Minister recommends NPC to interdict DIG Nalaka

Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara has recommended the National Police Commission (NPC) to interdict DIG Nalaka Silva, based on the ongoing investigation into the alleged plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Parliament wastes the most amount of food: President

The parliament reportedly wasted the most amount of food in the country, President Maithripala Sirisena said speaking at a ceremony celebrating World Food Day. 

Johnston Fernando acquitted of all charges

Former Minister Johnston Fernando, his private secretary Sakeer Mohamed and former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando, who were remanded on September 3 in connection with the misappropriation of SATHOSA funds worth Rs. 5.2 million in 2013, were acquitted of all charges bythe Kurunegala High Court today.

Suspended police sergeant in Thebuwana reinstated

Hours after President Maithripala Sirisena met and donated Rs.1 million to the family members of Police sergeant Sanath Gunawardena who was suspended following his violent behavior with a T-56 in the Thebuwana area on October 3, he has been reinstated by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara last evening.

President Sirisena alleges that RAW is plotting his assassination

In a move that might seriously impair Indo-Lanka relations, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday accused India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of plotting his assassination.

Youtube suffers outage for over 30 minutes

YouTube experienced widespread broadcasting issues, affecting YouTube, YouTube TV and YouTube Music, with the Google-owned streaming service down for almost two hours.

Prez - PM showdown at Cabinet

President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are reported to have had a showdown at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting over the proposal to develop the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port as an Indian investment.

Body of missing Saudi journalist was cut into pieces, Turkish official says

The body of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi was cut into pieces after he was killed two weeks ago at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, a Turkish official told CNN today.

President grants Rs.14 Customs Tax to release sugar stock at Port

Following discussions held with President Maithripala Sirisena at the President Secretariat yesterday, he had agreed to release the sugar stocks already at the harbour under Rs.14 customs tax concession, Sugar Importers' Association member Priyantha Senavirathne said.

Nothing certain about PC polls: EC

Even after Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe submits the delimitation review report to President Maithripala Sirisena by October 28, PC polls cannot be held until amendments if any are approved by Parliament, Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said yesterday.

Big countries in IOR need SL's help: SL Navy

The big countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) need Sri Lanka’s assistance to face maritime security threats and similarly Sri Lanka needs the assistance of other countries, Sri Lanka Navy said today.

B'gamuwa tragedy - No provisions to challenge doctors’ report: Police

Police informed court that though the breathalyzer test had confirmed that the lady doctor involved in the Boralesgamuwa accident was under the influence of liquor, the doctors who examined her said it was not so and that there were no provisions to challenge the doctors' report.

Fmr. TID DIG Nalaka failed to appear before CID

Former Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) DIG Kaushal Nalaka de Silva today failed to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over the inquiry into the alleged assassination plot on President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, CID sources said.

Demonetize Rs.5000 notes: Prof. Wijesuriya

The convener of the Movement for a Just Society, Prof Sarath Wijesuriya said he would urge the government to remove the Rs.5,000 notes from circulation as a remedy to the present Economic Crisis faced by Sri Lanka.

Prez donates Rs.1mn to Police Sergeant in Thebuwana

President Maithripala Sirisena today donated Rs.1 million to the family members of Sergeant Sanath Gunawardena who was suspended following his violent behavior with a T-56 in the Thebuwana area on October 3.

Rupee will hit 200 if S'pore FTA is on: JO

The joint opposition (JO) said today the Sri Lanka rupee would hit 200 against the US Dollar by the end of this year if the Singapore FTA, which had enabled thousands of items to be imported without taxes, was still operative.

Nothing official about IGP's resignation: Nalin Bandara

Responding to speculation that Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara was to resign, Law and Order Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara said today he had not officially informed the Ministry or the President about any such move.

Name boards in Jaffna causing confusion

People in Jaffna have complained that name boards on roads and several state departments in the district had been wrongly translated into Sinhala and urged the authorities to rectify them immediately.  

Met. Dept. warns of severe thunderstorm

The Meteorology Department today said thunderstorms accompanied by severe lightning could occur during the next few hours in the Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, North-central and North-western provinces and in Mannar district.

Chinese worker found dead in Weeraketiya

A 43-year-old Chinese national was found dead at a house in Weeraketiya this morning, police said.

I have always maintained integrity, transparency: Jayasuriya

While claiming that he had always maintained integrity and transparency with Cricket related matters, Sanath Jayasuriya, who has been charged under the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code, said that his legal team was in the process of drafting his response to the ICC.

Special HC summons ‘Ali Roshan’, six others

Colombo Special High Court today issued summons on S.N. Roshan alias ‘Ali Roshan’ and six others to appear in the Court on October 26 over the charges of possessing four elephants without a valid license during the period of 2012 to 2015.

Boralesgamuwa accident: Doctor re-remanded till Oct.30

The doctor, who was involved in the Boralesgamuwa accident in which a Police Inspector was killed, was further remanded till October 30 by the Gangodawila Magistrate today.  

Saudis preparing to admit Jamal Khashoggi died during interrogation

The Saudis are preparing a report that will acknowledge that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death was the result of an interrogation that went wrong, one that was intended to lead to his abduction from Turkey, according to two sources.

Ranil to meet Modi

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will visit New Delhi later this week and meet his counterpart Narendra Modi to discuss bilateral matters, official sources in Colombo said, the Hindu reported.

Sugar imports suspended temporarily

Sugar Importers' Association yesterday said that they would have to stop importing sugar temporarily, due to world market and Indian market sugar price hike.

Prof. Amara Ranathunga passes away

Veteran singer Prof. Amara Ranathunga the wife of Dr. Dayarathna Ranathunga, passed away at the age of (79) last night, family sources said.

DIG Nalaka summoned to CID today

DIG Kaushal Nalaka de Silva who was in charge of the Terrorism Investigations Department( TID) has been summoned to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today obtain a statement regarding an alleged assassination plot on President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, CID sources said.

Countering 'Awa': Security tightened in Jaffna

The Police have taken steps to strengthen the security in Jaffna town as a means of putting an end to the attacks and robberies allegedly committed by the “AWA” group.

STF to be deployed outside prisons from Oct. 20

A special unit of the Police Special Task Force (STF) will be deployed outside Sri Lanka's four main prisons from October 20, in a move to prevent drugs and other devices from reaching prison inmates, the Ministry of Justice and Prisons Reforms said yesterday.