Central Expressway Project - US$989 from EXIM Bank

The Export-Import Bank of China (EXIM Bank) of China has agreed to provide a concessional loan of US$989 million covering 85% of the contract price for the Central Expressway Project Section 1 from Kadawatha to Meerigama, the Finance Ministry said.

Songs aired on TV and Radio - Cabinet nod for royalty to singers & song writers

The Cabinet on Tuesday gave its approval to make it mandatory for all TV, Radio and FM stations to pay royalties to singers and musicians and other artistes involved in creating songs and musical programmes every time they are aired.

Govt and Opposition without a vision: Rathana Thera

While claiming that the government and the opposition had no vision and policy on organic farming, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said the person who supported the organic farming would win the next presidential election.

Cabinet approval for PM to recruit 7,500 PAs

The Cabinet on Tuesday gave the green light to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to recruit 7,500 Project Assistants (PAs) to carry out the government’s development programmes speedily and productively.

Implementing power cuts without prior notice illegal: PUCSL

It is illegal to implement power cuts without prior approval of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) and informing the general public beforehand, PUCSL Director Corporate Communications Jayanat Herat told the Daily Mirror yesterday.

Weerasekara castigates SL for co-sponsoring resolution

Former MP Sarath Weerasekara who spoke at the UNHRC session in Geneva said Sri Lankan leaders and not the people are cowards to co-sponsor the resolution.

Decision on power cut schedules next week

The Power and Energy Ministry is to decide next week whether there is a necessity to prepare a schedule on power cuts, Power and Renewable Energy Ministry Secretary Suren Batagoda said today.

Artificial rains to continue: Ministry

The spraying of chemicals to trigger artificial rain over the Castlereagh and Mausakelle catchments will continue for several more days, Power and Energy ministry said.

Petition on MS’s state of mind - Lawyer says he is facing death threats

A senior lawyer of the Hulftsdorp Bar has complained to the Police that he was being threatened with death after he appeared for a petitioner in a case against President Maithripala Sirisena.

Wilpattu National Park - Questions in the House about deforestion

Parliament was in a furor today over the deforestation of land abutting the Wilpattu National Park for the settlement of people.

JVP awaiting UNP’s final decision on 20A

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has informed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to let them know the United National Party (UNP)’s final stance on 20th amendment which is aimed at abolishing of the executive presidency by May this year.

If no special courts - TNA threatens to haul SL before Int'l tribunal

The TNA today pointed out that the Sri Lankan Constitution did not prevent the setting up of special courts with foreign judges to hear human rights cases and that it would do its best to haul Sri Lanka before an international tribunal if it failed to set up such courts.

Police baton charge protesters in Puttalam

Police baton-charged a group of people who were protesting at the Puttalam town a short while ago over the Aruwakkalu Hygienic Solid Waste Disposal Project (AHSWDP).

DMK link to controversial Oman oil refinery project

A Singapore-based company in which stakes are held by the family members of former Union Minister of State of India S. Jagathrakshakan of the DMK has been linked to a record foreign direct investment of $3.85 billion in an oil refinery in Sri Lanka, the Hindu Newspaper reported.

China chemical blast death toll rises to 47

The death toll in a huge blast at a chemical plant in eastern China has jumped to 44, with at least 90 more injured, state media say.

Beliatta UNP PS member succumb to his injuries

Beliatta Pradeshiya Sabha Opposition Leader (UNP) Kapila Amarakoon, who had been hospitalised with gunshot injuries, died this morning, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Extreme heat weather advisory for many parts of country

Another ’extreme heat weather advisory’ has been issued by the Department of Meteorology yesterday for North-Western Province, Mannar and Monaragala districts for today.

Burnt body found in a vehicle in Moneragala

The burnt body of a 50-year-old person was found in a double cab vehicle near a jungle area on the Horombuwa Suduwathura Aara road in Moneragala this morning, Police said.

Fin. Min. wants to issue liquor licenses on a large scale: Excise TUs

Excise trade unions have raised serious concerns over an attempt by the Ministry of Finance to urge the department to issue liquor licenses on a large scale to several hundred presently unlicensed hoteliers and innkeepers in the Matara District on an urgent basis, during a special two-day mobile service to be held in Weligama over the weekend.

Unscheduled power cuts?

While stressing that the technical issue in the unit 2 generator of the Norochcholai coal power plant has been fully restored, Power and Energy Ministry Media Spokesman and Development Director Sulakshana Jayawardena said power outages could still be experienced due to the prevailing dry weather conditions.

Singaporean govt. yet to release official statement: PMD

President’s Media Division (PMD), issuing a statement yesterday, clarified that the Singaporean Government had not released an official communique with regard to a statement said to have been made by President Maithripala Sirisena on the extradition of former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran.

Don’t bring vocational training under Industries Ministry: UPFA

The UPFA today urged the government to reverse its decision to vest the subjects of vocational training and skills development under the purview of Ministry of Industries and Commerce.

Devise comprehensive report based on carbon dating: OMP

With reference to the remarks made by former MP Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara in connection with skeletal remains recovered from the Mannar grave, the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) said it had consistently been of the view that carbon dating was one of the several aspects upon which a multi-disciplinary examination and report must be made.

Navy hierarchy was aware of abductions in Colombo, suburbs: CID

The CID today told Colombo Additional Magistrate Shehani Perera that the Navy Hierarchy including former Navy Commander Jayantha Perera and Intelligence Division Director Ananda Guruge had knowledge about the abductions that took place in Colombo and suburbs during 2009.

UNHRC resolution on SL adopted without a vote

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on Sri Lanka, that gives two more years to fully implement the Resolution 30/1, was adopted at the Human Rights Council in Geneva without a vote today.

House at sea over Oman oil refinery project

Questions were raised in parliament today on the proposed oil refinery project in Hambantota which was supposed to be a joint venture with Oman, according to Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment (BoI). The claim was later denied by Oman’s Ministry of Oil and Gas.

Oman keen on refinery project: BOI

In light of Oman Oil and Gas Ministry denying being part of a US $ 3.85 billion refinery project in Hmabantota, Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment (BOI) yesterday said that they were aware Oman Oil Company has ‘firm intention’ in taking an equity position in the project.

Student dies while playing football at school

A student of the Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa has died due to sudden illness while playing football at school playground this afternoon, the police said.

UNHRC: Countries urge SL to implement its commitments

Many countries, who co-sponsored the resolutions 30/1 and 34/1 on Sri Lanka yesterday called on the Sri Lankan government to take steps to deliver fully on its commitments in resolutions 30/1 and 34/1 and to develop a comprehensive and time-bound implementation strategy.

President taking all steps to bring down Mahendran: Amaraweera

UPFA MP Mahinda Amaraweera said today President Maithripala Sirisena had taken all steps at the diplomatic level and had made a written request to extradite former central bank governor Arjuna Mahendran from Singapore.