US shutdown ends as Congress passes bill

The US government partial shutdown has come to an end after Republicans and Democrats voted for a temporary funding bill, the BBC reported today.

Party leaders should decide the debate date: Speaker

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said today the date of the debate on the PCoI and PRECIFA reports would be decided at tomorrow's party leaders meeting.

American Center re-opened

The American Center in Colombo, which remained closed, has been re-opened to the public, the US Embassy said today.

Uva CM granted bail

Uva Province Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake who surrendered to the Badulla Police this morning, was granted bail by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court a short while ago.

Bond, PRECIFAC reports tabled in Parliament

The reports of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into Central Bank Bond Issuance and the PCoI into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) were tabled in Parliament a short while ago.

SL - Singapore FTA signed

The Sri Lankan Government today signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Singapore at the Presidential Secretariat today.

Chinese envoy and four other envoys present credentials

Five new Ambassadors including the new Ambassador of China presented their credentials to President Maithripala Sirisena at the President’s House in Colombo, today.

Lotus Road closed from Ceramic Junction

The Lotus Road from Ceramic Junction towards Galle Road has been closed due to a protest march carrying out by the Government Valuation Officers’ trade union, Police said.

SLPP petitions for 4 LG bodies rejected

Petitions filed by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) over the rejection of its nominations lists for Panadura, Agalawatte, Mahiyanganaya and Thirappane local government bodies were rejected by the Supreme Court today.

Forcing a Principal to kneel: Uva CM surrenders to Police

Uva Province Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake surrendered to the Badulla Police this morning in connection with a incident in which he was accused of forcing a lady Principal kneel in front of him.

SL, Iran extradition treaty sent to parliament

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has submitted the extradition treaty between Iran and Sri Lanka to the Iranian parliament.

Adulterated fuel - Gamsabha Junction filling station sealed

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) yesterday sealed the fuel dispensing pumps and the underground petrol storage tank of the Gamsabha Junction filling station over complaints that it had sold kerosene-adulterated petrol, Petroleum Resources Development Ministry said.

Wild Sri Lankan elephants retreat from sound of Asian honey bees

For the first time, researchers have shown that Asian elephants in Sri Lanka are scared of honey bees, much like their African counterparts.

IGP canvassing for govt, says MR

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the IGP was indirectly involving in propaganda work requesting to vote for the Yahapalana Government.

Don't sign FTA with S'pore: Professionals tell Govt.

Ahead of the government’s move to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Singapore, a collective of professional movements said yesterday there were serious violations of the law, best practices and good governance in the negotiation process of the agreement.

We began reviving a dead economy and will finish up stabilizing it: PM

The present regime in its present form was able start up the economy which was on a standstill and will end up stabilizing it by showing budget surpluses by 2020, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Sri Lanka and Singapore to sign FTA today

Sri Lanka will sign a free trade agreement with Singapore today, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama said yesterday.

Customs destroy 130,000 counterfeit items worth Rs. 31 mn

Sri Lanka Customs yesterday publicly destroyed Rs. 31 million worth  large stocks of counterfeit items around 130,000 numbers including Toys, Pharmaceuticals, Automobile spare parts, stationeries and textile items  mainly imported from China during the past year.

MS right in reimposing liquor ban on women: Ruwanthi

Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) Kaduwela candidate and actress Ruwanthi Mangala yesterday commended President’s directive on re-imposing the ban on women buying alcohol and being employed in bars.

President tells PM: Give me strength to punish rogues

President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday made an appeal to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe asking him to give him the strength without weakening him so that he could punish the fraudsters concerned.

PET Scanner ready for service from March, 2018

The long awaited Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner which was purchased by public contribution has arrived in the country, the Kadijah Foundation President and the Fight Cancer Founder Dr. M S H Mohamed said yesterday.

Bond scam -- Punish culprits under criminal law: G.L

The culprits, who were implicated in the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) report should be punished under the civil law but under the criminal law, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Chairman G.L. Peiris said today.

Action will be taken against Uva CM if guilty: SLFP

Minister Susil Premajayantha today condemned the incident where Uva Chief Minister Chamara Dassanayaka is alleged to have asked the Principal of a Tamil Girls School to kneel down in his presence and said the SLFP would take action after an inquiry before the LG polls.

Ban on women buying alcohol: Swarna, 19 others file FR

Twenty women petitioners including veteran actress Swarna Mallawarachchi had filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court today challenging the 1979 law which prohibits the sale of alcohol to women.

No mention of a Rajapaksa era bond fraud in the report: PHU

The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) today said the bond report had not made any reference to a Rs.4,000 billion worth of bond transaction frauds which had allegedly taken place during the Rajapaksa era as claimed by the President and the Prime Minister.

Underworld characters in this Govt: Mano Ganesan

National Co-existence, Dialogue and Official Languages Minister Mano Ganesan said today there were those involved in underworld criminal activities and drug trafficking in this government.

Singapore PM arrives in SL

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrived in Sri Lanka a short while ago on a three-day official visit at the invitation of President Maithripala Sirisena.

American Center closed indefinitely

The American Center in Colombo which is being operated by the US government will remain closed until further notice, the US Embassy said today.

Singaporean PM’s visit: Several roads in Colombo closed

Vehicle movement will be restricted in several roads between Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and Colombo due to the three-day official visit of the Singaporean Prime Minister.

CEYPETCO bans sale of ‘Lanka Kerosene’

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) today banned the distribution of the “ Lanka Kerosene Oil” (red color) to vehicles, factories, barrels and other wholesale distributions.