CDS appears in court

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Ravindra Wijegunaratne appeared before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court this morning, over his alleged involvement in the case of harbouring a former navy officer Prasad Hettiarachchi alias Navy Sampath.

SLFP annual convention on Dec. 4

The annual convention of the SLFP will be held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on December 4 chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena, Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said yesterday.

PM chosen by Parliament, not Prez-Ranil

Responding to a statement made by President Maithripala Sirisena that he will not appoint him as the Prime Minister again; UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said the President has to offer the post to anyone chosen by Parliament.  

Judiciary being dragged into ongoing conflict: Dullas

UPFA MP Dullas Alahapperuma yesterday said the judiciary is being dragged into the ongoing conflict between the Executive and the Legislature.

Speaker Karu says ready to face any probe

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday said he was ready to face any investigation with regard to allegations that he falsified the Hansard report of Parliament.

Finance Ministry clarifies

The Finance Ministry yesterday rejected reports that Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had forced the customs department to release a person who had attempted to smuggle out US dollars amounting to 53,455 from the country.

Special HC postponed trial against Gota for Dec 8

The special trial-at-bar at the Colombo High Court yesterday once again postponed the trial against former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and six others for December 8 on observing that the prosecution had still not tendered some of the documents on the case to the defence.

SLBFE requests public assistance to locate four missing Lankans

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) requests public assistance to locate about Sri Lankan workers who went missing after leaving Kuwait.

Govt. request Speaker not to publish Hansards

The government today requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya not to publish the Hansards for parliament sessions held on November 14,15,16,19,21 and 23 claiming that the sessions were not held according to the Constitution, Standing Orders and Parliamentary tradition.

Cabinet approves Vote on Account to draw money to run Govt

The Cabinet today approved a ‘Vote on Account’ (VoA) for the government to cover State expenses for the time being and it would be presented in Parliament shortly for approval, Government Spokesman and Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said today.

Opp. MPs request Speaker to order Media: 'There is no govt.'

Several opposition MPs today requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to order media to refrain from indicating that there is a government in the country at the moment in their news reports.

Prez orders to release Sinhala, Tamil translations of bond report: Dullas

President Maithripala Sirisena had instructed the relevant authorities to release the Tamil and Sinhala translations of the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the Central Bank Bond scam within two weeks, UPFA MP Dallas Alahapperuma said today.

Speaker asks CID to probe fake letter

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said today he had asked the CID to carry out an investigation on the fake letters that have been put out with his signature.

I was not officially informed : CDS

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Ravindra Wijegunaratne said today that he was not informed by the Senior DIG of the CID, IGP or the Defence Secretary to appear before the CID to give a statement this morning.

President’s remarks: SF requests Speaker to summon IGP

United National Party (UNP) MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka today requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to summon IGP Pujitha Jayasundara to Parliament within 48 hours, over the recent remarks made by the President with regard to the alleged assassination plot.       

Government MPs boycott parliament

All parliamentarians of the government today boycotted the parliament session which commenced a short while ago. The government has decided to boycott the session following a decision was taken at its parliamentary group meeting.

You are our saviour: John to Speaker

UNP MP John Amaratunga in parliament today said Speaker Karu Jayasuriya was their saviour. The MP said extra security had been provided to government MPs while opposition MPs including MP Vadivel Suresh are being subjected to intimidations and harassments.

Parliament session commences

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

CDS fails to appear before CID again

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Ravindra Wijegunaratne again failed to report to the CID this morning, officials said.

70 Judicial Officers, 18 PLTS transferred

Seventy Judicial Officers and 18 Presidents of Labour Tribunals (PLTS) had been transferred with effect from January 1, 2019 on annual transfers, the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission H. Sanjeewa Somaratne said.

NASA InSight Lander arrives on Martian surface

Mars has just received its newest robotic resident. NASA's Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) lander successfully touched down on the Red Planet after an almost seven-month, 300-million-mile (458-million-kilometer) journey from Earth.

Matara student stabbing: Third suspect arrested

The third suspect involved in the stabbing and death of an Advanced Level student in Matara was arrested this morning at Matara town, Police said.

No O/L tuition classes from tonight: Exam. Dept.

The Department of Examination announced yesterday that tuition classes targeting the 2018 G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination will not be permitted from midnight today.

No agreement with SLFP to form alliance: Basil

Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa who formed the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said yesterday that there was no agreement reached with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to form a broad political alliance.

Commission must be impartial: Champika

There was nothing wrong in appointing a Presidential Commission to probe into alleged corruptions that had taken from 2015 to 2018 but it should not be done to victimise people politically, UNP MP Patali Champika Ranawaka said yesterday.

A group of wealthy tourists arrive at MRIA

A group of wealthy tourists arrived at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) last afternoon for a three-day excursion of Sri Lanka, Airport Manager Upali Kalansuriya said. Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he said 247 passengers had arrived for sight seen in Hambantota.

Gammanpila accuses Speaker of altering Hansard content

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila yesterday accused Speaker Karu Jayasuriya of altering the contents of the Hansard, which recorded what has happened in parliament chamber during the no-confidence motion debate on November 14.

Habarakada Wasantha, Meegoda Upul killed in shoot-out with STF

Two underworld figures, 'Habarakada Wasantha’ and ‘Meegoda Upul’, were killed in a shoot-out with police at Rukmalgama, Kottawa, this evening.

Wasantha regrets playing lead role in political drama

UNP MP Wasantha Senanayake, who rejoined the UNP after a series of topsy-turvy events, expressed regret today at becoming an actor in the current political drama.

Ranil wants all-party meeting to decide on polls

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today proposed a gathering of all parties to decide on an  election,  but said Sri Lanka's constitution must be safeguarded at all times.