Budget 2019 to promote open market policies, liberalisation: Mangala

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said yesterday that the government’s maiden budget for 2019 is to be presented in parliament tomorrow (5) and will further open market policies and liberalisation

SLC secures Rs. 2 billion withheld by ICC

Following high-level discussions with the ICC, the new Executive Committee of the SLC has secured its due portion of finances from the ICC, amounting to US$ 11.5 million (over Rs: 2 billion), which was withheld since July 2018, Sri Lanka Cricket said yesterday.

17 youths arrested at Facebook party in Matara

Seventeen youths, including an actress, were arrested early morning yesterday while they were using cocaine and unidentified drug tablets in two hotel rooms in Polhena, Matara after a Facebook party at another hotel in Mirissa.

High time executive presidency was abolished: Ravi K

Power and Energy Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday opined that the time was ripe for the abolition of executive presidency.

ICC assures members of robust security at World Cup

The International Cricket Council has assured its members of a tight security plan for this year’s World Cup in England after the Indian cricket board sought guarantees from the governing body following a suicide-bomb attack in Kashmir last month.

UNP backbenchers to vote against President’s expenditure head

UNP backbenchers are planning to vote against the expenditure head of President Maithripala Sirisena when it is taken up at the coming budget, UNP MP Mujibur Rahaman said.

Anti-corruption group welcomes asset declarations by SL politicians

A group of five Sri Lankan members of parliament from across party lines came together to publish their declarations of assets and liabilities in the public domain. Their action is a welcome step towards changing the political culture of the country, said the global anti-corruption coalition Transparency International.

Bloemendhal Sanka among three arrested in TN

Three suspects including notorious underworld gangster Sanka Shirantha, alias Bloemendhal Sanka reported to have been arrested in Tamil Nadu, India.

Resolution submitted to endorse PM Khan for Nobel Peace Prize

A resolution was submitted in Pakistan Parliament on Saturday to endorse Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for the for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize due to his efforts to de-escalate resent tension with India.

Two Nigerians, Lankan arrested with cocaine in Mt. Lavinia

Three suspects, including two Nigerians, were arrested on possession of 32 grams of cocaine in Mount Lavinia last night.

Sri Lanka regains ICC Status

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) regained its ICC Status, after nine months of being relegated to observer status, SLC President Shammi Silva tweeted.

PM offers prayers at Tirumala

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his wife Maitree Wickremesinghe, were among the ministers and some of the top officials on Saturday who reached the temple city of Tirupati in India to offer worship to Lord Venkateswara.

Police to continue deploying WPCs at protests

Commenting on the police move to deploy women police constables to disperse protesting university students recently, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said it was done as female university students were also engaged in the protest.

Lalkantha remanded

JVP Politbureau member K.D. Lalkantha, who was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of liquor, was remanded till March 14 today.

Strengthening PC system - Committee to submit proposals

There being no consensus among the main political parties on abolishing the executive presidency and on electoral reforms, President Maithripala Sirisena appointed a high-level committee on Thursday to recommend how the provincial council system could be strengthened through constitutional measures, a TNA MP said yesterday.

Ravi blames CB for the ETI mess

While severely criticizing the Central Bank for its handling of the Edirisinghe Trust Investment (ETI) deal, Power, Energy and Business Development Minister Ravi Karunanayaka yesterday vowed to expose what went wrong in the ETI deal.

PCoI - Needs time to compile report so no daily sittings

Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) on SriLankan airlines, SriLankan catering and Mihin Lanka needs adequate time to compile its report and as such will not hold daily sittings, PCoI Chairman Anil Goonaratne said yesterday.

Prez wants special court to hear drug crimes cases

President Maithripala Sirisena has stressed the need of establishment of a special court to hear cases related to drug crimes and expect to discuss this matter at the next cabinet meeting.

Suraksha Insurance Scheme defrauds Rs.2,300 Mn: Wijeyadasa

Opposition MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe yesterday charged that the much-touted ‘Suraksha Insurance Scheme’ launched for 4.5 million students has defrauded Rs.2,300 million in 2018 and as such it was proper for President Maithripala Sirisena to suspend the insurance scheme.

SL should start making plans to control its future debt services: PM

Sri Lanka should start making plans to control its future debt services once the current debt issue is settled, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today at Kuliyapitiya where he handed over buildings to 200 schools.

Pakistan hands over captured pilot to India

Pakistan has handed over a captured pilot to Indian authorities at the Wagah border, a move aimed at de-escalating tensions after days of hostilities with its South Asian neighbor, Al Jazeera reported.

JVP’s 20A has weaknesses: SLPP

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said today though there could be some who wish to see the executive presidency abolished, they may oppose the 20th Amendment brought by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) because it contained several weaknesses.

Lalkantha arrested for drunk driving

JVP politbureau member K.D. Lalkantha was arrested this afternoon on charges of driving under the influence of liquor after his vehicle had met with an accident injuring two women in Anuradhapura, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said.

34 school boys arrested after they entered a girls’ school

About 34 students of two schools were taken into custody today for allegedly entering Methodist College in Kollupitiya and behaving in an unruly manner.

Indian envoy briefs SL leaders on terror attack

Indian High commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu today met Sri Lankan leaders including President Maithripala Sirisena and briefed him about the terrorist attack in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir and subsequent development, during the week, informed sources said.

Elephant calf: Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera acquitted

The Colombo High Court today acquitted the Ven Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera in the case filed against him on charges of possessing an elephant calf without a valid permit.

Two arrested over Rs.7000 mn gem robbery

Two more suspects were arrested in Peliyagoda today on charges of aiding and abetting in the Rs.7,000 million-diamond and gem robbery, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said.

Hong Kong bound private jet makes emergency landing at BIA

A private jet that was on its way to Hong Kong made an emergency landing at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake today. Eleven people including two pilots were onboard the jet, Airport Duty Manager said.

Interpol assistance sought to arrest Kosgoda Sujee, 4 others

The Colombo Magistrate directed the police to request Interpol assistance to arrest the five main suspects involved in the largest heroin haul valued at more than Rs. 3,533 million which was seized last Sunday (24).

SL judiciary stood by Constitution during recent political crisis: Samantha Power

Sri Lanka’s judiciary stood by the Constitution and enforced the rule of law with great independence and seriousness of purpose during the recent political crisis, Human Rights Activist Samantha Power said yesterday.