Cabinet reshuffle focuses more on UNP held ministries

In accordance to an agreement reached between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle of the national unity government will focus mainly on the ministries held by the United National Party (UNP), party sources said yesterday.

Re-think on electoral system for PCs

In the aftermath of the defeat at the local government elections, the United National Party (UNP) is said to be considering whether to revert to the previous system of Proportional Representation for the Provincial Council Elections.

INTERPOL issues red warrant on Udayanga: Police

INTERPOL had issued a ‘Red Warrant' on former Sri Lankan Envoy to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga, naming him as a fugitive wanted by the Sri Lankan authorities, Police Media Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara announced.

Soft loan package for middle income families

The government is introducing a soft loan package titled, ‘Middle Income Housing Loan Scheme’ (MIHLS) with a maximum loan facility of Rs.5 million at a 7% interest rate payable in 25 years as a solution to the housing problems faced by middle income families among public servants and private sector employees.

I am exhausted: EC Chairman

Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said on Thursday he was extremely tired with all the work he had to do with the local governments elections and would prefer to handover his duties to someone else even for a month.

Brigadier Priyankara Fernando arrives

The Defence Attaché of the Sri Lankan High Commission in London, Brigadier Priyankara Fernando arrived in Sri Lanka today, the Army said.

Tabs after considering other priorities: Akila

Education Minster Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today steps would be taken to provide Tabs to A/L students as planned after fulfilling other priorities in the education sector as stated by the President.

More tax concessions to State officials

The Ministry of Public Administration and Management has in a circular increased tax concessions for State officials, Provincial officials and Courts officials when importing vehicles.

Govt. bound to implement UNHRC resolution: TNA

Opposition Leader and TNA MP R. Sampanthan today said that the government was bound to implement the UNHRC resolution both in spirit and letter and called on the international community to ensure it was fully implemented.

Pacific Partnership to return to SL

Pacific Partnership, the Asia-Pacific’s largest humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief preparedness mission, would return to Sri Lanka and Vietnam this year, Stars and Stripes reported today.

Prez Com. on UL, Mihin should be based on Weliamuna Report: Kabir

Minister of Public Enterprise Development Kabir Hashim told Parliament today that he had made a written request to President Maithripala Sirisena that investigations carried out by the Special Presidential Commission appointed to look into Srilankan and Mihin Air should be based on the J C Weliamuna report

Legal experts say written agreements unnecessary: Speaker

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya told Parliament that legal experts had advised him that parties comprising the national government did not have to submit written agreements to ensure the legitimacy of the said government.

High Commissioner Wijewardene didn’t resign- Ministry

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs a short while ago rejected the reports being circulated in the media that High Commissioner to the UK Mrs. Amari Wijewardene, had resigned. 

SL ranked 91 in Corruption Perceptions Index

Sri Lanka has failed to show significant improvement in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2017, released by Transparency International (TI), the global movement against corruption, the Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) said.

Pakistani ex-PM Nawaz Sharif banned from leading his party

Supreme Court of Pakistan has disqualified former prime minister Nawaz Sharif as head of his party, the BBC News yesterday reported.

Thera gets patent for solar-powered vehicle

The chief incumbent of the International Meditation Centre at Rathmalkanda Aranyaya (hermitage) in Kitthalella, Bandarawela Ven. Madawala Upali Thera has received the patent license for his invention of solar-power operated motor vehicle.

Newborn mortality rate in SL almost same as US

The newborn mortality rate in Sri Lanka which is 5.3 is almost same as that in Kuwait and the US, which is 4, a latest report released by the UNICEF said on Tuesday.

Lasantha killing: Ex DIG makes confidential statement

Former Senior Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Hemantha Adhikari yesterday made a confidential statement regarding the murder of former Sunday Leader Editor late Lasantha Wickrematunge before Mount Lavina Magistrate Mohamed Mihail.

Country facing huge crisis: JO

The country was facing a huge crisis with the amendments made to the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act on several grounds, including the implementation of the 25 percent quota for women, the Joint Opposition said today.

Govt. decides to enroll SAITM students to KDU

The government has decided to enroll the students of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) to the medical faculty of the Sir John Kotelawala Defense University (KDU), Presidential Media Unit said today.

Diyatalawa explosion: Not terrorism: Army

Military Spokesman Brigadier Sumith Atapattu today categorically dismissed today’s explosion in a private bus in Diyatalawa as an act of terrorism.

Swiss AG demands harsh penalties for LTTE masterminds

In the indictment plea in the Tamil Tigers’ trial, in Bellinzona, which lasted for almost two days, Swiss Attorney General Juliette Noto has requested that the 12 Tamils be found guilty of participating or supporting the LTTE.

Japanese Taisei wins contract of Phase III of Central Expressway

The contract for the construction of the third phase of Central Expressway from Pothuhera to Galagedera via Rambukkana had been awarded to the Japanese Taisei Corporation.

UN withdraws torture concerns, Australia to deport LTTE suspect

A Sri Lankan asylum seeker, who is an LTTE suspect, is to be deported from Australia after the UN Committee against torture had withdrawn a request to halt his removal, the Guardian reported on Wednesday.

No one can change women’s quota - CaFFE

No one had the power to alter the 25% female representation in the Local Councils, Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon said today.

Lotus Road closed due to protest

The Lotus Road outside the Presidential Secretariat has been closed due to a protest march carrying out by the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) and the Medical Faculty Students’ Action Committee (MFSAC) against SAITM.

Diyatalawa bus mishap due to grenade explosion: PM

Hand grenade explosion has caused the bus tragedy which occurred at Kahagolla in Diyatalawa this morning, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament today. 

Brigadier Priyankara Fernando due in SL today

The Defence Attaché of the Sri Lankan High Commission in London Brigadier Priyankara Fernando is due in Sri Lanka today, the Army said a while ago.

Unity government to continue

United National Party (UNP) Leader and Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe and United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) General Secretary and Minister, Mahinda Amaraweera today informed Parliament that the unity government would continue.

‘Hoax’ letter asks Aussies to host SL family during C’wealth Games

Queensland Police in Australia is investigating a ‘racist hoax’ letter, which has said that one Queensland resident has been selected to host a Sri Lankan family during the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, 9news.com.au reported on Tuesday.