Govt. acting arbitrarily: Mahanayake Thera

While claiming that the government was acting arbitrarily, Asgiri Chapter Mahanayake Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera said yesterday the government must take steps to curtail the increasing crime in the country.

Special journeys banned for WP private buses from tomorrow to Sep. 8

The use of private passenger buses for special journeys has been banned in the Western Province from tomorrow (1) to September 8, Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority Chairman Thusitha Kularathna said.

Hall for Chatura's wedding- Proper procedure followed: PM’s office

The Prime Minister Office said today the hall adjoining Temple Trees given out for MP Chatura Senaratne’s wedding was paid for by him according to standard procedure and not given free of charge, as such it was in no way a misappropriation of public funds as claimed by certain parties.

Gota says he will join JO protest

Former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who kept away from mainstream politics so far, said today that would not remain silent when the country was heading towards disaster and would join Wednesday's ‘Jana Balaya’ protest organised by the joint opposition (JO).

Ousted Australian PM Turnbull quits politics

Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who was ousted last week, has formally tendered his resignation from federal parliament, The Australian reported today.The country’s 29th prime minister, who served as the Liberal member for the Sydney seat of Wentworth for 14 years, handed in his resignation letter to Speaker of the House Tony Smith this afternoon.

Gnanasara Thera’s plea: CA declines to grant permission

The Court of Appeal today declined to grant permission to the application filed on behalf of Ven. Gnanasara Thera, to file an appeal to the Supreme Court against his conviction.The Court of Appeal was of the view that there was no legal grounds for the application.

Court orders to arrest Bengamuwe Nalaka thera, three others

Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna today directed the Fort Police to arrest Ven. Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera, Ven. Magalkande Saddhatissa and two other monks who were evading court in a case where they have been charged with damaging public property in 2017.

BIMSTEC Chairmanship handed over to Sri Lanka

The Chairmanship of the next BIMSTEC Summit was handed over to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena by Prime Minister of Nepal, Sharma Oli today, The Himalayan reported today.  

Convict in death row using Fb to contact outsiders

The Face Book account of an accused in a triple murder now in the death row is alleged to be active and questions had been raised as to its present location. Colombo High Court Judge made an order on this matter calling for an immediate investigation.

Indian arrested with gold worth Rs. 130 mn

A 35-year-old Indian national was arrested by the CID at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with 20 kilograms of gold worth Rs. 130 million this morning.

SL man arrested over terror offences in Sydney

A Sri Lankan man employed by a Sydney university has been charged over a document that police allege contained plans for terrorism attacks, the Guardian reported today.

Outdated admin system slows down HRCSL performances: Dr.Udagama

The prevailing outdated administrative system has slowed down the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka’s (HRCSL) performances and outcome which are expected as an independent commission, HRCSL Chairperson Dr. Deepika Udagama yesterday said.

SL-Malaysia agree to enhance monitoring of regional waters

Sri Lanka and Malaysia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in monitoring the waters between the two countries, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has said.

President appeals BIMSTEC to take collective steps against drug menace

President Maithripala Sirisena called upon the leaders of the states in the Bay of Bengal Region to take collective steps against drug menace narcotics smugglers use ocean routes for drug smuggling.

SL have to accept enforced disappearances: OMP

Accepting the fact that enforced disappearances had occurred in the country for at least four decades is the only way Sri Lanka can achieve reconciliation, OMP Chairman Saliya Pieris PC said yesterday.

Two accomplices of 'Makandure Madush' arrested

Two accomplices of underworld figure 'Makandure Madush' were nabbed with a T-56 assault rifle and ammunition by the STF during two separate raids at Homagama and Bandaragama on Wednesday night.

SLFP govt. by next Sinhala-Hindu New Year: Dilan

Badulla District Parliamentarians, Dilan Perera said today that the 15 SLFP group of rebels are determined to form an SLFP government with other progressive forces by hook or by crook by the next Sinhala and Hindu New Year and put Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his rightful place.

Govt. attempting to sabotage JO protest: MP

The joint opposition today charged that the government was frightened about the anti-government protest campaign scheduled for Wednesday and was attempting to sabotage it.

No legal impediment for Mahendran to acquire inquiry documents: AG

Senior Deputy Solicitor General Haripriya Jayasundara today told Court that there is no legal barrier for former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran to acquire the documents he sought earlier from the Singapore Interpol relating to the magisterial inquiry conducted into the controversial bond scam.

Social media becoming a global disruptive force: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today that the technology-driven new media including social media is a source of non-traditional threat and becoming a global disruptive force.

SLC election: ICC extends grace period up to Feb. 9

The International Cricket Council has granted further six-week grace period to hold Sri Lanka Cricket election after a delegation headed by Sports Minister Faiszer Musthapha beg for more time to sort out issues before going for election.

OMP interim report to be submitted to President

The interim report of Office on Missing Persons (OMP) will be submitted to President Maithripala Sirisena on September 5 with recommendations including allowances to the family of missing and the freedom to build monument to remember them, OMP Chairman Saliya Pieris PC said today.

Prez meets Modi in Nepal, discusses bilateral cooperation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a bilateral meeting with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit to discuss ways to boost cooperation.

US naval ship conducts exercise with SL Navy

The USS Anchorage- amphibious transport docks- joined the Sri Lankan naval ship ‘Suranimila’ to conduct an exercise at sea in the Indian Ocean, on August 28, the US embassy in Colombo said today.

Hemasiri Fernando new President’s Chief of Staff?

People’s Bank Chairman Hemasiri Fernando is likely to be appointed as the new Chief of Staff of the Presidential Secretariat next week.

Chinese President Jinping extends birthday greetings to MS

Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended birthday greetings to President Maithripala Sirisena on his 67th birthday to fall on September, 3.

UN expert on debt and human rights visits SL

The UN Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights, Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky, will conduct an official visit to Sri Lanka from 3 to 11 September 2018, at the invitation of the Government, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said a in a statement.

Man shot at in Maligawatte

A 33-year-old man was injured after he was shot at by two men arrived on a motorbike at Jumma Junction this morning, Police said.

Gnanasara Thera transferred to Prisons Hospital

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, who was treated at the Sri Jayewardenepura, was transferred to the Prisons Hospital today, Hospital sources said.

Lotus Road closed due to protest

The Lotus Road has been temporarily closed due to a protest march carried out by some members of the Missing Persons association, Police said.