Teacher arrested for photographing ballot paper

A school teacher who had photographed his postal ballot paper after marking his vote was arrested by the Kebithigollewa Police at Horowpothana yesterday.

Thajudeen's killing: Statements recorded from those connected to MR

The CID yesterday informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Darshika Wimalasiri that it had recorded statements from several people having close connections to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s family in connection with the killing of former rugby captain Wasim Thajudeen.

SriLankan CEO steps down

Controversial SriLankan Airlines CEO Suren Ratwatte was asked to step down following a Board meeting on Thursday with Manoj Gunawardene tipped to be the hot favourite to take over, the Daily FT reported quoting top Government officials.

PM wants debate on Commission reports on Feb 8

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today that he had requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to convene Parliament on February 8, 2018 in order to have the debate on Bond commission report and the presidential commission on Large scale Corruption and serious frauds (PRECIFAC).

Police to seize assets of criminals

Police would seize the movable and immovable assets of criminals issued with arrest warrants who failed to surrender when required by law to do so, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said yesterday.

Japan says some Ceylon tea are not up to required standards

Japanese authorities have informed Sri Lanka that some of the Ceylon tea exports to that country are not up to the required standards because of the presence of a chemical component, Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake said.

State revenue given to private firms on political links during past 3 years: Prez

Firing yet another barrage ahead of the local government polls, President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday the government incurred a major loss of revenue during the past three years because it had been channelled to private companies on political connections.

'Colombo Eye’ to add sparkle to Battaramulla

The Water's Edge today signed an agreement with Melchers Project Management (Pvt) Ltd to construct a giant ‘Ferris Wheel’ named ‘Colombo Eye’ similar to the ‘London Eye’ in the South Bank of the River Thames in London at the ‘Fantasy Land’ that is to be built in Battaramulla.

Maithri has no Maithri: MR

As Karunawathie does not possess any Karunawa, Maithri also does not show any Maithri, said former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, speaking at a propaganda meeting held on Thursday in Dambulla.

SL Army urges not to tarnish its image

Disgruntled elements were attempting to spread fabricated stories about the Sri Lanka Army with malicious intent, Sri Lanka Army Headquarters said in a media release today.

SL tell 15,447 Lankan illegals in Kuwait to use amnesty period

While stating that the government of Kuwait has declared an amnesty period for illegal expatriates in Kuwait, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Kuwait said about 15,447 Sri Lankans were illegally living in Kuwait.

No Sri Lankans affected in Korean hospital fire

No Sri Lankans have been affected in the fire erupted at the Sejong Hospital in Miryang, South Korea, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said. Ministry Spokesperson Mahishini Colonne said the Sri Lankan Embassy in South Korea is in touch with the Korean Authorities.

UNP Uva councillor Ganeshamoorthy arrested

UNP Uva Provincial Councillor Arumugam Ganeshamoorthy was arrested today over alleged financial misappropriations, Police said.

Victor’s wife re-remanded

Hashini Amendra, the wife of veteran singer Victor Ratnayake, was re-remanded till February 9 by Tangalle Additional Magistrate Vidura Weerakoon today.

South Korean hospital fire kills 41

At least 41 people were killed and more than 70 injured in a fire at a hospital in South Korea, BBC reported a short while ago. The fire is thought to have started in the emergency room at Sejong Hospital in the south-eastern city of Miryang.About 200 patients had been inside the building and an adjoining nursing home at the time.

Tamil Nadu govt. urges Modi to oppose Lankan bill for fishermen

Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct the External Affairs Ministry and the Indian Mission in Sri Lanka to register a strong protest against the island nation's new legislation aimed at imposing huge penalties on the Indian fishermen entering its water.

Backing independent groups won’t help political parties: EC

Though some political parties which got their nomination lists rejected backed Independent groups, members of the elected Independent group could not be replaced by members of any other political party, the Election Commission (EC) said yesterday.

Yet to decide contesting next presidential elections: President

President Maithripala Sirisena today said that he has not decided whether to contest the next presidential elections or not but said he will continue to do politics as long as he was alive.

Don’t create political turmoil – PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday requested people in the country not to invite political turmoil by handing over the responsibility of running the local authorities to another party which does not administer the Central Government.

Be long-sighted and clear-headed at LG poll: Mangala

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday said he believed that it is important to be long-sighted and clear-headed about the monumental choice facing all Sri Lankans at the upcoming Local Government (LG) election.

Port City: President to declare reclaimed land as Lankan territory: Champika

President Maithripala Sirisena will declare the 269 hectares of reclaimed land at Port City as a territory of Sri Lanka in March after the necessary legal framework is passed in Parliament, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said yesterday.

President can’t punish rouges due to affiliation with UNP- JO

President Maithripala Sirisena will not be able to punish culprits of the bond scam and other alleged individuals as far as he is affiliated with the United National Party (UNP), MP Piyal Nishantha said today.

Ex Additional Secy and Accountant of Presidential Secretariat arrested

The Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU) today arrested a former Additional Secretary and an Accountant of the Presidential Secretariat in connection with allegedly misappropriating state funds amounting to Rs. 17.9 million in 2010.

VIP robbers delayed Parliament debate: President

While claiming that a coalition of VIP 'robbers' both in the government and the opposition had managed to delay the debate on the bond commission report and the PRECIFAC report, President Maithripala Sirisena today challenged them to hold the debate on the bond commission and PRECIFAC report before February 10, prior to the Local Government elections.

GMOA warns of countrywide strike on Jan. 30

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) today warned it would resort to a countrywide work stoppage on Tuesday (30) if the government fails to provide a reasonable solution to their issues in the coming days.

IUSF protest teargassed

Police fired teargas and used water cannons to disperse the protest march carried out by the Inter University Student Federation (IUSF) at the Kollupitiya Junction a short while ago.

Galle Road closed due to IUSF protest

The Galle Road from Bambalapitiya to Kollupitiya was temporarily closed due to a protest march carried out by the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) over the SAITM issue, Police said.

Interim order for Gota extended till Feb. 15

The Court of Appeal today further extended the Interim Order till February 15, preventing the FCID from acting on Certificate (B Report) under the offences against the Public Property Act in the Magistrate’s Court against former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

SL beat Bangladesh by 10 wickets, enter final

Sri Lanka entered the final of the tri-series tournament in grand style as they defeated Bangladesh by 10 wickets.

Two killed in earth mound collapse

Two masonry workers were killed in Beliatta this morning when an earth mound collapsed on them while they were constructing a public well belonging to the Pradeshiya Sabha, Police said.