Warrant re-issued on Jaliya Wickramasuriya

Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today re-issued the open warrant against former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the USA, Jaliya Wickramasuriya in the case of alleged misappropriation of USD 132,000 of State funds in the process of purchasing a building for the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington DC, USA.

President to seek legal advice on removing PM: JO

Joint opposition MP Kumara Welgama said President Maithripala Sirisena had assured them he would consult the Attorney General and legal experts on the possibility of removing the Prime Minister.

JO meets President

A special discussion got underway with President Maithripala Sirisena and representatives of the Joint opposition at President’s House, a short while ago.

Susil meets MR

SLFP National Organiser Susil Premajayantha met former president Mahinda Rajapaksa at Mr. Rajapaksa’s official residence this morning.

High Court permits Namal to travel abroad

The High Court today permitted Namal Rajapaksa to travel abroad from February 20 to May 30.

Don't be afraid, you have our backing: JO assures SLFP

The Joint Opposition (JO) yesterday told the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) not to be afraid when making a decision to form its own government and assured them that they were there to support them once they make that call.  

Nimal Siripala for Premier; signatures of MPs obtained

A move to obtain sufficient signatures to prove that Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva commands the majority support in Parliament and eligible to be appointed as the Prime Minister, has been commenced yesterday noon.

Cabinet illegal, Prez has power to appoint PM: Sarath

In another conundrum to the present gridlock in governance, former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva argued yesterday that the entire Cabinet including the Prime Minister stood illegal at the moment as the two year period stipulated for the national unity government had ceased.

Team sent to bring Udayanga return empty-handed

The special seven-member team which was sent to Dubai to bring back former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga had returned home empty-handed on Tuesday (13), a senior official of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) said.

Changes in UNP coming soon

The United National Party (UNP) is to undergo changes with party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe expected to make an announcement on changes soon.

President has no power to dismiss PM - Vajira

The President does not have the power to dismiss a Prime Minister according to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardene said today.

JVP undecided whether to support: If resolution brought in to dissolve parliament

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today let anyone bring in a resolution to dissolve parliament, then they would decide what to do.

SL beat Bangladesh by 6 wickets

Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by six wickets to go 1-0 up in the two-match T20 series. After opting to bat, the hosts rode on fifties from Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim to post 193/5. In reply, fiery knocks from Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka and Thisara Perera helped Sri Lanka seal the deal with 20 balls remaining. The second and final T20 will be held in Sylhet on February 18

15 UNP MPs to join us: Muthuhettigamage

UPFA Deputy Minister Nishantha Muthuhettigamage today said 15 UNP Parliamentarians had agreed to join them to form a UPFA Government.

'It's a deliberate lie'-MR

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today rejected Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Seneratne's claim that he had requested Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe not to step down from the Premiership.

Woman shot at in Modara

A 47-year-old woman, who was shot at in Modara this afternoon, has been admitted to the National Hospital in Colomboa short while ago.

Dhammika Perera picks up last of world’s 50 Bentley Mulsanne Hallmarks

Dhammika Perera, the richest business leader in Sri Lanka, has taken delivery of his prized - and perhaps the first in the South and Southeast Asia or the Middle East Bentley Mulsanne Hallmark, worth around Rs. 160 million, inclusive of import duty.   

Rajitha says MR asked PM not to resign

Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said today former president Mahinda Rajapaksa had asked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe over the phone not to resign from the premiership.

Sagala hints at resigning as Law and Order Minister

Minister Sagala Ratnayake today said he had informed his party’s Parliamentary Group that he was not hoping to continue as the Minister of Law and Order.

Mahendran fails to report at CID yet

Former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran had not reported to the CID so far even though he was ordered to appear before the CID on or before February 15 by the Court to record statements into the Magisterial Inquiry conducted over the Bond Auction held on February 27, 2015, sources said.

Muttu Sivalingam sworn in as Deputy Minister

Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) President and Nuwara-Eliya District MP Muttu Sivalingam was today sworn in as Deputy Minister of Primary Industries by President Maithripala Sirisena, the Presidential Media Unit said.  

UNF decides to continue with unity government

The United National Front (UNF) parliamentary group today decided to continue the unity government with some changes of portfolios and strategies, UNP General Secretary Kabir Hashim said today.

IUSF, IUBF conveners remanded

Inter-University Students' Federation (IUSF) Convener  Lahiru Weerasekara and Inter University Bhikkhu’s Federation (IUBF) Convener Tempitiye Sugathananda Thera were remanded till February 28 by Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today on charges of disobeying previous court orders and causing a public nuisance by holding a protest at the Kollupitiya junction on January 25, 2018 during Local Government elections.

SL family allowed to stay in NZ

A Sri Lankan family who won the support of the Queenstown community in their fight against deportation have been given a reprieve and they will be allowed to stay in New Zealand for another year, the New Zealand Herald reported today.

Vehicle prices may go up by 10% due to Yen rise: VIASL

The prices of imported vehicles were likely to increase by 10 percent because of the increase in the exchange rate of Japanese Yen, Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) said yesterday.

Jacob Zuma quits as President of South Africa

Jacob Zuma resigned as President of South Africa on Wednesday, heeding orders by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to bring an end to his nine scandal-plagued years in power.

17 killed in shooting at South Florida high school

A 19-year-old former student armed with an AR-15 opened fire inside a South Florida high school on Wednesday, police said, killing at least 17 people in the latest burst of deadly violence to erupt inside an American school.

CWC pledges support to President

Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) leader MP Arumugam Thondaman met with President Maithripala Sirisena along with a delegation from his party and pledged his party’s support to him, it is learnt.

UPFA proposes Nimal Siripala as new PM

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has proposed the name of Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva as the new Prime Minister, a Minister said yesterday.

Will intervene but won’t take part: JO

The Joint Opposition would intervene to form a Government against the UNP, JO MP Dullas Alahapperuma said today. However, he said that the JO would not participate in it.