18-hour water cut in Colombo and suburbs on Saturday, Sunday

An 18-hour water cut will be in effect in Colombo and its suburbs from 8.00 a.m tomorrow (24) till 2.00 a.m on Sunday (25) the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NSWDB ) said.

Party leaders meeting ends, no agreement on PSC

The party leaders meeting which was convened this morning had been concluded a short while ago without reaching any agreement on the Parliament Select Committee’s (PSC) composition.

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 as well as the appointing of members to the Parliament Select Committee.

Lahiru reunites with his loved ones

Lahiru Madhushanka, who languished in prison in the Maldives for three years accused of involvement in a plot to assassinate a Maldivian President and had been acquitted and released by a court, arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport last night and was reunited with his family and loved ones.

Diamond worth billions stolen

A gang dressed in police uniform had stolen a 750-carat diamond brought down from South Africa valued at more than 7 billion rupees along with several other gemstones in the possession of a gem merchant in Maharagama.

Elephant attack kills two girls in Mahiyanganaya

Two girls aged 9 and 11-years were killed last night following a wild elephant attack in Mapakada Wewa area, Mahiyanganaya, Police said.

Inking FTAs only after adopting trade policy: Bandula

The new government will sign Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with other countries only after the adoption of a national trade policy, International Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardane said yesterday.

Gammanpila requests Nine-Judge bench to hear FR petitions

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Minister Udaya Gammanpila yesterday requested the Supreme Court to appoint a nine-Judge bench to hear the Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions on dissolution of parliament.

Will not be party to any government: TNA

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which commands the support of 15 MPs in Parliament, said it would not be party to any government though it voted to unseat the current administration.

UNF sends five names for committee of selection

The United National Front (UNF) has sent five names as their nominees for the committee of selection, party sources said yesterday. According to sources the five names included Lakshman Kiriella, Rauff Hakeem, Patali

TNA submits names of two MPs to Select Committee

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has submitted the names of MPs Dharmalingam Sithadthan and Mavai S. Senathirajah as its representatives to the Parliament Select Committee.

Appoint PSC to ensure P’ment functions: Dullas

The House will be unable to function any further if the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) is not appointed tomorrow, MP Dullas Alahapperuma said.

Party leaders to meet tomorrow morning

A party Leaders’ meeting would be held at the Parliamentary Complex at 9 am tomorrow to discuss about the Friday’s agenda and appointing members to the Parliament Select Committee (PSC), the Speaker's Office said.

JVP submits nominations to Select Committee

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said it had submitted names of two MPs to the Secretary General of Parliament as their representatives to the Parliament Select Committee. The two MPs are Vijitha Herath and Nalinda Jayatissa.

Police seek injunction against ‘Mahaviru Samaruma’

The Kopay Police today requested the Jaffna Magistrate to issue an injunction order preventing the students of the Jaffna University from holding an LTTE ‘Mahaviru Samaruma’ protest.

Agri sector revenue to be tax exempted: MR

The revenue generated from the agriculture sector would be exempted from income tax within this week, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.He said it was necessary to develop the agriculture sector though some people were ‘allergic’ to the development of the sector.

We no longer follow Westminster system: Dayasiri

Cabinet Spokesman and Skills Development Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said today Sri Lanka did not follow the traditions of the British Parliament since it became a Republic in 1972 and that from 1978 onwards it was ruled under an Executive President.

Suspect arrested with heroin worth Rs.12 mn in Kesbewa

A 37-year-old suspect was arrested with 1.10 kgs of heroin valued at more than Rs. 12 million by the officials of the Organized Crimes Prevention Division in Kesbewa today. Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said the suspect was arrested when he was

I was never involved in any betel nut business: Sanath

Former Sri Lanka cricket team skipper Sanath Jayasuriya today denied the report that he had allegedly smuggled rotten betel nuts (areca nuts) to India. He said he had never been involved in any business activity dealing with betel nut.  

Jayasuriya accused of smuggling rotten betel nuts to India: Report

Former Sri Lanka cricket team skipper Sanath Jayasuriya has been accused of smuggling rotten betel nuts to India along with two other cricketers, according to a report in The Dainik Bhaskar.

Akurana town flooded

Akurana Town in the Kandy district is flooded due to inclement weather condition, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today.

Don’t make statements unless factual

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has advised the MPs of his party not to make statements if unaware of proper facts on cases pending in the Supreme Court or any other judicial body.

Rajapaksa administration owes SriLankan Rs.122mn: Officer

A total of Rs.122.3 million is owed to SriLankan by the Presidential Secretariat, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Commonwealth Games Committee for charted flights they have booked between 2006 and 2014, SriLankan Airlines Network Planning Manager Sumudu Upattisa informed the PCoI on Wednesday.

US Senator urges Prez to accept results of two NCMs

The United States Senator Chris Van Hollen has written to President Maithripala Sirisena raising deep concerns about his decision to remove Sri Lanka's Prime Minister and the subsequent rejection of the two No-Confidence Motions (NCMs) in the Sri Lankan parliament on President's choice of replacement Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Govt. to grant relief package for agricultural sector: Dullas

The Finance Ministry will grant a huge relief package to those in the agricultural sector tomorrow, MP Dullas Alahapperuma said in a news briefing at the Prime Minister’s office today.

IP Rangajeewa reinstated

Police Narcotics Bureau Inspector Neomal Rangajeewa, who was granted bail by the Court of Appeal in connection with the deaths of 27 inmates at the Welikada prison in 2012, was reinstated yesterday, Police said.

Vehicle prices to increase by 10 - 15 % next year: Importers

The prices of vehicles would increase next year by 10 to 15  percent, the Vehicle Importers Association said yesterday.

Govt. can repay loans for 2019: Fin. Ministry

Rejecting media reports that the government was unable to repay loans next year, the Finance Ministry said loans would be serviced and repaid during the 2019 financial year.

Follow UK House of Commons when Constitution unclear: Kiriella

Coming up with a fresh argument on what should be done to resolve the present political crisis, the United National Party (UNP) yesterday said Sri Lankan Parliament was bound to follow the tradition of House of Commons of the UK when the Sri Lankan Constitution is unclear about certain situations.

West’s covert push for a 'spring': SLFP

The ruling SLFP yesterday charged that the Western powers were in a covert move to create unrest in Sri Lanka similar to that of Arab Spring they staged in the Middle East in 2015 and the current political and Constitutional Impasse was their agenda.