Ruwan Wijewardene appointed Mass Media non-cabinet Minister

State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene was sworn in as non-cabinet Minister of Mass Media before President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat a short while ago.

Rathgama businessmen killed, bodies burnt: police

The two businessmen who were reported to have gone missing from Boossa in Rathgama have been killed at Akmeemana and their bodies burnt at the Kanumuldeniya-Megdagamgoda Forest Reserve in Walasmulla, the police revealed today.

Ranjan faces blood test

State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake is reported to have voluntarily undergone a blood and urine test at a private hospital in Colombo today in connection with his allegations that there were ministers and MPs who used cocaine.

Rathgama abduction: 15 police officers transferred

Fifteen police personnel attached to the Southern Province Special Crime Investigation Unit had been transferred to police stations out of the Matara District with immediate effect over the abduction and killing of two businessmen at Rathgama.

Corrupt officials elected to SLC: Ranjan

State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said today the new office bearers elected to the Sri Lanka Cricket Board were corrupt and the ICC should take the responsibility for this.

Road closure in Colombo for So Sri Lanka Ironman 70.3

Several roads in Colombo would be closed temporarily on Sunday to make way for the So Sri Lanka - Ironman 70.3 Colombo International Triathlon which begins from Galle Face Green, the organisers said.

Ranjan’s report will be given to PM: Kiriella

Minister Lakshman Kiriella said State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake today handed over the details of MPs who allegedly use cocaine to the four-member committee and this report would be forwarded to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Queen Elizabeth receives new SL envoy to UK

The new Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK, Ms. Manisha Gunasekara, was received by Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace in London on Wednesday.

Olympic Committee suspends India from hosting events

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has suspended all Indian applications to host future events and urged international sports federations not to stage competitions in the country after two Pakistanis were denied visas to compete in New Delhi, Reuters said.

Sailor arrested over abduction and disappearance of 11 civilians

A sailor attached to the Kankesanthurai Naval camp was arrested by the CID today over the abduction and disappearance of 11 civilians in Colombo during the period of 2008 and 2009.

SI arrested over abduction of two businessmen in Rathgama

A Sub Inspector (SI) of Police attached to the Southern Province Special Investigation Unit was arrested by the CID today over the abduction of two businessmen in Rathgama, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Cocaine consumption claim: Ranjan to appear before committee today

Highways and Road Development State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday said that he had been told to appear before the four-member committee today (22) at 10.00a.m over an allegation he made about certain lawmakers consuming cocaine.

CC not independent with political representatives in it: MR

The much vaunted Constitutional Council (CC) cannot be called independent as long as there are political party representatives in it, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday. Responding to a question posed by a journalist at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Head Office, Mr. Rajapaksa said it was his view that personnel within the CC should be changed.

I was compelled to appoint probe committee: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had told several members of the opposition that he had been compelled to appoint a committee to look into the statement made by State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake on MPs using cocaine.

Drug addict rehabilitation authority in the offing

President Maithripala Sirisena initiated talks on the formation of an authority to rehabilitate drug addicts in his resolve to eradicate illicit drugs and narcotics from of Sri Lanka, the President’s Media Division said.

Refrain from criticising CC: PAFFREL

The leading elections monitoring NGO, the People’s Action For Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), yesterday made an appeal to all political party leaders to refrain from criticising the Constitutional Council (CC).

Delay in PC polls: EC says Legislature, SC should address concerns

It is up to the legislature and the Supreme Court (SC) to sort out the imbroglio over the delay in conducting Provincial Council (PC) polls, Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said. He said the Elections Commission could not take a decision on under what electoral law the PC polls

Army chief requests for mass production of modern artillery

Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake had requested the Centre for Research and Development (CRD) to begin the mass production of modern weaponry including Multi-Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRLs) for the use of Army training and operations as well as to save a large amount of foreign exchange to the country.

Saudi sisters fleeing country via SL stopped in Hong Kong

Two young Saudi sisters in Hong Kong had said on Thursday they had been intercepted by Saudi officials at the city’s airport while attempting to escape to Australia, the Straits Times reported.

Cruelty to elephants: British MP wants tourism to SL, Myanmar discouraged

A British MP, who raised the cruelty towards elephant issue in parliament, asked what steps the UK Government had taken to discourage tourism from the UK to Myanmar and Sri Lanka in which cruelty to elephants has been reported.

Names of cocaine users not given in writing: Speaker

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya informed Parliament today that State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake had not submitted in writing the list of ministers and MPs who were accused of taking drugs.

CC goes above Legislature, Executive, Judiciary: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena said today the Constitutional Council (CC) had gone above all three arms of the government; the legislature, the executive and the judiciary.

6-month amnesty period for illegal immigrants in Jordan

The Jordanian Government has declared a six-month amnesty period for illegal immigrants to leave the country -- to which at least 3,500 Sri Lankans are included.

Change CC composition to keep politicos aside: Jayampathi

The composition of the Constitutional Council (CC) should be changed in order to keep politicians out of it, Government MP Jayampathi Wickramaratne told parliament today. Speaking during an adjournment debate in the House, he said the CC solely comprised

Protesting Uni. students tear-gassed

Police fired tear-gas and used water cannons to disperse protesting students of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts outside the Fort Railway station a short while ago, the police said.

Management faculty of J’pura University closed

The Management faculty of the Sri Jayewardenepura University has been closed indefinitely following a ragging incident.

Parliament Road closed

Parliament Road from Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla is temporarily closed because of a protest being carried out by government service additional management officials.

Tense situation at Rupavahini premises

A number of employees of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation carried out a protest at the corporation premises demanding explanations to some of the transfers that had been made recently.

Govt. service executive officers to launch 24-hour token strike on Feb.27

About 15, 000 government service executive officers are to launch a 24-hour countrywide token strike on February 27 as a mark of protest against two Acts that has resulted in an increase in lawyers’ salary scales by 300 per cent.

Kopay Acting OIC arrested over assault on journalist

The acting OIC of the Kopay Police Station Inspector (IP) E.G. Gunaratne has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a journalist in Kopay, the police said.