Demarcated areas outside Knuckles boundary: Ministry

The Public Enterprise and Kandy City Development Ministry yesterday said the report of the team of auditors sent to the Knuckles Mountain Range had revealed that the lands demarcated for the proposed-projects were outside the rock boundary of the mountain range.

Joint programme to preserve local films to be launched: Wijeyadasa

Higher Education and Cultural Affairs Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe announced yesterday that a joint programme would be launched to preserve local films by his ministry in collaboration with the Department of National Archives.

Two Sinharaja elephants will suffer same fate as the leopard: Thewarapperuma

The two elephants in the Sinharaja forest will suffer the same fate as the leopard which was killed recently if they remain in the Sinharaja forest, Wildlife Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma said yesterday.

Three suspects of Matara shooting remanded

The three suspects of Matara armed gang robbery, who are undergoing treatment at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, were remanded till July 2 by Galle Chief Magistrate today.

Will not let terrorism rise again: Dy. Minister

In reference to the incident, where several military type equipment and uniform belonging to the LTTE were detected in a three-wheeler at the Peraru Junction in Oddusuddan on Thursday, Deputy Minister of Law and Order Nalin Bandara said yesterday the Government would not allow terrorism to raise its head again.

Govt. introduces concessionary loan schemes for entrepreneurs

The ‘Entrepreneurs Paradise Loan Scheme – Enterprise Sri Lanka’ programme was launched by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the BMICH on Friday.

Govt. to take action on leopard killers: Kiriella

The Government would conduct a proper investigation into the incident, where a leopard had been killed by a group of youth in Kilinochchi recently, Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday.

US quits UNHRC: TNA to work with other countries on UN Resolution

Commenting on the decision by the United States to quit from the UNHRC, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M. A. Sumanthiran said his party would work with other countries that co-sponsored the resolution on Sri Lanka to ensure that its provisions were implemented.

Matara armed gang robbery main suspect shot dead

Chamara Indrajith, the main suspect arrested in connection with the Friday’s armed gang robbery in Matara, was shot dead when he was attempting to hurl a hand grenade at police officers at Kirala Kale in Matara this morning.

Judicial Commissioner rejects Chandimal’s appeal

Judicial Commissioner Michael Beloff QC has dismissed Dinesh Chandimal’s appeal after he was found guilty of changing the condition of the ball breaching clause 41.3 of the ICC’s Standard Test Match Playing Conditions, during the second day’s play in the second cricket Test against the Windies in St. Lucia on Saturday.  

Are state banks performing their national duty, asks President

President Maithripala Sirisena expressed reservations yesterday over the huge profits recorded annually by state banks established to serve the local industries, the agriculture sector and save the rural people from loan sharks.

We are still under MR, say 16 SLFP rebels

Member of the SLFP of 16 rebels, former Minister W.D.J Seneviratne, while dismissing alleged remarks made against the group by certain members of the Joint Opposition said they would remain in politics under the leadership of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and contest the forthcoming PC, Presidential and Parliamentary polls under his leadership.

Transformed SL to an investment hub from a pariah state: PM

The ‘Yahapalana Government’ has been able to transform Sri Lanka from a debt-ridden, backward pariah state in the third world in 2015 to a respected, investment hub in South Asia by 2018 with a fast growing economy, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Speaker names Constitutional Committee members

Parliamentarians Chamal Rajapaksa, Rauff Hakeem and Vijitha Herath had been named to the newly-appointed committee to be in charge of Constitutional Affairs, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced today.

PNB thwarts cocaine smuggling bid at BIA

A 34-year-old Bolivian national who allegedly smuggled in cocaine weighing 11 kilogrammes using a novel method was taken into custody by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), a PNB official said.

Nansen Research vessel in SL to conduct surveys on marine resources

The most advanced research vessel in the world, the Dr Fridtjof Nansen, arrived in Colombo to conduct surveys on fisheries resources and the marine ecosystem, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said on Friday.

Leopard killing: Court orders to arrest suspects

The Kilinochchi Magistrate's Court today ordered the police to examine video clips of the incident where a leopard was brutally killed in Kilinochchi on Thursday and arrest those involved in the killing. 

Legal action against leopard killers: Wildlife Dept.

While stating that the incident where irate villagers of Ambalakulam in Kilinochchi had killed a prowling leopard was a criminal act, the Wildlife Conservation Department today said it had taken legal action against the people involved in the incident under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance in the Kilinochchi Magistrate's Court.

Gnanasara Thera granted bail

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera, who was sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment, was granted bail on two sureties of Rs.500,000 each by Homagama Magistrate Udesh Ranatunga a short while ago. (Buddhika Kumarasiri)

Three HC Judges appointed to special HC

Chief Justice Priyasath Dep has appointed three High Court Judges to hear cases in the country’s first special High Court to try high-profile financial fraud and corruption cases, the Department of Government Information today said.

Two arrested with LTTE flag, uniform and bombs

A uniform, a flag, bombs and several military types of equipment belonging to the LTTE were taken into police custody last night while they were being transported in a three-wheeler at Peraru junction Oddusuddan, Mullaitivu.

Chandimal, Coach, Manager admit to breaching Level 3 offence

Sri Lanka Captain Dinesh Chandimal, Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and Manager Asanka Gurusinha have admitted to breaching Article 2.3.1, a Level 3 offence, which relates to “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game”.

Matara shooting: One cop dies, main suspect arrested

One police officer who was injured during the gunfire exchange at Matara this morning, had succumbed to injuries at the Matara General Hospital, police said. Meanwhile, the main suspect of the armed gang which attempted to rob the jewellery shop was arrested by the

Gazette issued listing 14 LTTE members

The Government has issued an extraordinary gazette on Wednesday listing 14 individuals as designated persons who have connections with the LTTE in terms of terrorism related activities and funding and financing of terrorism, to the List of Designated Persons.

Three policemen, two civilians injured in Matara shooting

Three police officers and two civilians including a woman were injured during a gunfire exchange between the police and a gang which attempted to rob a jewellery shop in Matara this morning, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Won’t allow dictatorship to emerge: President

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said on January 8, 2015, the people of this country contributed to the change the administration of the country which was increasingly moving towards a dictatorship.

30-year-old shot dead in Hikkaduwa

A 30-year-old man was shot dead by two unidentified men arrived on a motorbike at Wewala Junction in Hikkaduwa this morning, Police said. They said the victim, Inasi Chaminda, who was a resident of Meetiyagoda was pronounced dead on admission to the Arachchikanda Hospital.

Golden opportunity to find new co-sponsor: HR activist

Sri Lanka has the golden opportunity of finding a new co-sponsor and going in for an alternative and interim UN resolution as the US has pulled out from the UNHRC, said Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa, former Commissioner of Human Rights Commission.

Film distributors unhappy bringing distribution under NFC

The film distributors were vehemently against the abrupt decision to take the distribution of local films under the purview of the National Film Corporation (NFC).

PTL's alleged money trading: 10,000 cheques perused

Senior Deputy Solicitor General Haripriya Jayasundara, appearing for the CID, told the Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday that the prosecution was perusing some 10,000 cheques in expectation of uncovering the PTL's money trading patterns, which was not an easy task by any means.