Nagananda Kodituwakku barred from practising law

The Supreme Court today issued a restraining order against Nagananda Kodituwakku preventing him from practising as an attorney for three years.

Heavy Traffic at Ward Place

Heavy traffic was reported at the Ward Place in the Town Hall area due to a protest launched by ETI Finance Limited (ETI) depositors.

Power outage across the country as Norochcholai shuts down

Power to several areas of the country has been disrupted when the unit 2 generator at the Norochcholai coal power plant shut down due to a technical issue, Director of Development at the Ministry of Power and Energy Sulakshana Jayawardena told the Daily Mirror.

IUSF Convener granted bail

Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) Convener, Maheel Dehideniya, who was arrested over unruly behaviour during the protest near the parliament roundabout on last Wednesday, was granted bail by the Fort Magistrate’s Court today.

Primary education in English medium: Bandula considering legal recourse

Former Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane said he would take legal action against the conduct of primary education in the English medium, disregarding the mother tongue of the student.

‘Raththaran’ says he would resign from SPC

UPFA Southern Provincial Council member Krishantha Pushpakumara, alias ‘Raththaran’, said that he has decided to resign from the post.

No decision on SLFP candidate for Presidential poll yet: Dayasiri

The General Secretary of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekera yesterday said that no decision had been taken about the SLFP candidate for the forthcoming Presidential election.

Country should not co-sponsor new UNHRC resolution: MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that Sri Lanka should not co-sponsor the UNHRC resolution coming up this time.

Road accident claims four lives, injures eleven

Four people were killed and another eleven injured when a van and a tipper collided head-on at Nagavilluwa, Puttalam on the Puttalam – Colombo Main Road in the early hours of today, police said.

SLPP not prepared to vote Maithri into presidency again: Prasanna

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna is not prepared to vote President Maithripala Sirisean into presidency for another term, in spite of the party being prepared to coalesce with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) led by the President in order to topple the government led by the United National Party (UNP), Gampaha District leader of the SLPP, Prasanna Ranatunga said.

Wiggy’s Tamil Political Alliance is not a registered party: TNA

Former NPC Chief Minister C.V Wignesawaran’s Tamil Political Alliance is not a registered political party, TNA Parliamentarian M. A Sumanthiran said.

No more substandard buses, says Arjuna

Steps would be taken soon to prohibit the import of substandard buses for public transport and that the buses already use were not up to the required standard, Transport Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said.

26 police officers transferred

Twenty-six police officers, including two Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and ASP N.V. Lorenz of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), have been transferred, police said.

Color code for all sweets, biscuits from April 2

A Colour Code System (CCS) indicating sugar and salt levels in packaged food would become mandatory on labels of all sweets including biscuits with effect from April 2, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said today.

Christchurch shootings: Attacker was ’lone gunman’

The man charged over Friday’s twin mosque attacks in the New Zealand city of Christchurch is believed to have acted alone, police say.

Five arrested for assaulting STF during illegal sand mining raid in Ariyalai

Five suspects, including three women, were arrested for assaulting a group of STF and interrupting their duty during an illegal sand mining raid at Ariyalai in Jaffna last evening.

President returns

President Maithripala Sirisena arrived in the country this morning after concluding his visit to Kenya.

SA sweep Sri Lanka series after floodlight failure

South Africa completed a clean sweep of their five-match one-day international series against Sri Lanka with a 41-run victory via the DuckworthLewisStern method on Saturday as the final match at Newlands was ended prematurely by a failed floodlight.

1,987 students discard Uni education due to ragging: Hakeem

Higher Education Minister Rauff Hakeem said yesterday 1,987 students had abandoned their education because of ragging after they were enrolled at state universities.

Aussie maritime trawler-aircraft to land at Mattala Airport

An Australian maritime trawler aircraft will land at the Mattala International Airport on April 1, and stay overnight in transit to India for another activity, Australian High Commission’s Defence Advisor Sean Unwin said yesterday.

Teaching students from Grades 1-5 in English should stop: Ven. Ratana Thera

National List MP Venerable Athuraliye Ratana Thera yesterday urged the government to stop teaching school children from grades one to five in the English medium.

Only 2 per cent for education in 2019 Budget: Dayasiri

UPFA MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said yesterday even though the government claimed to allocate six per cent of the Gross Domestic Production (GDP) to education, the amount allocated currently is less than two per cent.

Acting appointment to CA - Lawyers for Democracy go to SC

Lawyers for Democracy yesterday filed a rights petition in the Supreme Court challenging the acting appointment made to the post of Court of Appeal President.

Govt-sponsored private schools - Don’t permit them to open branches: Bandula

The Opposition today urged the government not to go ahead with its plan to allow selected government-sponsored private schools to open branches.

Man involved in shooting SAITM CEO arrested

Underworld criminal Cheena earlier accused of having shot at SAITM Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sameera Senaratna and three others were arrested today in connection with the hijacking of a van at Ranala in Kaduwela.

250 kg of high-power explosives seized

High-power explosives weighing approximately 250 kg were taken into police custody from Pahala Andarawewa in Hambanthota today.

Two men arrested with drugs worth Rs.250mn

The STF arrested two men on charges of being in possession of four revolvers, 16 kg of heroin, five 5.5 kg of hash, 1 kg of cocaine and 1. 5 kg of ice worth more than Rs.250 million in Weligampitiya, Ja-Ela this evening, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Chinese woman nabbed with illicit liquor

A 40-year-old Chinese woman was arrested on charges of being in possession of illicit liquor worth Rs.200,000 at a luxury apartment at Wellawatte this afternoon.

Aussies to conduct biggest defence exercise with SL

Australia will conduct its largest ever defence engagement with Sri Lanka from March 23 to 29 with the participation of more than 1000 Australian personnel, signifying Sri Lanka’s strategic importance for maritime security, an official said today.

Man sets himself on fire outside JSS office

A 67-year-old man set himself on fire outside the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS) Office near Sirikotha at Kotte today.