Ex-Korean President jailed for 15 years on corruption charges

Former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak was jailed by the Seoul Central District Court for 15 years for corruption, the Reuters reported today. Lee, who was in office from 2008 to 2013, is the fourth former South Korean president to be jailed, with his successor Park Geun-hye imprisoned for her role in a separate corruption scandal that toppled her from power in early 2017 and also led to jail time for Samsung

SLC Ex-Co alleged to have approved Rs. 130mn in payments before term lapsed

The former Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is alleged to have approved a mammoth outlay of more than Rs. 130 million at a meeting weeks before their term lapsed on May 31.

Grade 5 Scholarship Exam top rankers

Bumith Methnul Vithanage of Somaweera Chandrasiri Vidyalaya, Piliyandala and K. Sanupa Dimath Perera of St. Mary’s Maha Vidyalaya, Veyangoda topped the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination with 199 marks.

Grade 5 Examination results released

The Examinations Department today announced that the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination results-2018 had been released and could be viewed and downloaded from its website http://www.doenets.lk

Flight diverted to MRIA due to bad weather

The Air China CA 424 flight which was scheduled to land at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), was diverted to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) last night due to adverse weather, the BIA Duty Manager said.

Boralesgamuwa accident: Police confirms lady doctor was drunk

The police yesterday reaffirmed their earlier claim that the female specialist doctor, who was involved in an accident at Boralesgamuwa in which an IP was killed, was indeed under the influence of liquor at the time.

JO vows to defeat 2019 budget and form interim govt.

The joint opposition would pool all its power to defeat the budget 2019 and form an interim government until the general election scheduled to be held in late 2019, with Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister under President Maithripala Sirisena, SLFP rebel group frontliner and former Minister S.B.Dissanayaka said yesterday.

CD handed over to court by CID didn't contain Bond report

The CD which was supposed to carry recordings of Former Minister, MP Ravi Karunanayake giving a statement to the CID the investigations which was produced before courts by the CID yesterday did not contain the said recording.

Visa regulations to be relaxed to boost tourism: Dept.

The existing regulations on extending Sri Lankan online visa facility would be relaxed to encourage tourists, an official of the Immigration and Emigration Department said yesterday. The Visa and Border Controller of the Immigration and Emigration Department Chaminda Hettiarachchi said the Department was planning to relax the online visa regulations.

Prez intervened when PM lashed out at businessman: SB

President Maithripala Sirisena had to intervene when Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe became annoyed with a leading businessman at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting held on Tuesday at the Presidential Secretariat and reconvened it after the suspension of the meeting for a few minutes, SLFP dissident group front liner S.B.Dissanayaka said today.

IGP should resign until probe completed: Ranjan

IGP Pujith Jayasundara should resign from his post at least till investigations into the allegations levelled against him are completed, Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said today.

PM took all policy decisions on economy till NCE appointment: Minister

SLFP Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe today said it is not the National Economic Council (NEC) Chaired by the President but the Cabinet Sub Committee on Economic Management Chaired by the Prime Minister that took all policy decisions regarding economic matters and the President has continuously raised these matters over the past three years.

Rapid increase in importing small cars during past nine months: CMTA

There was a rapid increase in importing of vehicles less than 1,000 CC engine capacity to Sri Lanka in the first half of this year, The Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA) today said.

CID records statement from SLC CEO

The CID today recorded a 9-hour long statement from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) CEO Ashley De Silva in connection with the fraudulent attempt to transfer USD 5.5 million, connected to broadcasting rights of the England tour, to an offshore account.

Have to follow procedure if Nalaka is to be arrested: Minister

Legal and judicial procedures have to be followed if DIG Nalaka De Silva is to be arrested, Law and Order Minister Ranjith Maddumabandara today said.  

MR asks MS to pullout SLFP prop supporting govt.

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that the President should now pullout the SLFP prop that is supporting the government.

UNP ‘s responsibility is to safeguard President: Deputy Minister

It is the responsibility of the UNP to safeguard President Maithripala Sirisena, Home Affairs Deputy Minister J. C. Alawathuwala said today.  

JO alleges govt. behind Digana violence

The Joint Opposition (JO) today alleged it is now being revealed that some government forces had a hand behind the communal violence in Digana, Kandy earlier this year, as claimed recently by the Anti-Corruption Movement.

Lotus Road closed due to protest

The Lotus Road from Ceramic Junction in Colombo has been temporarily closed due to a protest march carried out by a group of students of the South Eastern University, Police said.

'Banda' wounded in shootout with Police in Athurugiriya

An underworld member known as Asitha alias Banda had been wounded in a shootout with Police Organized Crimes Officers in Athurugiriya this afternoon, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Public misled about train fare hike: GMR

The General Manager Railways (GMR) yesterday said the public had been misled by the announcement made at a recent Cabinet meeting which had only referred to the increase of 15 per cent in train fares without explaining how it was calculated.

Sergeant who went berserk in Thebuwana remanded

The Sergeant, who was arrested following his violent behavior armed with a T-56 in the Thebuwana area yesterday, was remanded until October 9 after he was produced before the Mathugama Magistrate Court today.

Unfortunate and unfair to say UN resolution an interference: UK

UK’s Minister of State for Asia-Pacific at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Mark Field, ahead of a visit to Sri Lanka, said that it is ‘unfortunate’ and ‘unfair’ to represent the Geneva resolution as interference by the international community in Sri Lanka’s domestic affairs.  

Dr. De Silva appointed acting National Policies and Economic Affairs Minister

National Policies and Economic Affairs State Minister Dr. Harsha De Silva has been appointed as the acting Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs by President Maithripala Sirisena during the absence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Link more with Japan to face crisis: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had told a group of Ministers and economic experts that Sri Lanka should enhance its economic and trade ties with Japan as a precaution for the ongoing economic crisis.

Prez to decide on IGP next week

President Maithripala Sirisena would take a decision on Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara in the next few days unless he tendered resignation, Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday.

CV’s vehicle shot down by Cabinet

Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran’s request for approval to import a super luxury vehicle at a cost of US$ 60,000 (Rs. 102,00,000 approximately) had been rejected by the Cabinet on Tuesday (02) Cabinet Spokesman Dr Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday.  

JO wants President to walk the talk

President Maithripala Sirisena should take immediate action with regard to serious issues, such as the economic crisis and the alleged assassination plot, instead of complaining or making mere statements, the Joint Opposition (JO) said yesterday. JO MP C.B. Ratnayake said if President S

UNP backbenchers to question National Economic Council

The United National Party (UNP) backbench MPs said that they had decided to question the National Economic Council on the action it had taken to minimize the effect, which the global economic crisis had had on Sri Lanka’s economy.

I used my permit, says SF

Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka recently said that he had disapproved the moves of some MPs, who were engaging in scams by selling their vehicle permits.