait

Two Sri Lankans women who tried to enter Kuwait on forged passports have been deported to Sri Lanka, Arab Times reported quoting Al-Anba daily.

Sri Lankan gets 30-year RI in Chennai over heroin seizure

Ten years after 1.14kg heroin was seized from his bank locker, a Sri Lankan national was on Monday sentenced to 30 years in jail for the offence, the Times of India reported.

Construction worker falls to death from hotel building

A 22-year-old youth had fallen to his death from the eighteenth floor of a building under construction at a hotel complex in Galle Face last evening, police said.

One day token strike to begin tonight by Private Bus employees

The All Island Private Bus Employees Association (AIPBEA) today said that they would launch a 24-hour countrywide token strike with from midnight today against the government decision to increase spot fine up to Rs.25,000.