Bus topples into Hamilton canal killing 3 and injuring 19

Three female passengers were killed and 19 others were injured when a Colombo bound Jaffna luxury bus toppled into the Hamilton canal at Nattandiya this evening.

Implementing majority viewpoint is not democracy: EC

Implementing the viewpoint of the majority is not what we call democracy but democracy is to implement the views of the majority in such a way that it would not prejudice the minority, Election Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said.

I won't contest any election: Mahanama

Responding to social media reports that Roshan Mahanama would be contesting the upcoming elections, former Sri Lankan Cricketer said that he has no intention of contesting any election.

Speaker to meet President today

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya will meet President Maithripala Sirisena this evening at the presidential secretariat, the Speaker’s office said.

Parliament adjourned till tomorrow

The parliament session was adjourned till tomorrow morning, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said. He said the session would be convened at 10.30 am.

Motion curtailing funds of PM's office passed

The motion presented to Parliament to curtail expenditure to the Office of the Prime Minister was passed in Parliament by a majority of 123 votes, with no opposition, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced a while ago,

I have mutual understanding with Prez: Speaker

I have no issues talking with President Maithripala Sirisena and I can discuss any matter with him because we have mutual understanding, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said.

All operations of Temple Trees should be stopped: JVP

All operations in the Temple Trees should also be stopped, when the motion to curtail expenditure to the Office of Prime Minister would be passed in Parliament, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in Parliament.   

Grant ruling power to party who secures majority: Wijeyadasa

Higher Education Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe today requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in Parliament to grant the ruling power to the party who has secured majority in parliament and thereby to end the prevailing political turmoil.   

‘Purported Government’ spent Rs.840 mn on helicopter rides: Ravi

‘The purported Government’ had spent Rs.840 million on the helicopter rides for the last 21 days without considering the expenses, United national Party (UNP) MP Ravi Karunanayake said in parliament.

Parliament session commences

Today’s parliament session commenced a short while ago with Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in the chair.  

Government MPs to boycott parliament today

All parliamentarians of the Government have decided to boycott the parliament session today which is due to be held at 10.30am, Chief Government Whip S. B. Dissanayake confirmed.

CDS transferred to Welikada from Magazine Prison

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Ravindra Wijegunaratne, who was remanded yesterday was transferred to the Welikada prison from the Magazine Prison last night, Commissioner General of Prisons Nishan Dhanasinghe said  

Party leaders’ meeting commenced

A Party Leaders Meeting, chaired by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya commenced at the Parliamentary complex a short while ago to discuss the today’s agenda in Parliament.

New UNP led alliance to be registered soon-Ranil

The United National Party (UNP) together with other parties which stand for democracy will soon register a new political alliance, its Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Govt. is likely to boycott Parliament today as well

The Government is likely to boycott Parliament today as well to not to face the challenge posed by the motion handed over to the Secretary-General of Parliament by six UNF Parliamentarians on November 19, challenging the constitutionality of the purported Government of Mahinda Rajapaksa to utilise public finance.  

UNP Group meeting decides RW should be PM

The UNP's Parliamentary Group had unanimously decided that its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe should be the one, who should become Prime Minister as long the party had a majority in Parliament, party sources said.  

Optimistic of securing a majority for VoA: Vasu

The Government today said it was optimistic that a majority of MPs would vote to pass the Vote on Account (VoA) as it was a matter of national interest.

Vote on Account Illegal: Ravi

Vote on Account approved by the Cabinet for Rs 1,735 billion was illegal as there was no Cabinet functioning in the country at the moment, UNP MP and Former Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake said today.

Man nabbed with heroin worth Rs.8mn

A 71-year-old man was arrested with 700 grams of heroin valued at Rs. 8 million in Piliyandala today, Police spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Gammanpila writes to Editor of Hansard

Minister Udaya Gammanpila today wrote to the Editor of the Hansard over an alleged distortion of the Parliamentary Affairs on November 14.

Prez should take responsibility for de-stabilizing the country: JVP

While claiming that it was President Maithripala Sirisena who put the country into anarchy and instability for his political gains, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today that he should take the responsibility of stabilizing the country as well.

CDS remanded till Dec. 5

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Ravindra Wijegunaratne, who appeared in the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court through his Counsel Anuja Premaratne PC for allegedly intimidating a witness and the investigation officer Nishantha Silva was remanded till December 5 by Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake today.

Journalists covering CDS case attacked

Several photo journalists and cameramen who were at the Fort Magistrate’s Court premises to cover the case in which Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Ravindra Wijegunaratne allegedly involved in, had been attacked by several men who arrived on motorcycles a short while ago.  

Cabinet approves Rs.1,735 bn as Govt. expenditure

The Cabinet of Ministers had approved the Interim Vote on Account (VoA) seeking Rs.1,735 billion as Government Expenditure for the first four months of 2019.

Prez wants electronic payment system for fines

President Maithripala Sirisena instructed the authorities to look into the possibility of introducing paying the fines for minor crimes including traffic offences through an Electronic Payment System.

SL rupee hits Rs.182 against US Dollar

The Sri Lankan Rupee further depreciated against the US Dollar today. According to the exchange rates of the Central Bank, the Rupee was selling at Rs.182.27 against the US Dollar.

Banners with LTTE chief's pic land duo in jail

Two members of a fringe Tamil nationalist party were arrested on Tuesday for putting up banners with slain LTTE chief V Prabhakaran's photos at Mehul Circle at Mulund's New Junction. Mathiyajagan Sundaram (33) and Palanivel Ravindra (24) have been booked for defacing public property.

China says it is not ‘becoming a supplier of political instability’

China has rejected claims that it is ‘becoming a supplier of political instability’ and sets a ‘debt-trap’ for Sri Lanka and other countries.

FB admits 'serious mistake' in not removing racial hatred post in SL

A Facebook executive has admitted that the company “made a mistake” in not removing a post that incited racial hatred in Sri Lanka, an international hearing on fake news and disinformation in London heard on Tuesday (Nov 27).