LTTE ideology still a threat: Ex-Malaysian IGP

The LTTE in Sri Lanka may have been defeated, but its ideology and sympathisers still exist around the world posing a threat, former Inspector-General of Malaysian Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan has said.

Arrest warrant on Jaliya Wickremasuriya extended

Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today extended the arrest warrant on former Sri Lankan Ambassador to USA Jaliya Wickremasuriya over the magisterial inquiry conducted into the alleged misappropriation of USD 132,000 state funds.

Iranian Foreign Minister to arrive in SL

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has left Tehran for Sri Lanka on Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations with senior Sri Lankan officials, Iran Front Page News reported today.

Dhammaloka Thera’s travel ban lifted temporarily

The travel ban imposed on Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera has been lifted temporarily with effect from today until September 10 by the Colombo High Court.

Will surround Presidential Secretariat if ‘Pera’. Medical faculty not opened: PUMS

The Presidential Secretariat would be surrounded by University students and their parents next week if the authorities fail to reopen the Medical Faculty of Peradeniya University, the Parents' Union of Medical Students (PUMS) said yesterday.

Schools vacation begins on Friday

The Education Ministry today announced that all the Government and Government-assisted private schools would end their second term for 2018 on  Friday (August 3).

UAE offers amnesty to overstaying Lankan workers

The United Arab Emirates is offering a three-month amnesty period for Sri Lankan migrant overstaying their visa from next month to leave the country.

SL visa scam revealed, but no review of past applications

The New Zealand immigration office in Mumbai that handles Sri Lankan applications received a tip off at the start of the year.

Chinese man nabbed for offering bribe to Divisional Manager

A Chinese national who had allegedly offered a bribe of Rs.20,000 to a Mahaweli Divisional Manager to get a gunpowder permit extended to a quarry, was arrested by the Angunakolapelessa Police yesterday.

IUSF challenges Minister to prove source of funds for the protests

Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) Convener Lahiru Weerasekara yesterday challenged Higher Education Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to prove from where the University students gained funds for organizing their protest marches.

Uni. protests are politically funded: Wijeyadasa

The university protests carried out by the university students were politically funded, Higher Education & Cultural Affairs Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said yesterday. Addressing a news briefing, he said it had become an issue to maintain the discipline at the university education due to the intervention of the political groups whose aspiration was to create political turmoil.

Political agendas behind trade union actions: UNP

Trade union action carried out by the sectors including the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) and railway trade unions were politically motivated, Telecommunication, Digital Infrastructure and Foreign Employment Minister Harin Fernando said.

Representatives of SL President visit Karunanidhi

Representatives of Sri Lankan President, Maithripala Sirisena on Monday visited the Kauvery hospital in Tamil Nadu to meet the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, ANI news agency reported.

SLPP to take legal action against Election Commission

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman Professor G.L. Peiris today said they would constitute action in the Supreme Court (SC) asking for a writ against the Election Commission (EC) over its failure to hold elections for the dissolved Provincial Councils (PC).

Contempt rule against Ranjan: AG submits draft rule to SC

The Attorney General today (30) furnished a draft Rule before the Supreme Court against Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake complaining of him for having committed an alleged offence of Contempt of Court.

Those flying kites near airports warned

Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited today said flying kites within a radius of five kilometres from any airport was illegal and a punishable offence and  requested people to refrain from such acts.

C’wealth Secretary-General to arrive in SL

The Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland would arrive in  Sri Lanka on Wednesday for a four-day official visit, the Foreign Affairs  Ministry said on Monday. In a statement, the ministry said this would be Dame Scotland’s first visit to Sri Lanka since she assumed the Office of Secretary-General in April 2016.

Govt. wants to retain MRIA ownership: Champika

The Government was looking for ways to retain the ownership of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) while handing over operations to a third party, Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka said yesterday.

Jammers in exam halls not practical: Harin

Installing mobile phone signal jamming equipment at examination centres during the GCE Advanced Level examinations was not practical, Telecommunication, Digital Infrastructure and Foreign Employment Minister Harin Fernando said today.

Train strike called off

The railways strike scheduled to be commenced from midnight today had been called off after the discussions held with relevant authorities, Railway Trade Union Alliance Co-Convener Lal Ariyaratne said.

Kuwaiti couple banned from leaving country

Negombo Magistrate Sajindra Jayasuriya today banned the Kuwaiti couple, who allegedly assaulted Customs officials at the BIA on Friday, from leaving the country.

Ingiriya OIC, Policemen suspended over assault

The Officer In-Charge of the Ingiriya Police, Inspector Ananda Piyadasa had been suspended with immediate effect over the alleged assault on two civilians by the three Police officers of the Ingiriya Police.

Two sentenced to death for possessing heroin

Two men who were found guilty of keeping 2.8 grams of heroin in their possession were sentenced to death by Colombo High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga today.

Telescopes at Colombo Uni. open to public to watch Planet ‘Mars’ tomorrow

Large telescopes in the Colombo University would be open for the general public to watch Planet Mars as well as planets Saturn, Jupiter and Venus till 10.00 p.m on July 31, Colombo University Astronomy and Space Science Unit Director Prof. Chandana Jayaratna said.

India to send back seized turtles to Sri Lanka

Indian forest department  plans to send back a consignment of exotic turtles to Sri Lanka, mostly red-eared sliders, that was seized from a passenger at airport recently.

Rathana Thera to forego Presidential Advisor title

Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said that he will not act as a Presidential Advisor from now on as there has been no advice sought from him so far and claimed he feels ashamed about holding the title.

Reduction of retirement benefit: Over 300 ex-SLAF officers complain to CA

The Court of Appeal fixed for argument on November 13 the Writ petition filed by more than 300 retired Air Force officers complaining of the reduction of their entitlement to the total Retirement Benefit under a purported amendment.

Govt. to install jammers in exam centres

The Department of Examinations is to launch a pilot project to disable mobile phone signals within the examination centres during the national exams from G.C.E. Advanced Level examination scheduled to be held this August, Examinations Commissioner Sanath Pujitha said.

State Minister’s driver remanded till August 10

The driver of State Minister of Education V. S. Radhakrishnan, who was arrested for trespassing into MP Arundika Fernando’s official residence at Madiwela has been remanded till August 10 by Nugegoda Magistrate, police said.

Three Police Officers arrested over assault

Three Police Officers including a Sub Inspector attached to the Ingiriya Police Station had been arrested for allegedly assaulting two individuals at Poruwadanda Junction in Ingiriya, Saturday night.