SAITM Scholarship: Students seek Presidential intervention

The SAITM Student Action Committee (SSAC) yesterday sought the immediate intervention of President Maithripala Sirisena with regard to the cancellation of students’ scholarships granted by the SAITM.

Rs.10mn worth live conch shell seized

A 15-inch conch shell with a live and frozen snail inside was seized and four suspects arrested by the Police in Trincomalee when they were attempting to sell it for Rs.10 million.

Unity Govt. will never betray SL nor war heroes: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena said today the unity government had never undertaken to divide the country or subjugate it to any foreign or domestic forces and neither will their be any room to do so in the future.

Gale-force winds damage 75 houses in Ampara

Gale-force winds have damaged more than 75 houses in the Ampara District last Thursday, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today.

Indian arrested for smuggling in gold worth Rs.16mn

An Indian who attempted to smuggle in a stock of gold biscuits and jewellery valued at more than Rs.16 million was arrested on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by the airport customs.

No final decision on salary hike yet: Speaker

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said today there was no final decision on the proposed salary hike to ministers and MPs though some have suggested that salaries should be increased in line with the salary scales of senior judicial officers.

Rs.77mn worth of gold smuggled from SL seized in India

A massive stock of gold weighing 11.15 kgs and worth approximately 77.28 million Sri Lankan rupees, which was smuggled from Sri Lanka into Mandapam–Vedhalai Coast of Tamil Nadu, was seized by the Indian Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Wednesday, the Hindu reported.

Pookudi Kannaa’s father shot dead

The 62-year-old father, of a wanted suspect known as Pukudi Kannaa, was shot dead by two men on a motorcycle at Muthuwella Mawatha in Modara this afternoon, Police said.

Chinese karaoke den near girls’ school raided for selling booze sans permit

A Chinese owned karaoke den cum restaurant in the close proximity to a leading girl’s school in Colombo 07, that did not bear a valid liquor permit was raided by Colombo Excise Station officials recently for selling liquor only to its Chinese customers.

Health services disrupted due to GMOA strike

Healthcare services in most of the hospitals including the Colombo National Hospital (CNH) have been disrupted because of the country wide work stoppage carrying out by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) today.

Indian man nabbed with 'Ice' worth Rs.10mn

A 30-year-old Indian national was arrested by the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) and Crime Investigation Division (CID) officers for possessing Methempitamin (Ice) worth more than Rs.10 million in Colombo last evening, Police said.

Vehicle excise duty hike: PM wants to know specific period

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who is said to be of the opinion that excise duty hike for vehicles under 1000cc engine capacity should be confined to a specific period of time had informed the Ministry of Finance to let him know as to when it could bring down the excise duty.

Trace City vested with UDA through lawful means: Champika

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said yesterday the landmass of the Colombo Trace City project was vested with the Urban Development Authority (UDA) through lawful means, and therefore no another institution could stake a claim for it.

MR warns foreign countries not to accept assets offered by Govt.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday warned foreign countries not to accept any asset offered by the Sri Lankan government saying he would ‘pay attention’ to these agreements when they come to power.

JVP condemns moves to increase MPs' salaries

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday criticized the government’s move to increase salaries of MPs and ministers while increasing tax on vehicles below 1000 cc mainly used by the ordinary people.

EC says will only meet with recognized political parties

Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said yesterday the Commission would meet only representatives of recognized political parties, poll observer groups and media personnel.

Medical specialists to abstain from private practice: AMS

Medical specialists had decided to abstain from private practice from today against unfair taxation on medical professionals, the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) said. AMS President Dr. Sunil Wijayasinghe told Daily Mirror that the AMS along with other medical specialist groups had decided to refrain from private practice and added this decision was reached after months of failed negotiations with relevant parties.

Tsunami of 1000cc vehicle imports after new tax formula: Mangala

After introducing of a new formula to calculate the import taxes on vehicles based on their engine capacity, importing of motor vehicles less than 1000cc was becoming a Tsunami to the country, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said.

Ian Paisley suspended from party

The UK’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has decided to suspend MP Ian Paisley from membership pending further investigation into his conduct, Belfast Live reported on Thursday. 

Opposition Leader’s Post: Speaker to consult UPFA

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today said he had decided to consult UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera to get his opinion on appointing Joint Opposition Parliamentary Group Leader Dinesh Gunawardane as the Leader of Opposition.

Germany arrests ex-LTTEer over alleged war crimes in SL

German authorities have arrested a Sri Lankan man suspected of involvement in killing captured government soldiers as a member of the Tamil Tigers rebel group a decade ago.

Won't allow moves to increase MP's salaries: Mangala

Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera said he was not aware of a salary increase to Parliamentarians and Ministers and added he would not give his sanction to go ahead with the pay rise to them when it comes to the Treasury for approval.

Pope Francis declares death penalty inadmissible in all cases

Pope Francis has changed the teachings of the Catholic faith to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, the Vatican has said.

ASP Liyanage challenges Dy. Minister Pathirana to a debate

Ambassador to Qatar A.S.P. Liyanage who was accused by Deputy Minister Buddhika Pathirana of running the Sri Lankan school in Qatar for money instead of executing the diplomatic duties entrusted to him, said that he would resign from his ambassador post if the deputy minister proved the allegations made against him.

Don’t make me look for another IGP…

President Maithripala Sirisena while opening a jogging track in Polonnaruwa threw a challenge in a lighter vein at IGP Pujith Jayasundara to do 100 crunches on the track after which the IGP took up the challenge.

Aloysius, Palisena, Salgado, Devathantri produced in Court as suspects

Perpetual Treasuries Ltd defacto owner Arjun Aloysius, its CEO Kasun Palisena, its Chief Dealer Nuwan Salgado and the IT executive Sachith Devathantri were today produced in court as suspects into the parallel magisterial inquiry conducted over the Bond scam on deleting phone call data from Perpetual Treasuries Ltd voice recording system and fabricating evidence to the Bond Commission.

Doctors to launch 24-hour strike tomorrow

Private and public medical officers will launch a 24 hour work stoppage from 8 am tomorrow urging the authorities to resolve ten issues which impact health professionals and the general public.

PTL: Salgado, Devatantri released

Former Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) Chief Dealer Nuwan Salgado and its IT executive Sachith Devatantri were released on a surety bail of Rs. 300,000 each by the Fort Magistrate Court today.

Heavy traffic in Lipton Circus due to JO rally

Heavy traffic is reported around Lipton Circus due to the protest march ‘Janabala Senaa’, organized by the Joint Opposition (JO).  

Seven Ava Gang members arrested

Seven men attached to the Ava Gang had been attested yesterday in Manipay, Jaffna for breaking into houses and damaging property, the Police said.