Woman, husband found dead at Akmeemana

A 55-year-old woman and her 61-year-old husband were found dead in the garden behind their house at Akmeemana last night, police said.  

Two passengers nabbed with foreign cigarettes at BIA

A female passenger was apprehended by the officials of the Customs Narcotic Control Division at the Arrival Lounge at the Bandaranaike International Airport Katunayake while attempting to smuggle in 273 cartoons of foreign cigarettes containing 54,720 sticks valued at RS. 27, 30,000 packed in her traveling bag.

CID’s IP Nishantha Silva transferred

Inspector of Police (IP) Nishantha Silva of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been transferred to the Negombo Division with immediate effect on service requirements, sources said.  

Parliament gallery closed for public today

Visitors except for media personnel would not be allowed to enter parliament gallery during the today’s session which would commence at 1 pm today, officials said.

Prez tells UPFA: Ready to show majority if no-faith motion moved properly

President Maithripala Sirisena reportedly asked the parliamentary group of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) to be ready to show majority in Parliament if a no-confidence motion were brought through the proper procedure.

UNF to meet President with 113 affidavits today

The United National Front (UNF) said it will meet President Maithripala Sirisena with affidavits of 113 MPs today (19), UNP MP Ajith P Perera said yesterday.

Diamond - new symbol of UNF

United National Front is reportedly planning to contest the forthcoming election as a broad alliance under a new symbol - Diamond.

Action against MPs who misbehaved

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is to take action against MPs who misbehaved in Parliament during the last few days, while the United National Party (UNP) called to penalize MPs who misbehaved in Parliament on Friday, November 16, 2018.

President, party leaders meeting ends inconclusively

The All Party Conference, called by President Maithripala Sirisena to discuss the current political impasse, ended with no conclusion in sight, it is learnt.

US$1000mn to be paid for loans by next January

Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha De Silva said Sri Lanka should pay a vast sum of US$1,000 million as debt for loans of International Sovereign Bonds by January next year.

Conduct NCM vote by name or electronically: President

At the All Party Meeting held this evening, President Maithripala Sirisena has told the party representatives that the vote on No-Confidence Motion (NCM) should be held electronically or by calling names of MPs.

UNP to show majority again tomorrow

The United National Party (UNP) today said it would show their majority yet again in Parliament tomorrow.The UNP said this after the All Party Meeting which was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena this evening.  

51 arrested in raids on brothels in Gampaha

At least 51 people including 42 women were arrested following an eight-hour raid on brothels carried out in several areas in the Gampaha district on Saturday.

We will also not attend all-party conference: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has also decided not to attend the all-party conference scheduled for this evening with the President, MP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said.

Speaker informs President he will not attend all-party conference

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today informed President Maithripala Sirisena that he would not attend the all-party conference scheduled for this evening at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.  

‘Koombiyo’ editor Damitha missing

A complaint has been lodged with the Welikada Police stating that 40-year-old Damitha Chandrasiri, the editor and script writer of the ‘Koombiyo’ tele drama has been missing for few days.

England win second Test against SL to seal series

England beat Sri Lanka by 57 runs in the second Test in Kandy on Sunday to clinch the three-Test series 2-0.

Suspect arrested with heroin worth Rs. 25 mn in Kotahena

A 33-year-old suspect had been arrested with 2.79 kg of heroin valued more than Rs. 25 million at Kotahena last night by the officials of the Colombo Division Crimes Prevention Unit.

Solih sworn in as Maldives Prez

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was inaugurated on Saturday as the new President of the Maldives after the Opposition united to dislodge pro-China strongman leader Abdulla Yameen in September elections.

President calls all-party conference

President Maithripala Sirisena has called an all-party conference with the participation of all political parties represented in the Parliament, in order to discuss the current political crisis in the country, Presidential Media Division said.

CIA concludes Saudi Crown Prince behind Khashoggi murder

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has concluded Saudi’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was behind the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, The Washington Post reported Friday, citing people close to the matter.

FSP must accept us as leftists to work together: JVP

The Frontline Socialist Party should first put into words as to why they want to work with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and should accept us as leftists, JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti said.

US stresses importance of democratic outcome to SL political developments

The United States have underscored the importance of increasing shared regional interests with Japan, India and Australia to achieve an outcome to political developments in Sri Lanka which is consistent with democratic principles.

President should solve present crises: Ranil

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe last evening said President Maithripala Sirisena should immediately resolve the present crisis based on the no confidence motion passed in Parliament yesterday.

UNP writes to Facebook

The United National Party has requested Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg to protect  the US firm not to cooperate with Rajapakse's administration to refrain from disclosing information about Sri Lankan users of the platform with any officials of the ‘illegal government’ of President Maithripala Sirisena unless it is sanctioned by a court of law in the country.

Do not follow orders from pseudo ministers: JVP

JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath said that right now there is no constitutionally elected government, a cabinet or a Prime Minister and therefore, public servants must be extremely careful when carrying out orders from pseudo ministers.  

Appointing me as PM will complicate things further-Sajith

UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday said the present crisis would become complicated if he was appointed Prime Minister. 

I won’t be intimidated by any threats: Speaker

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said yesterday that he would not be intimidated by any threats or obstacles placed in his way and would safeguard the democracy even by sacrificing his life.

NCM: PM office says there are 12 steps to follow

The Office of the Prime Minister yesterday said there is a 12-step standard procedure which should be followed by the parliament when constitutionally passing a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against a prime minister.  

Why should UPFA remain in govt. forcibly? - Welgama

UPFA Kalutara District Parliamentarian Kumara Welgama said yesterday that it was questionable for the UPFA to remain in the government by force without the support of 113 members of the House.