Rains to enhance slightly from today

The showery condition in the South-Western parts of the country is expected to enhance slightly from today, the Meteorology Department said.

Rohitha Bogollagama’s wife and daughter ordered to be arrested

Colombo Chief Magistrate today ordered to arrest the wife and daughter of Eastern Province Governor Rohitha Bogollagama and produce them in courts for failing to appear before the court over an attempted assault case.  

Lester's stolen Ranamayura award handed back to wife

Police today handed over veteran filmmaker, late Dr. Lester James Peries’ lifetime award, which was found in a private bus recently, to his wife Sumitra Peries at her residence.

Thilanga hits back at Arjuna

Sri Lanka's cricket chief on yesterday lambasted former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga for casting a corruption shadow over the country's 2011 World Cup defeat and in turn questioned Ranatunga's actions as a player.

Flight diverted to MRIA due to bad weather

The SriLankan Air UL 206 flight which was scheduled to land at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake was diverted to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) this morning due to adverse weather, the BIA Duty Manager said.

I was still President when I went to Tangalle in helicopter: MR

Responding to President Maithripala Sirisena’s remarks that a certain individual has provided helicopters to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa to fly to Tangalle as soon as the presidential election results were announced, Mr. Rajapaksa said he was still the President of the country when he left Colombo.

President firmly instructs IGP to curb underworld activities

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday admitted that there was truth in the allegations that the government had let underworld operations to rise, and said that he had given explicit instructions to Police Chief to take immediate action to give priority to control the underworld activities.

Abolish PTA without compromising national security: HRCSL

The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) should be abolished in order to prevent violations of citizen’s human rights without posing any threat to national security, Chairperson of Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) Dr. Deepika Udugama said yesterday.

Will ban social media if they don’t self-regulate: MS

President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday that he was one of the most affected victims of social media mudslinging campaigns and said had these kinds of acts been committed during the previous regime, he or she would not have survived much longer.

No JO member in 118 list who obtained money from PTL: JO

None of the members of the Joint Opposition had taken cash from the Perpetual Treasuries Limited [PTL], Joint Opposition member and MP Shehan Semasinghe said.

Prez statement shows there’s no Govt. in the country: MR

Responding to President Maithripala Sirisena’s statement made at the 76th commemoration of the late Ven. Sobitha Thera, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday the statement showed that there is no government in the country today.  

SLPP Councillor’s killing: Three arrested

Three close associates of Sinhara Amal Silva alias ‘Kudu Anju’ were arrested by the Police Special Task Force (STF) this evening in connection with the killing of SLPP Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Councillor K. Ranjan de Silva, father of cricketer Dhananjaya de Silva.

Enterprise Sri Lanka: Govt. to invest Rs.80bn

The government will invest some Rs.80 billion in developing rural roads, rural markets, and other public facilities, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said. He said the Gampereliya scheme will be the primary focus of the government’s economic agenda

Gota's FR petition: Two more SC judges recuse from Bench

Two more Supreme Court Judges today recused themselves from hearing the fundamental rights petition filed by former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Water supply to Kelaniya, Wattala to be interrupted tomorrow

The water supply in Kelaniya, Peliyagoda and Wattala areas would be interrupted for 12 hours from Friday 7 p.m, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) announced today.

Lasantha killing: 2nd suspect made 3-hr-long statement

Former Mount Lavinia Police Crime OIC, Sub-Inspector Tissa Sugathapala made a 3-hour-long confidential statement to the Mount Lavinia Chief Magistrate this evening.

Semi-luxury buses to be removed by year-end: NTC

The National Transport Commission (NTC) said today it decided to remove some 450 semi-luxury buses from service by the end of the year.

100-day-programme prepared by MR's opponents: UNP

Highways Minister Kabir Hashim said today the 100-day-programme was prepared by those who campaigned against former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2014.

PM tells UNPers not to respond to President’s speech

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has told UNPers not to respond to the statement made by President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday.

Railway strike to end at 4 p.m.

The Railway Technical Services Trade Union Committee (RTSTUC) said it had decided to end their 48-hour token strike at 4.00 p.m. today.

President himself admits that country is unstable: JO

Referring to the speech delivered by President Maithripala Sirisena at the 76th Birth Anniversary of the Late Ven. Sobitha Thera yesterday, Joint Opposition said today the essence of the speech of the President was that he himself admitted the country was not stable.

Admissions called for 2019 Grade One admissions

The circular relating to the admission of students to Grade One in State schools had been released today, the Education Ministry said.

Aloysius gave me Rs.100,000: SF

Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who claimed that he received Rs. 100,000 from Perpetual Treasuries Ltd (PTL) owner Arjun Aloysius for his election campaign, said today he could refund it with interest, if needed.

Sanath Nishantha released on bail

Puttalam District parliamentarian Sanath Nishantha Perera was released with a surety of Rs. one million by Chilaw High Court Judge Sanjeewa Morayas today.

Polish national nabbed with 100 gold biscuits worth Rs.65mn

A 60-year-old Polish national had been arrested with 100 gold biscuits, worth Rs.65 million, this morning at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Customs Spokesman Deputy Director Sunil Jayarathne said.

US says attacks on religious minorities continue in SL

The US Government said yesterday attacks on religious minorities in Sri Lanka continued unabated from the previous year.

President says MPs received honorariums

President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have said at the Cabinet meeting yesterday that the payments made to the Ministers and MPs amounted to be honorariums, and therefore they could not be considered for taxation.

Cabinet: State employees liable for PAYE Tax

President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have said at the Cabinet meeting yesterday that the payments made to the Ministers and MPs amounted to be honorariums, and therefore they could not be considered for taxation.

JO decides to oppose 20A

The hierarchy of the joint opposition unanimously decided yesterday to oppose the 20th Amendment to the Constitution proposed by the JVP to abolish the Executive Presidency, an official said.

Karu's intervention saved Keith

Senior State Counsel Lakmini Girihagama appearing on behalf of the Attorney General (AG) yesterday informed Mount Lavina Magistrate’s Court that the statement which had been recorded from Speaker Karu Jayasuriya by the CID mentioned that Journalist Keith Noyahr's life was saved because of his intervention.