No change in income tax of medical specialists: Mangala

No changes had been made in the tax rate for the calculation of Income Tax or the PAYE tax to the members of the Association of Medical Specialist, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said this evening.

Train collision at Panaliya: More than 20 injured

A train plying from Colombo towards Kandy collided with a train halted in Panaliya between the Railway Stations of Polgahawela and Rambukkana, the Railway Control Room said.Meanwhile, our reporter said about 20 passengers who were injured in the accident were admitted to the Polgahawela and Rambukkana Hospitals.    

Medical specialists get income tax reduced to 15%

The 24 per cent income tax imposed on medical specialists would be reduced to 15 per cent, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said. He said the decision was taken following a meeting held with Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

Employees of Govt. Printing Department on strike

Employees of the Government Printing Department have resorted to a work stoppage from 12.00 noon today to 6.00 p.m. tomorrow thereby delaying the printing of gazettes, hansards, order papers and other documents.

Political scholarships: Neville Fernando rejects Wijeyadasa’s claims

SAITM founder Neville Fernando today rejected claims made by Higher Education and Cultural Affairs Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s that scholarships were given to SAITM students on political grounds.

UNP reforms yet to be fully implemented: Marikkar

Recommendations made by the committee appointed by the United National Party (UNP) to recommend party reforms are yet to be implemented fully, MP S.M. Marikkar said today.  

Rtd. Major Amal Karunasekara re-remanded

Former Military Intelligence Director and Chief of Staff of the Army, Major General (Retired) Amal Karunasekara was re-remanded till August 20 by Mount Lavinia Additional Magistrate Lochana Abeywickrema over the abduction and assault of journalist Keith Noyahr in 2008.

Salary of MPs should be based on performance: PHU

Criticizing the government’s move to increase the salaries of MPs, the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) today said their salaries should be based on their performance similar to any other organisation.

Ex-SLAF pilot arrested with pistol at BIA

A former pilot of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) traveling to Dubai, was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning for carrying an unregistered pistol with a bullet, Police said.

CMC Commissioner V.K.A. Anura reinstated

Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Commissioner V.K.A. Anura, who was removed from his post earlier this year, was reinstated today, CMC sources said.

Five suspects arrested over ATM cash robbery

Five suspects were arrested today in connection with the robbery of Rs. 20 million in cash to be deposited in ATM machines while it was being transported in Bulathsinhala, Police said.

Wadduwa incident: death toll rises to four

The death toll of the incident in which a group of people, who had participated in a party organised through the Facebook in Wadduwa, had reached four, the Police said.

India and SL in contrary stand on MRIA: Wimal

The Indian Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Minister of Civil Aviation of Sri Lanka had expressed contrary statements on the Mattala International Airport (MRIA), Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa said yesterday.

21 SL illegal immigrants arrested

At least 21 Sri Lankan illegal immigrants including two women were arrested by the navy off the seas of Colombo with a trawler.

Special police security for G.C.E. (A/L) examination

Special police security measures have been set up at examination centers, coordinating centers and divisional collecting centers in island-wide of the G.C.E. Advance level examination, Police said.

Death toll from Indonesia quake rises to 82

At least 82 people are now known to have died after a powerful earthquake hit the Indonesian island of Lombok.

SAITM students registration to KDU today

The registration of SAITM students at the KDU would start today amidst strict regulations that those who failed to pay the course-fee by Monday would not be enrolled for the MBBS degree.

N.Korea violates textile ban exported goods to SL – UN report

North Korea has violated a textile ban by exporting more than $100 million in goods between October 2017 and March 2018 to several countries including Sri Lanka, according to a confidential U.N. report seen by Reuters on Friday.

KDU has no scholarship scheme: Wijeyadasa

Although the SAITM institute had awarded scholarships to its students they would not be entitled financial scholarships at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), Minister of Higher Education Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said today.

Expect strong winds ahead: Met. Dept.

There was a possibility of wind speeds increase in the coming days, the Department of Meteorology warned today.

Magnitude 7.0 earth quake strikes Indonesia - No threat to SL

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the North coast of Indonesia's island of Lombok today at 5.46 p.m. international time zone according to foreign reports. However, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said there will be no Tsunami threat to Sri Lanka.

Hendricks century clinches ODI series for SA

South Africa continued their dominance when they coasted to a convincing 78-run win as they clinched the five-match ODI series with their third successive victory over Sri Lanka played at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy this evening.

A domestic airport in Iranaimadhu: PM

Iranaimadhu Airfield in the Kilinochchi District would be developed into a Domestic Airport as a part of the plan drawn by the Government to develop all areas from Point Pedro to Dondra, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said during the weekend.

Wadduwa tragedy: Death toll increased to three

The third person out of at least thirty partygoers who were admitted to the Panadura Base Hospital had been reported dead a short while ago, the Police said.

SA make 363-7 in 3rd ODI against SL

Debutant batsman Reeza Hendricks made 102 to help South Africa post 363 for seven against Sri Lanka in the third one-day international in Pallekele on Sunday.

Man shot dead in Minuwangoda

A 62-year-old man was shot dead by unidentified gunman at Yatiyana in Minuwangoda this morning, Police said.

Twenty Police officers including six DIGs, three SPs transferred

Six DIGs inducing Crimes DIG Kamal Silva and DIG in-charge of the North Western, Ajith Rohana, had been transferred with immediate effect based on service requirements, Police said.

Two men die after partying in Wadduwa

Two men aged 20 and 38, who were admitted to the Panadura Hospital last night due to an illness following a party at a hotel in Wadduwa, were pronounced dead while undergoing treatment.

Venezuela President Maduro 'survives drone attack'

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says he has survived an assassination attempt involving explosive drones.

Prez says will not allow a salary increase for MPs

President Maithripala Sirisena said on Saturday that he would not allow a salary increase for Members of Parliament.