Female genital mutilation not acceptable: UN

Female genital mutilation was not acceptable in the 21st century, said Jayathma Wickramanayake, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, speaking at an international forum in Gambia on strategies to combat the practice.

Train derails on Kelani Valley Railway line

The train service on the Kelani Valley Railway line came to standstill after a train bound to Colombo Fort from Kosgama derailed near the Maharagama Railway station, the railway control room said.

Attempt to alienate Udawattakele land

Officials of the Forest Conservation Department are perturbed by the decision of a senior forest conservator to alienate a 90 perch block of land of the Udawattakele forest reserve to a leading hotel in Kandy.

Over 65,000 Police, STF for election duties

A total of 65,758 Police and STF Personnel would be deployed for the Local Government Election duties to be held on Saturday, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said yesterday.

Final rites of Ven. Prof. Wimalarathana Thera today

The final rites of Venerable Professor Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera will be take place at the Sri Jayewardenepura University grounds this evening with full State honours.

Don’t lose what you achieved in 2015-PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who wound up the UNP campaign for the local government election in Maradana last evening urged the people not to lose what they achieved in January 2015. He also told the UNPers to get ready to form a government in 2020.

Win at LG Polls a stepping stone: JVP

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday even though they would not be able to restore the economy that has collapsed just by winning the Local Government elections, they were using it as a stepping stone to gaining power in 2020.

Will transform country into a paradise: MR

Former President and MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, who spearheaded the Local Government election campaign of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), yesterday claimed that they had a plan to transform the country into a paradise if the SLPP wins the February 10 local government elections.

Anyone found drunk or disorderly at polling booths to be arrested

Legal action would be taken against anyone caught under the influence of liquor when casting their vote at the upcoming Local Government election. This will also be applicable to persons who behave badly and engage in violent activities at polling centres, Police Media Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said.

Malinga named IPL champions Mumbai Indians’ bowling mentor

Lasith Malinga will be part of Mahela Jayawardene’s coaching staff for Indian Premier League champions Mumbai Indians. Malinga was named Mumbai Indians bowling mentor on Wednesday.

Can’t form Govt. with the corrupt: President

Addressing the last SLFP rally for the forthcoming local government elections held today (7) in Polonnaruwa President Maithripala Sirisena said he does not wish to form a government with corrupt politicians from any party.

Quick action important but legal process time consuming: Eran

Quick action should be taken against former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran but it would take time because of the legal process in Sri Lanka, which is a time consuming one, State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne said today.

British Trade Envoy for Sri Lanka to visit the country

UK MP Ranil Jayawardena who was appointed by British Prime Minister Theresa May as her trade envoy for Sri Lanka is to visit Sri Lanka from February 15 to 17 to meet with senior members of the Government and engage with British business’s working in Sri Lanka, a statement said.

Sanga calls for Test pay minimum to stop T20 exodus

Sri Lankan veteran Kumar Sangakkara has called for Test cricket to introduce a minimum match fee for all countries to stop young players ditching the long-form for lucrative Twenty20 leagues.

New speed-detecting systems on expressways from Feb.14

A new speed-detecting system will be setup on Expressways from February 14, so that speeding drivers could be fined at the exit points, Expressway Operation Maintenance And Management Division said.

Two arrested with Rs. 20m worth gold in northern seas

Two smugglers had been arrested by the Navy along with 3.7kg of gold worth Rs. 20 million, in the seas off Kankesanthurai on Tuesday. 

London Defence Attaché back to work on MS orders

The Minister Counsellor (Defence) attached to the Sri Lankan High Commission in London was allowed to resume duties on a Presidential Directive today after being suspended from his duties following a video footage, Army Spokesperson Brigadier Sumith Atapattu said.

Attempted rape ends up in death

A man, who had entered a house at Dutuwewa in Galenbindunuwewa in the early hours of this morning and allegedly attempted to rape a 57 year old spinster living alone in the house, was assaulted to death using the axe by her.  

Two women hacked to death in Poddala

A 45 year-old woman and her 25-year-old daughter had been hacked to death at a house at Kibee Ela in Poddala last night.

Ravi faults Marapana Committee

Says similar to 'Kekille rajuge nadu thinduwa' UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake yesterday slammed the ‘Marapana Committee’ saying it has made a 'Kekille rajuge nadu thinduwa' by recommending that he should be removed from the post of UNP's assistant leader. 

Wi-Fi, the burning issue of the country: MR

Former president and MP Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday ridiculed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s renewed pledge that the country would be enabled with free public Wi-Fi by the year end, by saying that having free public Wi-Fi has become the burning issue of the country today.

Action against ex-CJ Mohan Pieris: BASL expresses concern

The Executive Committee and the Bar Council of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) in a statement issued today said it had unanimously resolved to view with grave concern the initiation of criminal proceedings against former Chief Justice Mohan Pieris PC and Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz, who is a sitting judge of the Court of Appeal, apparently on the basis of professional advice given by them, in their former capacities as Attorney General and Dep

Parliament drafts laws, doesn't punish people: Anura Kumara

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today it would support new laws to prevent the people's representatives charged with fraud and corruption from contesting elections and would defeat any moves to scrap civic rights of any individual.

Govt. can't carry on like this; we need a change: Susil

Minister Susil Premajayantha said today President Maithripala Sirisena would be compelled to effect changes at the national level soon after the Local Government elections because the current government could not continue in this manner.

SL minister counsellor in London suspended

The Minister Counsellor (Defence) attached to the Sri Lankan High Commission in London has been suspended after a video, which showed him behaving in an offensive manner, was emerged and circulated on social media.

Ukraine requests Abu Dhabi to return Udayanga

Ukraine authorities had reportedly requested the Abu Dhabi authorities to handover former Sri Lankan envoy to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga to Ukraine as he holds Ukrainian citizenship.

Confidant of winning 250 LG bodies: SLPP

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said today it was confident of winning 225 to 250 Local Government (LG) bodies out of 341.

Are party leaders scared to amend Section 80? PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who kicked off the adjournment debate on the PCoI and PRECIFAC reports in Parliament today, questioned whether political party leaders were prepared to amend the Section 80 of the Constitution.  

PM tried to protect Mahendran: JVP

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was directly involved in protecting Central Bank's former governor Arjuna Mahendran.

Govt. schools closed on Friday for LG Elections: Ministry

All the government schools would be closed on Friday, February 9 due to the Local Government Elections to be held on Saturday 10, the Education Ministry said today.