Exhaust emission limits, safety: Vehicle importers to strictly adhere to Gazette notifications

The government by two gazette notifications has called on vehicle importers to ensure the permissible vehicular exhaust emission limits of every motor vehicle imported or assembled or manufactured locally are adhered to with effect from last Sunday (15).

Jobs for unemployed grads under four stages: Harsha

The government will provide jobs for all unemployed graduates under four stages in 2018 and 2019, Minister Harsha de Silva told Parliament today.

A/L tuition classes prohibited after July 31

Conducting coaching classes or tuition targeted at the 2018 GCE Advanced Level Examination will be prohibited after July 31, the Department of Examinations said.

Underworld protecting senior minister: PM instructs officials to submit more info.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today informed parliament that he instructed the relevant authorities to look into the media report that some underworld figures were protected by a senior minister and assured to submit in parliament about the incident.

Alarmed by Australia separating SL family: UNHCR

The UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today said it is alarmed by a separation of a Sri Lankan refugee family in Sydney by the Government of Australia.

President now understands Google Loon project: Harin

President Maithripala Sirisena did not have an understanding on Google Loon project initially but now he does, Minister of Telecom and Digital Infrastructure Development Harin Fernando said today.

Mangala should apologise to MR: Bandula

The Joint Opposition (JO) today said Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera should apologise to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa for falsely accusing him of allowing the sale of fuel for higher prices when the prices of crude oil were low in the world market.

Church of Ceylon says no to death penalty

The Church of Ceylon (Anglican Church) on Monday said it was against the death penalty and instead called on the government to vigorously combat drug smuggling and distribution at all levels in the society.

Three sentenced to death over murder in 1996

The Colombo High Court today delivered death sentences on three men after they were found guilty of murdering a man in Pannipitiya in November, 1996.

Father, three nabbed for giving alcohol to toddler

The father of a toddler was arrested for feeding an alcoholic beverage to his 13-month-old toddler, the Meegalawa Police said.

President arrives in Georgia

President Maithripala Sirisena arrived in Gerogia to attend the 5th Session of Open Government Partnership this morning. The President arrived in the Shota Rustavelli International airport in Tbilisi, the  Georgian capital, where he was welcomed by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia, George Sharvashidze.

IP Rangajeewa, Lamahewa re-remanded till July 31

Police Narcotic Bureau Inspector Neomal Rangajeewa and Prisons Department Commissioner Emil Ranjan Lamahewa, who were in remand custody over the Welikada Prison riots in 2012, were further remanded till July 31 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage today.

Pera Engineering Faculty closed indefinitely

The Engineering Faculty of the Peradeniya University would be closed until further notice due to an issue relating to students sitting for exams without 80% attendance, Faculty sources said.

18 deported Lankans arrive from Oz

Eighteen Sri Lankan illegal migrants, who were deported from Australia, arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning.

Our media not seeing positive aspects: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe has charged that the local media does not give publicity to positive stories but give space for negative ones.

Five underworld leaders protecting a minister

A senior police officer said that five underworld leaders whom the police are looking to arrest have become the private bodyguards of a minister.

Death sentence: Woman tops the list

Justice and Prison Reforms Minister Thalata Athukorala said yesterday that a woman prisoner headed the list of the death row criminals, submitted to be hanged.

Reparations Bill to be presented to Parliament today

The 'Office of Reparations' Bill which is aimed at providing legal provisions for the establishment of the Office for Reparations, to identify war affected people eligible for reparations, has been placed on the Order Paper of Parliament meant for today

On-line bus ticket booking for long distances launched

Bus transportation in the country is to undergo significant changes with the launching of online bus ticket booking facility and with the introduction of high-bred and electric buses, Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation Asoka Abeysinghe said today.

MRIA: Proposal before cabinet soon

The proposal to develop the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) into a Public-Private partnership (PPP) with India would be presented to Cabinet shortly, Deputy Minister of Aviation Ashok Abeysinghe said today.

Our relationship which was worse, now changed: Trump to Putin

US President Donald Trump, speaking alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin at a press conference in Helsinki, Finland, admitted that the relationship between the two countries 'has never been worse' - before adding 'but that changed as of about four hours ago', the Daily Mail reported today.

Take steps to recall UNHRC resolution on SL

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris said today he would write to the newly appointed British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt asking him to take decisive steps to call upon the UNHRC in Geneva to withdraw the resolution on Sri Lanka.

GMOA urges parliamentarians to test urine for glyphosate

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) today urged all parliamentarians to test their urine for residues of the herbicide glyphosate in their system.

No trust till a hanging is carried out: SF

Wildlife Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka on Sunday commented on the death penalty and said he has no trust in the assurance given to hang drug smugglers, until a hanging is carried out.

ICC suspends Chandimal, coach, manager for four ODIs

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) captain Dinesh Chandimal, coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and manager Asanka Gurusinha have been suspended for the first four ODIs along with both the Tests against South Africa, the ICC said today.

SL remains a ‘Priority Country’ in UK HR report

Sri Lanka has achieved limited progress in the human rights situation and remains a priority country in the United Kingdom’s Annual Human Rights Report 2017, the British High Commission on Monday said.

Despite a few protesters, majority attended Jaffna meeting: OMP

The Office on Missing Persons (OMP) today said a majority of the family members whose loved ones went missing and disappeared, attended the OMP meeting held in Jaffna on Saturday despite a few members protesting outside.

Lasantha murder: Ex-DIG, fmr. Crimes OIC released on bail

Former DIG Prasanna Nanayakkara and former Crimes OIC Mount Lavinia Tissa Sugathapala, who were arrested in connection with the murder of former Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha

Death penalty: EU writes to President raising concerns

The delegation of the European Union in Sri Lanka as well as the diplomatic missions of Canada and Norway have written to President Maithripala Sirisena to verify the worrying information in the public domain about the intention of the Sri Lankan government to resume implementing the death penalty after a moratorium of more than 40 years.

Will increase forest cover to 32%: President

President Maithripala Sirisena, who arrived in Rome to attend the 24th session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO 24), said Sri Lanka was well set to increase its forest cover to 32 percent.