Govt. seeks millions for Gamperaliya

The government presented a supplementary estimate to seek parliamentary approval to spend rupees Rs.1 million for the Gamperaliya inauguration programme in Kurunegala.

Constitutional Council looking for new nominees

The Constitutional Council is expected to call for fresh nominees for seven reserved slots on the basis that the stipulated term of office of the current members will expire soon.

15% VAT on fabrics, timber will hurt these industries: Bandula

Joint opposition MP Bandula Gunawardane said yesterday the government had imposed a 15 per cent VAT on imported fabric and timber from August 16 this year and urged the government to reconsider it saying it was a huge blow to the related industries.

Religious, ethnic harmony: Select committee appointed

A select committee has been appointed to study and recommend ways and means of ensuring ethnic and religious harmony in Sri Lanka, Parliament was informed yesterday.

Ragging- Take action against Uni students responsible: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday he had instructed the Universities and law enforcement authorities to file charges against university students implicated in ragging because the government would not allow extremist elements to destroy the future of these students.

SL’s leadership of CCM could serve as catalyst for other countries: Envoy

Sri Lanka’s leadership of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) could serve as a catalyst for and inspire other countries to appreciate the value of peace building, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva A. L. A. Azeez said.

Heated arguments in House over JO supporters having loose motions

Parliament was the scene of heated arguments today when joint opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa claimed that some UNP organizers in Colombo had distributed contaminated packets of milk to those who participated in Wednesday's 'janabalaya kolambata protest.

AG instructs IGP to take legal action against Maheshwaran

The Attorney General today instructed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara to take legal action under the Penal Code against UNP MP and former state minister Vijayakala Maheswaran, who made controversial statement on resurgence of the LTTE.

NFTH, Mulleriyawa hospital to be teaching hospitals: Rajitha

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said today a Cabinet Paper would be submitted soon to develop the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH) and Mulleriyawa Base Hospital as the Colombo East Teaching Hospitals.

A/L paper evaluation: 24 schools closed from Sept.11 to 24

Twenty four schools including Ananda College in Colombo will be closed from September 11 to 24 for the second phase of the 2018 GCE Advanced Level paper evaluation, the Examinations Department said today.

Resolve issues within two weeks: CC informs NPC, IGP

Constitutional Council (CC) Chairman Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today informed the National Police Commission (NPC) and the Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara to resolve the issues between them within two weeks.

UN envoy assures more assistance to SL

Newly-appointed United Nations Permanent Representative for Sri Lanka, Hanna Singer assured President Maithripala Sirisena that while continuing the ongoing programmes, she would also explore the possibility of widening assistance to Sri Lanka.

Muslim groups call for female circumcision to be medicalised

A number of Sri Lankan Muslim groups have called on the government to medicalise female circumcision.In representations made to the Parliamentary Committee on Women and Gender, members of the All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ulama, All Ceylon YMMA Conference, Centre for Islamic

Building at Braybrooke Place catches fire

A fire broke out in a building at Braybrooke Place in Colombo 2 a short while ago, the Fire Brigade said.

USAID partners with private banks to boost financing to enterprises

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and two private banks-Hatton National Bank and Sampath Bank-announced a new partnership programme of up to USD 9 million for local financing available to private, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) throughout Sri Lanka.  

Gammanpila files petition in SC challenging 20A

Joint Opposition (JO) MP Udaya Gammanpila today filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a determination that the 20th Amendment to the Constitution requires the approval of people at a referendum.

High Court releases Hirunika’s passport

The Colombo High Court (HC) today released UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra’s passport which was taken into court custody over the Dematagoda abduction case. MP Premachandra requested the court to release her passport in order to get s

Was Jana Balaya Kolambata successful?

Was ‘Jana Balaya Kolambata’ protest organised by the Joint Opposition in Colombo on Wednesday successful? Let us know your views by taking the poll on our Facebook page.

Draft for new Constitution soon in Parliament: Kiriella

The government will present a draft for the new Constitution to Parliament soon, Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament today.

Man found hacked to death in Arawwala

An unidentified body with heavy lacerations was found near the Purana Viharaya, Homagama this morning, Police said. Police suspect the victim, between 35-40, was brutally hacked to death.Maharagama Police are conducting further investigation.

Teplitz confirmed as US Ambassador to SL

The nomination of Alaina B. Teplitz as the next US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, has been confirmed by the US Senate yesterday. Ms. Teplitz, who is from Colorado, is a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service.  

Limit water usage to enable steady supply: NWSDB

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) yesterday requested the public to limit water usage to only what was required for domestic activities and refrain from using the utility for activities such as washing cars, gardening and maintaining swimming pools etc

Ravi K to get ministerial portfolio?

UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake, who resigned from his ministerial post after coming under scrutiny with regard to the role he allegedly played in the bond scam that came into the open last year, may get a ministerial portfolio once again.

No more wedding receptions at Temple Trees: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had decided not to allow anybody to hold wedding receptions at Temple Trees in future, UNP sources said yesterday.

IGP, NPC asked to appear before CC today

IGP Pujith Jayasundara and members of the National Police Commission (NPC) will appear before the Constitutional Council meeting today (7) to discuss the disparities that exist between the orders of the NPC and the activities of the Police Chief.

2019 Budget on Nov. 8: Kiriella

Next year's Budget will be presented in Parliament on November 8, House Leader Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday.

OMP wants officers accused of enforced disappearances suspended

In its first interim report, the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) recommended the government to suspend state officials including members of the armed forces and police who were named as suspects or accused in criminal actions relating to abductions and enforced disappearances, pending the final determination of such cases.

Prof. Jayasumana authors full chapter in Oxford textbook

Prof Channa Jayasumana of Faculty of Medicine, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka has published a chapter named Chronic Interstitial Nephritis in Agricultural Communities-CINAC in the 4th edition of “Oxford textbook of Clinical Nephrology” updated recently.  

Ex-military officers’ diplomatic service more immense than others: Gota

The service rendered by retired military officers as Sri Lanka’s envoys abroad was more immense and better than that of the others, former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said today.  

Janabalaya dilutes people's genuine protest against govt.: JVP

While claiming that political parties had a right to organise street protests, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today that the Janabalaya protest march organized by the joint opposition had undermined the peoples’ genuine protest against the government.