Pakistan SC directs govt. to expedite repatriation of prisoners in SL, Thailand

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday directed authorities to expedite efforts in the repatriation of Pakistanis imprisoned in Thailand and Sri Lanka, Express News reported.

100-day programme - Drafted by panel of eminent persons: Rajitha

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister, Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday the unity government’s 100-day programme was drafted by a panel of eminent persons during the 2015 presidential election campaign.

Keith Noyahr abduction and assault: CID taken to task for lack of progress

When the Keith Noyahr abduction and assault case was taken up in Mount Lavinia Magistrate's Court yesterday (6), the CID was reprimanded by Additional Magistrate Lochana Abeywickrama for repeating the facts provided to court on the last date of hearing instead of submitting new evidence which would help the case to move forward.

Govt. to review FTA with China : Malik

The Sri Lankan government will hold ministerial level talks with China to review and iron out contentious issues in the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama said.

SLPP takes over Maharagama UC

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) list for the election to the Maharagama Urban Council was rejected but managed to get six of its members including former mayor Kanthi Kodikara nominated to the local body yesterday.

Minister should obtain approval to import vaccines: GMOA

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne should obtain the approval of the Sri Lanka College of Oncologists (SLCO) before importing foreign cancer treatment vaccines, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said yesterday.

Mobile App to end all forms of ragging in Uni's launched

An application (App) for mobile devices has been launched for state university students to instantly inform the authorities of ragging incidents as a step to eradicate the ragging menace from universities, Higher Education Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said yesterday.

TNL hadn't paid licence fee so station closed: TRC

The TNL's Polgahawela transmission station was shut down because it had not paid the licence fee to use VHF CH 11 or VHF CH 3 frequencies, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) said.

Govt. intent on bringing Udayanga, Jaliya to justice: PM

The government has stepped up its efforts to bring former diplomats Jaliya Wickramasuriya and Udayanga Weeratunga to justice, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday.

Extraditing Mahendran: S'pore wants SL to check on the procedure

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament today that the Singapore government had asked the Sri Lankan government to make a request about the procedure to extradite Central Bank's former governor Arjun Mahendran as its laws did not allow Singapore to arrest him based on an Interpol red notice.

PM must help bring back Mahendran: JVP

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa should take the responsibility to bring back to the country Central Bank's former governor Arjun Mahendran, former Sri Lanka ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunge and former Sri Lankan ambassador to US Jaliya Wickramasuriya, who were absconding after defrauding public funds.

No politics in shutting down TNL's transmitting station

Cabinet spokesman and Health Minister, Rajitha Senaratne said no politics was involved in the shutting down of the Polgahawela transmission station belonging to the Telshan Network (Pvt) Ltd, (TNL) and the decision was independently taken by the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) based on its regulations.

Hema Nalin Karunaratne's Death -Intra-ventricular hemorrhage the cause

The postmortem examination report has revealed that Hema Nalin Karunaratne had died from an intra-ventricular hemorrhage of his brain with hypertensive heart disease, Police media spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said today.

Strong winds from tomorrow: Met.Dept.

The South-West monsoon will result in winds over the island and the sea with rains in North-Western parts of the country from tomorrow, the Meteorology Department said today.

GCE A/L - Health to be made a compulsory subject

On a Cabinet decision, 'Health' will be made a compulsory subject for the GCE (A/L) examination from next year, Cabinet spokesman and Minister, Gayantha Karunatilaka said today.

Having a UNP Dy Speaker violates National Govt. concept: JO

The Joint Opposition (JO) today said electing both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker from the same political party-the United National Party-was against the principles of the National Government concept.  

Three HQIs and 31 OICs transferred

Three HQIs and 31 OICs of Police have been transferred by the National Police Commission (NPC) with immediate effect based on service requirements.

Range Bandara's son injured in accident

State Minister Palitha Range Bandara's son Yashoda and Puttalam Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman were injured when their vehicle driven by State Minister’s son veered off the road and crashed into a house at Kottapitiya in Chilaw early this morning.

Health minister to register two foreign cancer treatment vaccines

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne yesterday said he was in the process of registering two new foreign cancer treatment vaccines with National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) despite the controversial Taxacad also known as ‘Hearticad’ cancer treatment vaccine which is already available in Sri Lanka.

Main associate of drugs leader Keselwatte Dinuka arrested

The 33-year-old Vidanage Asanka Sanjeewa, a main associate of notorious drug leader ‘Keselwatte Dinuka’, was arrested by the Police Special Task Force on charges of possessing 10 grams of heroin at Keselwatta last night.

186 people have received money from PTL: Keerthi

Nearly 186 people had received money from Arjun Aloysius, Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) and Centre for Human Rights and Research Sri Lanka (CHR) Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon said yesterday.

Ajith denies allegation of obtaining money from Aloysius

State Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ajith P Perera yesterday vehemently denied that his personal security officer had encashed a cheque received from Perpetual Treasuries Chief Arjun Aloysius.

Knuckles range: Minister wants report on area marked for development

Amid allegations that plans are afoot to acquire land from the Knuckles range, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera is reported to have sought a detailed report on the area earmarked for development work.

Company that got Norochcholai Power plant tender paid US $ 20 mn as commission

A sum of US $ 20 million has been obtained as commissions from a foreign company involved in the construction of the Norochcholai Power plant, State Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ajith P. Perera told Parliament yesterday.

Lankan nabbed with forex worth Rs.47.3mn at BIA

A passenger was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) yesterday evening with foreign currency worth Rs.47.3 million that he was attempting to smuggle to Singapore, Deputy Customs Director and Acting Spokesman Vipula Minuwanpitiya said.

TNL transmission Centre: Mangala to present a report in parliament

Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera said today he regretted the shutting down of the transmission centre belonging to TNL television at Polgahawela and assured that he would submit a report in parliament on the matter.

Singapore FTA: JO challenges Malik to a debate

The joint opposition today challenged Minister Malik Samarawickrama to a debate on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Singapore and urged President Maithripala Sirisena to suspend the FTA.

Transactions with PTL chief: Security officers of 24 officers quizzed: Aluthgamage

CID has questioned the personal security officers of 24 MPs who had reportedly encashed cheques given by PTL owner, joint opposition MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage told Parliament today.

TNL Chairman to take legal action against TRCSL

TNL Chairman Shan Wickremesinghe today said the move to shut down their Polgahawela transmission centre was not only unjust but also sudden and that he would take legal action against the TRCSL.

UNP MP Kumarasiri elected Deputy Speaker

UNP MP Ananda Kumarasiri was today elected Deputy Speaker by a majority of 44 votes in a secret ballot.