Delimitation Commission Report- I too have reservations: Faizer

Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faizer Musthapha today said that he too had reservations on the report of the provincial delimitation commission.

Excited to try out air logistics hub concept utilizing SL’s strategic location: US

The US is excited to try out the air logistics hub concept which utilizes Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean to ensure the quick availability of relief supplies, equipment and other material when needed by the US and partner militaries and humanitarian organizations, an official of the US Embassy in Sri Lanka said today.

Strike depends on Salary Commission’s response: Railway unions

The indefinite work stoppage by railway unions from Wednesday (29) midnight, would depend on the response of the National Salaries and Cadre Commission, Railway Technical Services Trade Union Committee (RTSTUC) said.

Scott Morrison sworn in as Australia's new PM

Treasurer Scott Morrison has been sworn in as Australia's Prime Minister to replace Malcolm Turnbull after a Liberal Party coup, Sky News reported a short while ago.

Three arrested with 1,300 Tramadol pills in Mannar

Three men were arrested by police while attempting to sell 1,300 pills of Tramadol in Mannar town on Thursday.

Gamini Senarath, three others granted bail

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath and three other suspects were granted bail by the Special High Court today over the case of misappropriating funds belonged to the Litro Gas Lanka limited.

Scott Morrison to become Australia's next PM

Australia Treasurer Scott Morrison will be Australia's new prime minister after winning a three-way battle for the leadership of the Liberal party on Friday (Aug 24), with incumbent Malcolm Turnbull not contesting the party ballot.

UNF, JO to oppose delimitation report

The Provincial Delimitation Commission Report is likely to be rejected by Parliament in the wake of the ruling UNF and the joint opposition deciding to vote against it, Parliament sources said.

Water pipe bursts at Castle Street

Police advised motorists to use alternative routes due to a burst of an underground water pipe at Castle Street in Borella this morning.

Price of 12.5 kg gas cylinder increased by Rs.158

A decision was taken by the Cost of Living Committee to increase the price of a 12.5kg gas cylinder by Rs.158 with effect from tomorrow (25).

Enough books of spot-fine sheets distributed: SP Hapugoda

Traffic police personnel can in no way refuse to issue spot-fines because sufficient books of spot-fine sheets have been distributed to all police stations in the country, Traffic Administration and Road Safety Director SP Indika Hapugoda said.

Some 20,000 could be missing due to war since 83: OMP

The Office of Missing Persons (OMP) said yesterday they were yet to finalise a list of missing persons during the war in Sri Lanka since 1983 but it could be about 20,000. However, OMP Chairman Saliya Pieris PC said they had several reports compiled by the commissions and institutions on the number of missing persons in the country.

Will make Colombo ECT the largest in South Asia: Minister

The government will develop the Colombo Port's East Container Terminal (ECT) to be the largest and deepest container terminal in South Asia without any foreign funding, Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said yesterday.

Rethink ban on ONUR radio dramas: Mangala

Media and Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday urged the Cultural Affairs Minister to reconsider the ban imposed on radio dramas produced by the Office of National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR).

Signing ETCA will be fatal to country's future: JO

The Joint Opposition yesterday said Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry was in an attempt to proceed with the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) during the discussions that were scheduled to be held today with the related parties.

38 ‘Ava’ members arrested during last two months: Minister

Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara told Parliament yesterday that during the past two months, 38 ‘Ava’ group members had been arrested and four motorbikes, four swords and an axe taken into custody.

Chief Magistrate recalls notices on Gota, 6 others

The notices issued on former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and six others to appear in Court on September 7 were recalled by Colombo Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake today.

New prisons for Welikada female inmates: Sarathi

Deputy Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms, Sarathi Dushmantha said today the ministry was taking steps to transfer the Welikada Prison's female inmates to newly-constructed prisons.

MR should be allowed to contest for Presidency: JO

The Joint Opposition (JO) today said the opportunity should be given to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to contest in the upcoming Presidential Election if people wanted, despite the government’s attempt to block it through the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

COPE stops service extension of Peoples' Bank GM

The Peoples' Bank (PB) General Manager is under fire for asking for an extension of service, drawing an 'exorbitant salary' and drawing salary arrears to the tune of Rs.70 million and the Ministries of Finance and National Enterprise Development had agreed to carry out the recommendation made by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) to stop the service extension, Parliament was informed today.

Train strike to resume on Wednesday night

After holding discussion with the Railways unions this evening the Railway Technical Services Trade Union Committee (RTSTUC) said they had decided to launch indefinite  train strike from Wednesday (29) midnight.

Mahendran asks CID for documents via Interpol

Senior Deputy Solicitor General Haripriya Jayasundara today the told court that the Central Bank's former governor Arjuna Mahendran, who is the first suspect in the magisterial inquiry into the bond scam had recently requested the CID to forward some of the documents on the investigation through Interpol.

No increment of allowances, JVP says Govt. harassing AG

The government is attempting to harass Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe by withdrawing the proposal to increase his salary and his allowances, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today.

Railway strike likely tonight

The Railway Technical Services Trade Union Committee (RTSTUC) warned today that they might stop work from tonight because the discussions with the President had not produced any favourable result.

We weren't happy about Prabhakaran's death: Rahul

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said he and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were not happy after the terror group LTTE's chief Prabhakaran, who ordered the assassination of his father Rajiv Gandhi, was killed, as they felt "the violence inflicted upon him had impacted others, including his children".

Vehicle movement on Galle Face Road restricted

The vehicle movement from the NSA Roundabout to the Galle Face has been restricted following a protest march carried out by a group of nearly 500 multi-day trawler fishermen, over several demands, the Police said a while ago.

Bike gang vandalizes three houses in Jaffna

A bike gang had vandalized three houses in Jaffna, Kopai and Chunnakam yesterday, Police said.

Navy rescues six Indian fishermen drowning in the sea

Six Indian fishermen who were drowning in the Sri Lankan territorial waters were rescued yesterday by the Navy officers and sailors of Sri Lanka Navy’s Fast Gun Boat on patrol, attached to the Northern Naval Command.

Decision to reactivate capital punishment shortly: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena reiterated yesterday that the decision to reactivate capital punishment on persons convicted for drug offences, who continue to repeat the crime even while on death row, would be carried out without hesitation shortly.

Sajith calls for an open economy with a human face

United National Party (UNP) Deputy Leader and Minister of Housing Sajith Premadasa recently called for an open economy with a human face saying it is the right way to establish a just society.