Railways launches SMS alerts to prevent elephant collisions

The Department of Railways today introduced an SMS hotline 070-4445454 to inform about locations of elephant herds on railway lines countrywide with the help of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

PM, ministers not removed; only functions suspended: GL

The Court of Appeal's restraining order had only stopped the prime minister and the ministers from functioning in their offices and had not declared them unlawful, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) chairman G. L. Peiris said today.

Prez making bogus claims about 19A : JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today the President’s claim that  19th  Amendment to the Constitution was brought in haste was baseless and said it was discussed for months prior to its approval in Parliament.

ICC suspends Dananjaya after bowling action found to be illegal

Sri Lanka’s off-spinner Akila Dananjaya has been suspended from international cricket with immediate effect after an independent assessment has found his bowling action to be illegal, the International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced.  

Singapore FTA signed without proper consent: President

The report of the Experts Committee appointed to look into the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA) has highlighted the agreement has been rushed without proper consent of stakeholder institutions, President Maithripala Sirisena said today.

Prez will request CJ to deliver order soon: Wimal

President Maithripala Sirisena will request Chief Justice Nalin Perera through the Attorney General to deliver the order on the dissolution of parliament without delay, MP Wimal Weerawansa said today.  

Constitutional Coup - Massive protest rally on Dec.17

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today informed UNP MPs, provincial councillors and organizers that a mass protest rally participated by members of several political parties and civil society organizations will be held in Colombo on Monday, December 17.

Failure to submit documents of death row inmates: Prez to launch probe

President Maithripala Sirisena today said an investigation will be launched to look into the failures of several institutions to submit relevant documents relating to those will be facing death penalty should be implemented.

Museum in Los Angeles to present exhibition on Sri Lanka

The first comprehensive survey of Sri Lankan art organized by a US museum-The Jewelled Isle: Art from Sri Lanka-would be presented by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Art Daily reported on Monday.

Five injured in Modara shooting

At least five persons including a woman were injured after two gunmen opened fire at them in Modara a short while ago, Police said.

Petition in CA on President’s state of mind

A woman named Thakshila Lakmali Jayawardena filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal (CA) today seeking an order directing the IGP to go to the District Courts to inquire into the state of mind of President Maithripala Sirisena.  

Ranil won’t be PM even confidence motion passed: PHU

United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe would not be appointed as the Prime Minster even if the confidence motion would be passed in Parliament, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) said today.

Ex-Malaysian PM Razak arrested, freed on bail

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was arrested by the country’s anti-graft agency over alleged “tampering” of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) audit report, Channel News Asia reported a short while ago.

SL woman tortured and forced into prostitution in Bahrain

A 36-year-old Sri Lankan housemaid in Bahrain has claimed that she was tortured and forced into prostitution for almost two years, the Gulf Daily News reported on Monday. The victim says she survived only on bread and was made to sleep with up to 20 men every day.

FR petition against removal of Ranil as PM fixed for Jan 7

A Fundamental Rights petition filed by Ven. Dambara Amila Thera against the removal of Ranil Wickremesinghe from premiership ,appointment of a new Prime Minister and a Cabinet was fixed for January 7 after it was taken up for hearing by the Supreme Court today.

Thilina Bandara Thennakoon joins UNP

Former Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Central Province Minister Thilina Bandara Thennakoon today met with UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and obtain membership of the UNP.

FR petition against convening parliament

A Fundamental Rights Petition was filed before the Supreme Court by a lawyer challenging Speaker Karu Jayasuriya's decision to convene Parliament despite a pending restraining order.

Three men hacked to death in Ratnapura and Peradeniya

Three men were hacked to death and another man was hospitalised in two separate incidents in Ratnapura and Peradeniya yesterday, Police said.

Drawing funds by ministry secretaries: UNP to question in the house

UNF has handed over motions to the Secretary General of Parliament against Secretary to Prime Minister and secretaries of four ministries calling for a probe by Public Finance Committee in Parliament and by the Privileges Committee for allegedly continuing to draw funds of the republic by notwithstanding the resolutions passed in the House.

Ugly incident in parliament cannot be accepted:Thera

Ven. Ittepane Dhammalankara Thera, the Mahanayake of the Kotte Parshwaya of the Kalyani Dharma Gree Maha Sanga Sabha told Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna leader Mahinda Rajapaksa that Sri Lankans who are a part of a great history cannot accept the ugly incidents that took place recently within the chamber of the Parliament.

Promotions, transfers of all govt. servants suspended

All transfers and promotions in the Government service have been temporarily suspended.

Struggle between national and foreign thinking: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday that the current political crisis in the country is not a conflict between the political parties or between him and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as some people attempt to portray, but a conflict between the national and alien thinking.

Signboard giving directions to Nagadeepa Viharaya vandalized

Kayts police said that the signboard for the Nagadeepa Temple in Jaffna had been blurred by using red paint on Saturday (8). This name-board has been a boon to pilgrims and tourists who visit the Nagadeepa Temple in Jaffna.

Man arrested with fire arms, ammunition in Beruwela

The police recovered 13 automatic weapons, manufactured in Pakistan and used for VIP security, along with 1500 ammunitions from a mansion like residence of a gem businessman in Beruwala today.

CID-GA team leaves for HK to recover deleted recordings from Namal’s phone

A three-member team of the CID and Government Analyst Department had left for Hong Kong to recover voice recordings, deleted from the Operations Director of the Anti-Corruption Force Namal Kumara’s mobile phone.

Three killed, five injured in two accidents involving same car

Three persons were killed and another five persons were injured in two accidents involving the same car at Mount Lavinia on the Colombo-Galle Main road early this morning, Police said.

Mexican volunteer crowned Miss World

A Mexican model and volunteer was crowned Miss World at a glitzy event on the tropical Chinese island of Hainan on Saturday.

Three children walk into police station claiming starvation

Three children, who walked into the Pottuvil Police Station complaining of starvation and begging for food were given police protection.

We're opposed to amending 19A: UNP

The UNP said yesterday it was opposed to the proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena to amend the 19th Amendment to the constitution.

Immunity not to President's actions: Kanag Iswaran PC

President’s Counsel K. Kanag Iswaran yesterday countering the arguments of the respondents and the intervernient petitioners underlined the fact that the immunity conferred on the Executive President was only on his person and not on his acts or actions.