SL should have an export driven economy to overcome economic crisis: PM

Sri Lanka would not have been affected by the current global economic crisis if the country did not get into a debt trap like the one it has got into, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

MR asks whether Mangala’s statement reflects Govt’s opinion

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday denounced Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s response to Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and asked whether the response was the government’s opinion.

Alleged plot; serious than we thought- Samarasinghe

Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe today said that alleged assassination plot on President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, ‘is serious than we think as several individuals have been involved in it and called on the CID to investigate it thoroughly.’

Mangala denies any revelation on assassination plot by Indian national

Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera said today several media outlets had given wide publicity to false, unattributed claims that the CID had alleged in court that an Indian national had confirmed the existence of a plot to assassinate President Sirisena, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family members.

Indian national had not revealed any assassination plot: Police Spokesman

Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara today said the Indian national had not revealed any assassination plot to the CID on President Maithripala Sirisena and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa but had only spoken of a threat to several individuals following the revelation by Anti Corruption Movement’s Director Operations Namal Kumara on assassination plot.

JO mulls no-confidence motion against IGP

A No-Confidence Motion (NCM) would be brought against IGP Pujith Jayasundera to get him removed over his alleged involvement in the alleged assassination plot on President Maithripala Sirisena and ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Joint Opposition (JO) said today.

Jaffna Mayor at Thileepan’s commemoration

The 31st commemoration of LTTE member Thileepan AKA Raasaiya Pratheepan, who died following a fast-unto-death- protest against the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), was held today near the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple, Jaffna under the patronage of Jaffna Mayor.

Mathews, Kusal dropped from ODI squad against England

Former Sri Lankan Captain Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis have been dropped from Sri Lanka’s ODI squad against England, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said today.

Arrested Indian has a history of mental imbalance: HC

The Indian High Commission in Colombo on Wednesday said the Indian national, who had been arrested in Sri Lanka over the alleged assassination attempt of President Maithripala Sirisena, his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa and family members ‘has had a history of mental disturbance since 2000.’  

Gas price increased

The prices of Litro and Laugfs gas have been increased from midnight today.

Taking semi-nude photos: Three youths arrested

Three youths were arrested on charges of posting semi-naked photos, which they had taken while on top of the Pidurangala Rock, on social media, Police today said.

Postpone luxury spending by couple of months to stabilize LKR: Dr. Harsha

State Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs Dr Harsha de Silva asked the high-income earners of the country to be socially conscious to help cut the demand at the margin in the face of the rapid rupee depreciation.

Never wash your dirty laundry in public- Mahela

Commenting on recent series of developments in Sri Lankan cricket, former captain Mahela Jayawardane said that the emotional decisions are not always correct.

There were conspiracies to kill us: Gotabaya

There had always been conspiracies to kill us. There were death threats even when Prabhakaran was alive. But we endured all these threats due to virtues we posses, former Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.

No need of foreign interference; allow us to solve our problems-MS

President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday called on the international community ‘to allow Sri Lankan people to solve their problems on their own,’ and said: “as an independent country we do not want any foreign power to exert influence on us.”

Afghanistan, India nail-biter ends in tie

A brilliant all-round effort helped the spirited Afghanistan cricketers to tie their last Super Four dead rubber against India played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in UAE yesterday.

PM orders probe on semi nude pictures

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had ordered the police to carry out a probe to determine as to who was behind the publishing of semi nude pictures taken on Pidurangala Rock, which is a part of Pidurangala Viharaya, source close to Prime Minister’s office said yesterday.

JVP prefer referendum for 20A: Anura

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday that they would prefer the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution which was presented in parliament by his party was subjected to a referendum in addition to the approval of a two-thirds majority in parliament.

SLMC confused after SC verdict on SAITM graduates: GMOA

Following the Supreme Court (SC) verdict over the SAITM graduates issue, the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) was confused as to whether they should implement the SC verdict or the amended Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Act, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said yesterday.

Will support Govt. if it brings proposal to dissolve parliament: JO

We would support the Government unconditionally if it comes out with an early proposal to dissolve Parliament, Joint Opposition (JO) said yesterday.

Don't blame Trump; strengthen economy: MR

The government should take steps to strengthen the economy instead of blaming US President Donald Trump for the depreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

FR petition inevitable on Fuel pricing formula: PHU

A Fundamental Rights (FR) petition would be filed in the Supreme Court if the fuel pricing formula was not disclosed, PHU Leader Udaya Gammanpila said today.

We will only give foreign aid to "those who respect us and frankly our friends": Trump

President Trump said the US is "taking a hard look" at the foreign aid it sends to other countries and the financial support it provides to international organizations.

Indian national claims plot to assassinate Prez., MR

The CID informed Colombo Magistrate's Court today that the Indian national, who was arrested at the Anti-Corruption Movement Operational Director Namal Kumara’s Mawanella residence, had claimed that there was a plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family members.

Tamils were discriminated by Vellalas: Sarath

Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera has told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that the Tamils were discriminated by the Vellalas and not by the Sinhalese. In his speech on ‘racial discrimination’ he said the majority Sinhalese are charged with discriminating the Tamil minorities but in fact it was a section of the Tamils who discriminated another section of the Tamils.

Murder of soldier at Ambepussa army camp: Two soldiers arrested

Two soldiers attached to the Ambepussa Regimental Headquarters of the Sinha Regiment was arrested this afternoon in connection with the incident where a 21-year-old soldier was found dead with stab injuries at one of the guard posts in the same camp last week, Police said.

Take prompt measures to stabilize rupee: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today urged the government to introduce short-term measures without delay so as to stabilize the rupee on the basis that the rupee depreciation against other currencies would lead to a severe economic crisis.

CID asked to produce Namal Kumara for voice check

Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today directed the CID to produce Anti-Corruption Movement Operations Director Namal Kumara before the Government Analyst tomorrow for a voice check in connection with the alleged plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Cardinal seems to get it wrong: Mangala

In response to Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith’s remarks that human rights had become the religion among the Western nations, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said the Cardinal seems to got things wrong in trying to be a populist.

SL says ready to welcome toppled Maldives strongman

The defeated strongman of the Maldives Abdulla Yameen is welcome in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said.