Debate on PCoI report: JO asks Speaker for maximum time

The joint opposition (JO) said yesterday it would request Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to allocate maximum time for the JO for the parliamentary debate on the Bond Commission’s report.

Situation in Maldives: SL urges parties to uphold rule of law

?The Sri Lankan Government today said it is observing the evolving situation in the Maldives and urged all parties to uphold the rule of law and the Constitution in order to find a peaceful solution to the current situation.

TNA to avoid Independence Day Celebrations

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday said its members would not participate in the Independence Day National Celebration due to local government election campaign activities in the Trincomalee District.

UNP confident of winning 276 LG bodies

Based on a survey conducted by the UNP, the party is confident of winning 276 out of the 341 local government bodies at the February 10 polls, Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera said yesterday.

Rains increase threat of Dengue outbreak

The intermittent rains experienced in many parts of the country right now has increased the threat of a dengue outbreak, while the number of dengue cases reported in the first five weeks of 2018 stood at 6,203 by today, with five deaths.

Commissions on SriLankan, Mihin: President signs gazette

President Maithripala Sirisena today signed the gazette notification to institute a five-member Presidential Commission to inquire into allegations of fraud that taken place in SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering (Pvt.) Limited and the Mihin Lanka Airlines from January 1, 2006 to January 31, 2018.

Ministry says no ‘Welcome Committee of British Royals’

The Foreign Affairs Ministry and the British High Commission today said the document which is currently being circulated purporting to be a guide in ‘royal etiquette’ issued by a ‘Welcome Committee of British Royals’, was false.

SL embassy in Beijing links with Alibaba’s Visa Programme

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Beijing connected with Alibaba’s Fliggy Online Visa Programme to promote tourism in Sri Lanka, the Embassy said.

CID files B Report over bond scam, cites Mahendran, Aloysius

Filing the first ‘B’ report in Court on its investigation into the CB bond scam, the CID on Friday cited former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, Perpetual Treasuries Ltd., (PTL) owner Arjun Aloysius, PTL Chief Executive Officer Kasun Palisena and PTL as suspects in the main magisterial inquiry.

Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thera hospitalised

The Ven. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thera was admitted to the Kalubowila Hospital after he was injured in an alleged attack by the temple’s tusker.

Avant Garde Case: Gota’s petition dismissed

The Colombo High Court today dismissed the petition filed by former defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa asking that he and the seven others be discharged from the Avant Garde Case.

Southeast Asia's top drugmaker eyes SL

PT Kalbe Farma, whose antacid drug Promag is a household name in Indonesia, is seeking a partner in Sri Lanka and eyeing the Middle East as a new market for its nutritional products.

President never meant taking over any ministry: Harsha

President Maithripala Sirisena never meant taking over any ministry when he recently said that he would take over the responsibility of controlling the economy, Policy Planning and Economic Affairs Deputy Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva said yesterday.

Maldives top court orders retrial of ex-president, opposition leaders

The Supreme Court of the Maldives on Thursday ordered the immediate release of former president Mohamed Nasheed and eight other opposition leaders, saying their trials had violated the constitution and international law - but it also ordered new trials

Heavy traffic in Bambalapitiya, Kollupitiya

Heavy traffic was reported in Bambalapitiya, Kollupitiya and surrounding areas this morning due to the rehearsals of 70th Independence Day celebration.

Rajapaksas won't be treated differently if guilty of wrong-doing: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday stressed that everyone including the Rajapaksas will be dealt with in the same way if they are found guilty of any wrong-doing.

Speaker requests President, PM to limit political hostility

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is reported to have told President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that political hostility would be detrimental to achieve the Yahapalana (good governance) objectives of the government.

Theft at Trinco Navy Holiday Bungalow

A group of 19 locals and Sri Lankan Canadians have been stolen of cash and jewellery while on holiday at the heavily fortified - Command Headquarters- Eastern Naval Area, Trincomalee, on Tuesday night, the Daily Mirror learns.

Heads to roll in foreign missions

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in the process of restructuring its foreign missions and as a result several key positions in Sri Lanka’s vital and influential diplomatic hot spots would be changed, the Daily Mirror learns.

HC extends freeze on PTL accounts by a month

The Colombo High Court yesterday made an order extending the freeze of all bank accounts of the Perpetual Group associated with Arjun Aloysius by one month, sources said.

Mahathir Mohamad or Putin instead Prince Edward: PHU

The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) yesterday said the government should have invited former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamed or Russian President Vladimir Putin if it wanted to invite a foreigner to the Independence Day celebrations instead of an English Prince.

Parliament debate won't be concluded on Feb 6 - Speaker

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today stressed that though Parliament would take the bond report and the PRECIFAC report for debate next Tuesday (6) as decided by party leaders, that does not mean that the debate would be concluded the same day.

Too late for Ravi to resign; damage already done: Ranjan

Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake, the film-star-turned politician, said today it was too late for UNP assistant leader Ravi Karunanayake to step down because the damage had already been done to the party.

What’s said at election time shouldn’t be taken seriously: Ravi

United National Party (UNP) MP Ravi Karunanayake said yesterday whatever the President or the Prime Minister said during this election period should not be taken seriously.

India wary of China’s plans in Sri Lanka

Hinting at security concerns over Sri Lanka handing over Hambantota Port to China, Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has raised doubts whether China would confine itself only to port activities in Sri Lanka, the Hindu reported today.

Traffic plans for Independence Day announced

Traffic will be restricted on roads along Galle Road near Galle Face in Colombo on February due to the Independence Day ceremony, Police said.

US will help SL fulfill its vision of democracy

The United States will help Sri Lanka fulfill its vision of making the country a democracy that could stand as a beacon of tolerance and prosperity in the region, US Ambassador in Sri Lanka Atul Keshap said.

CA interim order on Basil extended

The Court of Appeal today extended the interim order till March 16 staying further proceedings of the Colombo High Court against former minister Basil Rajapakse.

Uva CM before HRC

Uva Province Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake today reported to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) for an inquiry into the incident where he is alleged to have forced the Badulla Tamil Girls’ School Principal to kneel in his presence.

Heavy traffic in Kollupitiya

Heavy traffic was reported in Kollupitiya Junction and surrounding areas this morning due to the rehearsals of 70th Independence Day celebration.