Over 100 Killed in blast at election rally in Pakistan

The death toll in a suicide bombing in southwestern Pakistan Friday jumped to 128, an official said, the deadliest in a string of attacks on political rallies that have raised security fears ahead of nationwide polls.

‘Janabalaya Kolambata’ on August 17: Namal

‘Janabalaya Kolambata,’ a massive anti-government protest campaign organised by the joint opposition, will be held on August 17 in Colombo, MP Namal Rajapaksa said today.

Nawaz Sharif, daughter arrested on arrival in Pakistan

Pakistan’s former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, and his daughter, Maryam, have been arrested after flying back to the country to face lengthy prison sentences, in a high-stakes gamble to galvanise their party ahead of an election on 25 July.

Five arrested in alleged attempt to kill Welikada inmate’s wife

Five suspects who are alleged to have attempted to kill the wife of a Welikada Prison inmate have been taken into custody by the STF this evening, Police Media Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said.

Projects invested by India to be launched this year: PM

The projects which were assisted and invested by India would be commenced this year, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today said. He expressed this when Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale called on the PM at Temple Trees in Colombo.  

Tourists trapped on Wangedigala Mountain rescued

Ten people, who were trapped in the Wangedigala mountain because of a spreading wildfire near the Bambarakanda falls in Haldummulla, Badulla, were rescued this evening.

Duterte lauds Sirisena's recognition of Philippines’ war on drugs

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte had lauded President Maithripala Sirisena for Sri Lanka’s plan to replicate the success of the Philippines’ war on drugs, the Philippine News Agency reported on Thursday.

Mahanama, Dissanayake re-remanded till July 24

President Maithripala Sirisena's former chief of staff I.H.K. Mahanama and State Timber Corporation (STC) former chairman P. Dissanayaka who are in remand custody on charges of accepting a Rs.20 million bribe, were today re-remanded till July 24 by Colombo Chief Magistrate.

5.5 kgs of heroin detected in Sampur

Some 5.5 kgs of heroin worth Rs. 66 million was found abandoned at the Ilakkanda Beach in Sampur today, Police said.

Imran Khans’s ex-wife spins it all

The book that Pakistan was waiting for is finally out. Two weeks before a make-or-break election for Imran Khan, his ex-wife Reham Khan’s autobiography portrays the former cricketing superstar and prime ministerial hopeful as a man who led “a bizarre life” of “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll”.

Court allows police to obtain translations of Vijayakala's speech

Colombo Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake today directed the Commissioner of the Department of Official Languages to provide verbatim reports of the Sinhala and Tamil video recordings relating to the speech of former child affairs state minister Vijayakala Maheswaren to the Organised Crime Prevention Division (OCPD).

Nawaz Sharif, daughter Maryam to be arrested in Lahore today

Pakistan’s embattled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam are set to arrive in Lahore today to face arrest in a corruption case, amid high security and a massive crackdown on his party activists.

SL-Thailand sign MoU on Strategic Economic Partnership

Several agreements were signed between Sri Lanka and Thailand yesterday including a Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Economic Partnership which was signed by Minister Malik Samarawickrama and Thailand’s Deputy Minister of Trade.

Don’t provide info to army: CV tells state officials in north

Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Vignewswaran has requested all state officials in the Northern Province not to provide any information to the army without seeking his advice.

Life imprisonment for reckless driving: Minister

Civil Aviation and Transport Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva opined that the life imprisonment sentence should be brought in to punish reckless drivers in the same way that President Maithripala Sirisena had proposed the re-introduction of capital punishment for drug traffickers.

Knuckles range- Projects in conservation area withdrawn: SPC

The State Plantations Corporation (SPC) yesterday said it had withdrawn some projects attached to the Knuckles mountain range after finding that the lands given to those projects belonged to the Knuckles conservation area.

Prisons Dept. to enlist 2 new hangmen

The Prisons Department will call for applications to recruit two hangmen next week to carry out death sentences, Prisons Spokesman Commissioner Thushara Upuldeniya said.

We are in favor of capital punishment: Cardinal Ranjith

While welcoming President Maithripala Sirisena to execute drug traffickers who have been sentenced to death, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said today there is more to be done to stop the criminals organizing crimes while being in the prison in addition to subjecting them to capital punishment.  

Edu. Ministry had violated the Constitution in appointing teachers: PM

The Ministry of Education has been violating the Constitution in appointing teachers for the past 30 years, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

Govt. burdening people while reducing fines on fraudsters: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) charged today that the government had burdened the people by imposing excessive taxes and fines such as new traffic fines while reducing the fines imposed on fraudsters through the National Audit Bill.

JO says another fake report on MR is coming soon

The Government was attempting to release another fake report like the New York Times report on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa soon, the Joint Opposition (JO) alleged today.

Thai PM in SL

Prime Minister of Thailand, General Prayut Chan-o-cha arrived in the island a short while ago on a two-day official visit.

Govt. fleecing public through fuel price manipulation: MR

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said today the government had fleeced the public through the manipulation of fuel prices and urged it to explain to the public why the retail price of fuel was disproportionately high today.

Enjoining order against Film Corporation extended

The Colombo District Court today extended its Interim Order till July 25 against the decision of the National Film Corporation to take over the distribution of local film.

Bus transporting workers crashes, 20 injured

At least 20 female garment workers were injured, when their bus veered off the road and crashed into a nearby coconut tree this morning at Hadiwatte in Habaraduwa, the Habaraduwa Police said.

Rs.19 mn to Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation was a donation - CICT

Colombo International Container Terminals Limited (CICT) has reiterated that its payment of Rs.19,410,000/- (equivalent to US$150,000), to the Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation was a donation, in good faith, for the construction of houses for the less privileged, CICT said in a statement. 

Mahasohon Balakaya leader in hunger strike

Leader of the Mahasohon Balakaya Amith Weerasinghe, who is in remand custody at the Anuradhapura Prison, had resorted to a hunger strike from yesterday, demanding immediate release.

Chandimal, Hathuru, and Gurusingha out of SA Tests

Sri Lanka will go into the two-match Test  series  against South Africa without their  skipper Dinesh Chandimal, coach Chandika Hathurusingha and manager Asanka Gurusingha,, after the ICC concluded its hearing on the trio, who had pleaded guilty to a level three spirit of cricket offence.  

Four women, manager arrested in Ethul Kotte brothel raid

Four women and a male manager had been arrested by the Welikada Police for allegedly operating a brothel in the guise of an Ayurveda Medical Centre on the Kotte Road in Ethul Kotte last night.

Mihin liquidator ordered to submit documents by July 25: PCoI on SriLankan

Chairman of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCol) on irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka, former Supreme Court Justice, Anil Gunaratne yesterday ordered Mihin Lanka Liquidator, Sudath Kumara to submit the relevant documents to the Commission on July 25.