No reason to oppose no faith motion against PM: S.B

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has no need to oppose the No Confidence Motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Social Empowerment S. B. Dissanayake said.

Cabinet to appoint expert committee on Glyphosate

Cabinet has decided to appoint an expert committee to decide on the usage of the banned agrochemical Glyphosate, Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake said.  

GMOA concerned over lifting of Glyphosate ban

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) made a statement to the media yesterday expressing concern over Minister of Agriculture Duminda Dissanayake’s recommendations to cabinet that the ban on agrochemical Glyphosate be lifted.

Chinese woman dies in accident in Dikwella

A 48-year-old Chinese woman died when she was knocked down by a three-Wheeler while walking along the Matara-Kataragama main road in Dikwella yesterday, Police said.

Assault on bus driver; PC Councillor, wife re-remanded

Southern Provincial Councillor M.K Kasun and wife Tharaka Perera, who were arrested on charges of assaulting a private bus driver at Koswatta, were remanded till April 03 by Kaduwela Additional Magistrate Prasanna Alwis today.

Udayanga was not arrested: FCID

Senior DIG in-charge of the FCID, Ravi Waidyalankara today rejected reports that former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga had been arrested in Dubai.

Udayanga Weeratunge arrested: Daily News

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunge had been arrested in Dubai yesterday, state owned Daily News today reported quoting the FCID. The Senior DIG in charge of the FCID, Ravi Waidyalankara has told the Daily News that Mr. Weeratunga had been arrested based on the investigations and submissions made by the FCID.

EAP seals deal to sell key assets to Singapore firm

A deal has been sealed to sell some of the key EAP Group assets to a Singapore-based investment holding company, with Sri Lanka’s Central Bank giving the green light to proceed with the deal, Mirror Business learns.

UN introduces new rules for SL peace keeping troops: Army awaits HRC clearance

The Sri Lanka Army has sought clearance from the SL Human Rights Commission to dispatch a contingent of troops to Lebanon, following new procedures set up by the UN relating to local troops sent for Peace Keeping assignments.

TNA to vote against no-confidence motion

The Tamil National Alliance has decided to vote against the proposed no-confidence motion on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, a party spokesman said.

UNPers on overseas visits asked to return by Apr.1

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has requested UNP MPs, currently in China as part of a parliamentary delegation, to cut short their visit and return to the country by April 1, sources from the Prime Minister’s office said yesterday.

27 UNP MPs in favour of no-faith motion: Range Bandara

State Minister of Irrigation and Water Resource Management and Anamaduwa UNP organizer Palitha Range Bandara claimed yesterday that there were 27 UNP Parliamentarians who are ready to cast their votes in favour of the No-Faith Motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe or they would not attend Parliament.

JHU won't support no-faith motion against PM: Champika

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) General Secretary and Minister, Patali Champika Ranawaka said yesterday it would not support the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe submitted by a group involved in serious financial crimes much worse than the Central Bank bond scam.

GMOA opposes appointment of Chief Epidemiologist

The entire Epidemiology Unit has been defunct due the Health Ministry’s arbitrary appointment of a medical administrator to the post of Chief Epidemiologist, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said yesterday.

Cuckoo bird quiet due to mating season

Dismissing claims that the Koha or Cuckoo-bird is relatively absent during the current Avurudhu season, environmentalist Jagath Gunawardane said there was a low pitch in its song this year because of a change in its breeding pattern.

Watery grave for 8 bulletproof vehicles and LTTE vessel

The Navy today dumped in mid-sea the eight bulletproof vehicles earlier used by former presidents and a vessel seized from the LTTE.

Full membership to China a way out to revive SAARC: Experts

Foreign policy experts have said China should be granted full membership of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to give new life to the almost defunct regional body owing to the rivalry between India and Pakistan, Myrepublica news reported on Sunday.

Trump expels 60 Russians over poisoning in UK

US President Donald Trump has ordered the expulsion of 60 Russians from the United States on Monday, adding to a growing cascade of similar actions taken by western allies in response to Russia’s alleged poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain, the New York Times reported a short while ago.  

PHU complains to OMP over Mahendran’s disappearance

While saying that the Central Bank’s former governor Arjuna Mahendran, the mastermind of the bond scam claimed to be the largest financial fraud in Sri Lanka, is still missing, Deputy Leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU),MadumadawaAravinda said they would complain to the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) about Mr. Mahendran going missing.

SL needs Tamil leaders with a national perspective: Namal

Joint opposition MP Namal Rajapaksa has said Sri Lanka needs national leaders to represent the Tamils and that the country lacks a second generation of Tamil politicians. In an interview with the Indian Express from Colombo, before flying to Russia as a poll observer, Mr. Rajapaksa said powerful Tamil politicians were needed to bring about reconciliation and harmony.

Tense situ at Dickoya UC, lots drawn to select Chair

A tense situation prevailed during the drawing of lots to elect the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Hatton-Dickoya Urban Council today. Police officers were deployed to bring the situation under control.

Police probe prove JHU not involved in Kandy riots: Champika

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) General Secretary and Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said today that in the wake of Police investigations ruling out any JHU involvement in the unrest in the Kandy district, the police should now reveal the political forces behind the violence.

O/L results out on Wed; results of 969 applicants annulled

The Department of Examination today announced that the results of the 2017 GCE O/L examination will be released on Wednesday, March 28 and also that it decided to cancel the results of 969 applicants who sat for the examination.

Shots fired at residence of a state minister’s private secretary

Two unidentified gunmen are reported to have fired at the residence of State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe’s secretary early this morning.

Chinese nabbed with Rs. 21mn worth gems

A 39-year-old Chinese national was arrested with gems worth over Rs. 21 million while he was trying to smuggle them into the country last night, BIA Deputy Customs Director and Customs Spokesman Vipula Minuwanpitiya said.

SLPP’s Stanley Dias elected as Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Mayor

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) member Nawalage Stanley Dias was elected as the Mayor of the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council this morning.

Heavy traffic along Baseline Road

Heavy traffic was reported near the Baseline Road due to a road accident involving a passenger bus, Police said.

No faith motion against PM: TNA to decide on April 2

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which enjoys 16 seats in Parliament, said yesterday it would take a decision regarding the no confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe only on April 2, a party official said yesterday.

Govt. allows milk powder price hike of Rs. 80

The National committee appointed to look into the cost of living has given its permission to manufacturers of powdered milk to increase the price of a one kilogramme packet of powdered milk by Rs. 80.

Ranjan calls opposition MPs for public debate

UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday called the opposition MPs including former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who accused him of insulting Supreme Court judges for a public debate.