Import-Export Controller arrested while soliciting bribe

Controller of the Import and Export Control Department was arrested by the Bribery Commission (BC) officials at a famous restaurant in Battaramulla today while soliciting a bribe of Rs.200,000 from a businessman.

Vandersay gets one-year suspended sentence

Cricketer Jeffrey Vandersay was given a one-year suspension from all forms of international cricket, which will stand suspended for one year, for misconduct reported against him during the concluded West Indies Tour, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced today.

TID records statement from 'Rivira' Associate Editor

The Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) yesterday recorded a statement from ‘Rivira’ Sunday newspaper Associate Editor Tissa Ravindra Perera on an ongoing investigation into an article headlined ‘Aluthma Billakata Koti Nagitiy’ published on June 24.

16 SLFP rebels to join Ekabadda Podu Jana Peramuna

The 16-member SLFP group said today they had decided to join the ‘Ekabadda Podu Jana Peramuna,’ a grand alliance which is to be formed under the leadership of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Why build another if Galle stadium won’t be removed? Mahela

Former Cricket captain Mahela Jayawardena today asked what was the purpose behind constructing a second stadium in Galle if the current one would not be removed.“Why do you need another stadium in Galle if you are not removing the current one? Just change the pavilion structure if that is the issue,” the start cricketer tweeted in response to the Government.

Galle stadium to remain; another one to be built: Govt.

The Galle International Cricket Stadium would not be removed but only an unauthorized pavilion at the stadium would be removed, Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayake said in Parliament today.

SL says it has made great strides in eradicating child labour

Sri Lanka has made great strides in eradicating child labour by establishing Child Labour Free Zones (CLFZ) and monitoring children who fail to attend schools, Sri Lankan delegates told the High-Level meeting on ‘Target 8.7’ of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) held in New York on Wednesday.

Court issues notice on Gota

The Colombo Additional Magistrate today issued notice on seven suspects including former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to appear in the Colombo Additional Magistrate’s Court over the alleged misappropriation of public funds for the construction of the D. A. Rajapaksa memorial museum at Weeraketiya. 

Man sentenced to death over killing three youths

The Colombo High Court today delivered death sentence on a man who was found guilty of killing three youths at Wellampitiya in November, 2006. High Court Judge Shashi Mahendran delivered the death sentence on the convict Mohammed Rauf Mohammed Hilmi and released a second suspect Mohammed

Top salaries of SriLankan publicised on RTIC order

Following an order from the Right to Information Commission (RTIC) during the hearing of the RTI appeal filed by the Airline Pilots’ Guild of Sri Lanka (APGSL), SriLankan Airlines disclosed its top management’s salaries and the cost of personal flying training, borne by the company for its former CEO Suren Ratwatte.

MR violated country’s sovereignty by accepting bribe from China: Kabir

Minister of Highways Kabir Hashim yesterday charged that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had not only accepted a bribe from China Harbour Engineering Company but violated the country’s sovereignty by getting into a framework agreement with the Chinese Company.  

Eight vie for Executioner Post

Eight applications had been received by the Prisons Department for the post of Executioner by yesterday, the Department said yesterday.

Opposition questions delay in Bond Report

The Opposition yesterday questioned the delay in presenting the English and Tamil translations of Bond Commission report and the report of Special Presidential Commission which looked into serious financial crimes so that Parliament could resume the suspended debate on it.

Magistrate warns Officers to take care of suspects

Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne yesterday sternly warned the Prison Authority Officers to provide necessary attention to the suspects, who were brought to be produced before the court, as there was a complaint that suspects Arjun Aloysius and Kasun Palisena had not received lunch or water till their case was taken up.

Giving Mattala Airport to India dangerous: JVP

Transferring the Mattala International Airport to India was a threat to the national security and the sovereignty of the country as airports played an important part in domestic and international wars, Chief Opposition Whip and JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

Ukraine detains illegal migrants from SL, India

Thirteen illegal immigrants from Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh had been detained by the Ukrainian border guards of the Lviv and Lutsk detachments, the Ukrinform News agency reported on Thursday.

Only two MPs drafted new Constitution: Dayasiri

Opposition today charged that two MPs namely M. A. Sumanthiran and Jayampathi Wickramaratne had carried out a conspiracy to prepare the draft for a new Constitution without engaging the Expert Panel, which had been appointed to do so.

SIM in Aloysius’ jail used by underworld figure: SDSG

One of the SIM cards recovered from the remand prison cell of Arjun Aloysius and Kasun Palisena had been used by an underworld figure, who was allegedly involved with a recent killing in the South, Senior Deputy Solicitor General (SDSG) Haripriya Jayasundera said during the magisterial inquiry over the Bond Scam today.

GMOA threaten countrywide work stoppage next week

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) today said they would launch a countrywide work stoppage next week, if the authorities concerned do not provide them with reasonable solutions to issues faced by them, during coming days.

PM’s office condemns threats against HRC Chairperson

The Prime Minister’s Office today strongly condemned the ‘malicious’ statements made against Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission's Chairperson Dr Deepika Udagama and said it had instructed the Police Chief to launch an investigation in this regard.

Ex- SAITM CEO granted bail

Former SAITM CEO Dr. Sameera Senaratne who was in remand custody over the shooting which took place in Malabe last year was granted bail by the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court today.

TID summons Rivira journalist over news item

The Associate Editor of Rivira Sunday newspaper Tissa Ravindra Perera has been summoned by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) to record a statement on Friday (20) over ongoing investigation of a news article.

Human Rights Council is UN’s greatest failure: US

United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley on Wednesday said the Human Rights Council was the UN's greatest failure.She expressed these views while discussing the United States’ withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council, at the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC.

UK MP Paisley urged to quit over holidays funded by SL govt.

A Democratic Unionist MP is facing calls to quit after a watchdog recommended his suspension from the House of Commons for failing to register two family holidays funded by the Sri Lankan government.

FB to remove misinformation following episodes in SL

Facebook, which faces growing criticism for posts that have incited violence in some countries including Sri Lanka, said Wednesday that it would begin removing misinformation that could lead to violence, the New York Times reported.  

Fmr. Akurana Divisional Secretary sentenced to five years RI

Former Akurana Divisional Secretary Mohammed Haneefa Mohammed Niyaz had been sentenced to five-year rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court today.

9-hour water cut in Colombo

The water supply to several areas in Colombo would be interrupted for nine hours from 9 p.m. tomorrow (20) to 6 a.m. on Saturday (21), owing to an essential maintenance work, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said yesterday.

Two elephants of Sinharaja to be kept in separate area: SF

The two last remaining elephants of the Sinharaja Forest reserve would be kept in a separate region under supervision, Minister of Wildlife Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said.

Inform before holding ministerial meetings: Reginald to CS

Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray on Tuesday advised Northern Province Chief Secretary (CS) A. Pathinathan not to hold any ministerial meetings without informing him first.

SL charges man deported from family by Australia

A Sri Lankan deported by Australia even though his partner had refugee status there was charged upon his return with illegally leaving his home country.