Special HC: First case to be taken up tomorrow

The first ever case of the Special High Court would be taken up for hearing tomorrow (24), legal sources said yesterday.

More drugs get price cut

The National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA) would issue a Gazette Notification to reduce prices of yet another batch of 26 essential drugs next Friday (25) a spokesman of the NMRA said yesterday.

GMOA dictates President to stop moves on Trade Agreements

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) urged President Maithripala Sirisena to immediately suspend the proceedings, which were scheduled on end of August to compose trade agreements including Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA).

S’pore-SL FTA in force, says Harsha

A Presidential Commission probing the Singapore-Sri Lanka FTA did not mean that the agreement was not in force, State Minister Harsha De Silva said today.  

PHU wants Govt. to declare holiday over JO protest

It would be convenient for people if the Government announced September 5 as a public holiday in order to reduce the congestion that could be caused by the protest campaign organised by the Joint Opposition (JO), the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) said.

No decentralized budget for MPs for 8 months: JO

The Government had failed to release the decentralized budget funds to MPs for the past eight months, the Joint Opposition (JO) said today.

Electoral System not important: UNP seniors

The electoral system under which the PC Elections should be held was not important for the UNP as the party wanted the Provincial Council Elections held as soon as possible under any system, several party seniors said today.

ICRC assures cooperation to Army’s humanitarian roles

The new Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Sri Lanka, Loukas Petridis called on Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake and assured his full cooperation to humanitarian roles of the Army.

Japan wants H’tota to be free of military activities

Japan wants Hambantota port to be "free of military activities", the visiting Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onedera has said amid concerns in the region over the leasing of the facility to China, the PTI reported on Wednesday.

BJP's Swamy goes to Medamulana, meets MR

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Dr. Subramanian Swamy arrived in Sri Lanka today and called on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Medamulana. In a tweet, Mr. Rajapaksa said, “I welcomed my good friend Dr. Subramanian Swamy and I’m honoured to accept his invitation to speak in New Delhi,” 

PM invites Japan to assist SL in port development

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told the visiting Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera that Sri Lanka expected assistance from Japan to develop ports in Sri Lanka.

Mannar mass grave: Skeletal remains of 66 unearthed

Skeletal remains belonging to 66 individuals had been unearthed by yesterday from excavations of the mass grave in Mannar Sathosa Building Site, Judicial Medical Officer S. Rajapaksa said.

Body recovered from sea off Pamunugama

A body of a man was found floating in the sea off Pamunugama yesterday, Police said.

Udayanga recommended company as GSA for Russia

Former Sri Lankan ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga had recommended a company named Sri Lanka Limited to be appointed as General Sales Agent (GSA) for SriLankan airlines in Russia, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) on irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka was told yesterday.

Cabinet mulls RMB and Yen bonds

The Cabinet is reported to have decided to explore the possibility of issuing International Sovereign Bonds in Renminbi (RMB) and Japanese Yen instead of depending solely on the US dollar for the purpose of raising funds.

Committee on SL-S'pore FTA: JO wants Prez to hold sittings

The joint opposition (JO) yesterday urged President Maithripala Sirisena to immediately convene the committee of experts appointed to study the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA).

Gota, Sajin, Nishantha noticed to appear

The Presidential Commission to inquire into allegations of large-scale frauds and malpractices in SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering Ltd and Mihin Lanka (Pvt) Ltd has issued notices to four persons including former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and former SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickremesinghe to appear before it.

SC ruling on MS clearly shows MR can't contest again

The Supreme Court's reuling delivered earlier this year on the term of office of President Maithripala Sirisena makes it clear that former president Mahinda Rajapaksa cannot contest the next presidential election, UNP MP Thushara Indunil told a media briefing today.

Three police officers arrested by mistake: Police

The three police officers who were arrested by the STF this morning in connection with an alleged robbery in Kalutara was a mistake, Police said.

Cabinet rescinds age limit on trishaw drivers

The Cabinet is reported to have today rescinded the gazette notice that barred those below 35 years from obtaining three-wheeler driving licenses.

Japan keen to strengthen security cooperation with SL

The visit of the Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera has drawn attention to the need for further strengthening maritime security cooperation between Japan and Sri Lanka.

Customer injured during bank robbery in Gandara

A customer was injured when four armed men opened fire inside a state-owned bank at Parawahera in Gandara, Matara this evening, police said.

Protesting undergrads tear-gassed again

The university students were tear-gassed a short while ago outside the University Grants Commission (UGC) for the second time, police said.

Police use tear gas at IUSF protest

Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the protesting university students outside the University Grants Commission (UGC) a short while ago, Police said.  

Ward place blocked due to protest

Ward Place in Colombo was blocked as a result of a protest staged by the University Students outside the University Grants Commission (UGC), Police said.

Customs seize 18 tons of Beedi Leaves in containers

Sri Lanka Customs Preventive Mega-Port Surveillance Unit today detained two containers with 18 tons of Beedi Leaves worth Rs.13 million, while being attempted to smuggle into the country, Customs Spokesman and Deputy Director Sunil Jayarathne said.

MR's brother Chandra Rajapaksa passes away

Chandra Tudor Rajapaksa, one of the brothers of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, passed away at the age of 70 in Tangalle today, family sources said.

Missile attack launched at Presidential Palace in Kabul

At least a dozen missiles have been fired in Kabul, with some targeting the Presidential Palace and diplomatic zone in the capital of Afghanistan, the RT news reported a short while ago.  

Special high court to hear fraud cases, declared open

The first special High Court established to hear financial fraud and corruption cases, was declared open by Justice and Prisons Reform Minister Thalatha Athukorale a short while ago at the Hulftsdrop court premises in Colombo 12.

Australian prime minister survives leadership challenge

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull survived a leadership challenge by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton on Tuesday, government officials said, but the narrow margin of his win did little to dampen speculation about his future.