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.

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.