Operation two begins on Bond report: MS

President Maithripala Sirisena said in Elpitiya that operation number two has begun on the bond commission report as he instructed the Attorney General and other stakeholders to proceed with legal action based on the report.  

UNP appoints committee to study Bond report

A three-member committee has been appointed by the United National Party (UNP) to study the Bond Commission report, UNP General Secretary Kabir Hashim said today.  

Lankan steals necklace in UAE, gets jailed after FB post

A Sri Lankan maid, who stole her employer's gold necklace and was caught after she posted a photo on Facebook that showed her wearing it, has been jailed for six months.

Bond report published online

The report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into bond issuance has been published online on the President’s official website.

Angry CEB employees surround head office

A tense situation reported at the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) head office after several high ranking CEB officials, including its Chairman, were being detained by trade union members.

Victor’s wife re-remanded

Hashini Amendra, the wife of veteran singer Victor Ratnayake, was re-remanded till January 26 by Tangalle Magistrate Mahee Wijeweera today.

PM tells UNPers not to drag President into problems

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had instructed UNP Ministers and MPs not to make controversial statements dragging President Maithripala Sirisena anymore.

Committed to reform age of marriage for Muslim girls: SL

Sri Lanka remained committed to reform the minimum age of marriage for girls under the Muslim law, with the active participation of the concerned community, the government told the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in Geneva yesterday.

Bond and PRECIFAC reports handed over to Speaker’s office

The Bond Commission report and PRECIFAC reports were handed over to the Speaker’s Office this morning.

Two remanded for posting greetings with LTTE symbols on social media

Two persons have been remanded by the Colombo Additional Magistrate till January 24 for posting new year greetings with LTTE symbols and a picture of deceased LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on social media.

Only Pakistan, Sri Lanka know how to defeat terrorism: Pakistan Army Chief

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of Pakistan General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka are probably the only two countries that understand what they take to defeat the menace of terrorism.

Navy nabs 7Kgs of gold worth Rs.50mn at KKS

Two suspects were arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy last night with seven kilograms of gold biscuits worth about Rs.50 million while attempting to smuggle them to India, Navy Media Spokesman Commander Dinesh Bandara said.

JO criticizes giving Ravi a bond report copy but not Parliament

The Joint Opposition (JO) yesterday said the move to give former minister Ravi Karunanayake, an accused of the bond fiasco, a copy of the bond report but not Parliament was absurd.

Grand Hotel receiving orders for Rs.3.8 Mn dessert: Chef

The Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya is already receiving orders and positive feedback for ‘Marry Me’, the Rs.3.8 million dessert, Chef Viraj Jayaratne told Daily Mirror.

Yes there was a bond scam: Ranjan

Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake admitted to there having been a Central Bank bond scam, and said President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to investigate such scams was an election promise and therefore should be supported by the people.

Attempts to alter PCoI report before debate: NFF claims

Attempts were made before the parliamentary debate to change the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) report in a way that it would not convey the real essence of the report, National Freedom Front (NFF) MP Jayantha Samaraweera claimed today.

Speaker should resign: Keheliya

Joint Opposition MP Keheliya Rambukwella said today Speaker Karu Jayasuriya should respectfully resign from his post in connection with the recent fracas in Parliament.

Wijeyadasa’s security pruned

Former justice minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s security has been reduced by recalling five of of seven officers of the ministerial security detail.

Bond Commission report to Parliament Sec. General tomorrow

The Bond Commission report would be handed over to the Parliament Secretary General tomorrow, Presidential Secretariat sources said.

UNP yet to resort to thuggery: Sujeewa

State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe said a mud-slinging campaign has been launched against him and the United National Party (UNP) using the Central Bank bond scam.

Cabinet agrees to withdraw 'liquor' Gazettes

Ministers today unanimously decided to withdraw the recent Gazette notification on extending business hours of liquor shops and allowing females to buy or sell liquor.

If men can manage and work in bars so can women: SF

Commenting on the government removing an age old ban on women working in bars, Regional Development Minister Sarath Fonseka said at a time when women commandeered fighter jets, women were found competent to do whatever men did.

President walks out of the Cabinet meeting

A deeply dejected and disappointed President Maithripala Sirisena stormed out of the Cabinet meeting this morning after making an emotional speech over the personal attacks levelled at him by the certain members of the UNP, a senior Cabinet Minister said.

Zero-tolerance over violence against children: SL

Sri Lanka maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding cases of violence against children and is committed to bring perpetrators to justice as expeditiously as possible, the government said yesterday.

2004 Kollupitiya suicide-bomb: suspect gets 2yr imprisonment

One of the suspects involved in the Kollupitiya police station suicide bomb case in 2004, was sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for 15 years, by High Court Judge Vikum Kaluarachchi today. 

Private helicopter pilot's licence suspended

The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) said today that it has suspended the license of the pilot who lost way to the Palali while carrying Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera in a private helicopter.

Pakistan Army Chief arrives

Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa, arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday evening for a three-day official visit at the invitation of Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake.

Speaker to hold inquire into brawl in Parliament

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is expected to hold an inquiry into the brawl between government and the joint opposition parliamentarians on January 10, Parliament sources said yesterday.

BC to appoint legal experts to study PCoI report

The Bribery Commission (BC) is to appoint legal experts to study the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) report on the Central Bank bond sales to determine action over the findings of the report pertaining to the Bribery Act, a commission official said.

Disabled school bus driver arrested

Police yesterday arrested a 54-year-old school bus driver whose right hand was disabled below the elbow and had a defective ear due to a birth defect. The man who was arrested at Horana had not possessed a driving licence too though there had been 30 children on the bus at the time of his arrest.