Not the first to form Govt. with UNP: MS

The very first attempt at forming a government with the help of the UNP was by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2007 and giving leadership to the ‘yahapalana government’ was nothing unusual, President Maithripala Sirisena said.

Sri Lanka map: Survey Dept. completes revision work of over 60%

The Survey Department has completed revision work covering over 60% of Sri Lanka’s geographical map, Surveyor General P.M.P. Udayakantha said yesterday.

Presidential election next year: Ajith P. Perera

A presidential election has to be held next year in line with the Supreme Court determination which states that the President could hold office only for five years, Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera said yesterday.

What happened to me happened to Maithri as well: MR

Former President and MP Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said same fate had befallen on both him and President Maithripala Sirisena, because both of their tenures of presidency had been reduced by at least one year.

'Pickpocket President' trying to attack UNP: Marikkar

Colombo district UNP MP S.M. Marikar today slammed President Maithripala Sirisena and even described him as a 'pickpocket President'.

GMOA warns of abrupt work stoppage after Jan.22

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) today warned that it would resort to an island-wide work stoppage without prior notice after January 22, if the authorities fail to fulfill its demands within this week.

President resorting to publicity stunts: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today President Maithripala Sirisena was trying to gain publicity instead of ruling the country by criticising the decisions taken by some of the ministries at public meetings instead of in the Cabinet.

Wrong to revoke Jaliya's diplomatic immunity: Gammanpila

MP Udaya Gammanpila said today the diplomatic immunity of former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the US, Jaliya Wickramasuriya has been revoked for duties he had performed during his term of office and that this was the first such instance in diplomatic history.

President doesn’t know what govt. is doing- Mahindananda

President Maithripala Sirisena’s utterance on cancelling the Gazette notifications issued on permission of selling liquor to females and the time extensions on liquor shops, MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage today said President Sirisena was unaware of what Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the government was doing.

Lotus Road closed due to protest

The Lotus Road from Ceramic Junction towards Galle Road, outside the Finance Ministry, in Colombo has been closed due to a protest carried out by a group of war-disabled soldiers' spouses, police said.

Dehiattakandiya PS: SC rejects SLFP petition

The petition filed by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in connection with the rejection of its nomination list for the Dehiattakandiya Pradeshiya sabha was rejected by the Supreme Court today.

State Minister Sriyani in car accident; admitted to Peradeniya Hospital

State Minister of Local Government Sriyani Wijewickrama had been admitted to the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital after her official vehicle met with an accident at Henawala early this morning, the Police said.

928 kg of cocaine worth Rs. 16.7bn destroyed

Nearly 928.2 kilos of cocaine worth Rs.16.7 billion seized by the Police Narcotic Bureau in 2016, was prepared for destruction today in the presence of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at BOI premises in Katunayake.

Amaraweera refuses helicopter, returns on SLAF flight

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, who had refused a private helicopter, had returned on an SLAF routine flight this morning from Palali, Air Force Spokesman Capt. Gihan Seneviratne said.

Govt. seeking IMF advice to restructure CB: Harsha

The government has sought advice from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to restructure the Central Bank in keeping with the global best practices, Deputy Minister Harsha de Silva said yesterday.

Song was played since Tamil leadership continues to deceive us

We aired the Tamil song “Niththiraya Thamila Nee Nimirnthu Parada” as the Tamil leadership continued to deceive the Tamil people, Jaffna District Parliamentarian Angajan Ramanathan said.

PM developing country while President indulges in politics: Sujeewa

State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe gave a reminder yesterday that it was the United National Party (UNP) that had brought President Maithripala Sirisena to power, but he was now seeking to stay President for six years without consulting the party.

President’s term is only five years- SC

The Supreme Court has communicated to the Presidential Secretariat that President Maithripala Sirisena’s term was only five years, it is learnt.

PCoI Report goes to CIABOC

The Presidential Secretariat had sent a copy of the report of the Special Presidential Commission to inquire into the allegations of malpractices in the bond issue of the Central Bank to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), it is learnt.

Campaigning for votes on ethnic lines will backfire: CaFFE

Political parties had not understood the new mixed electoral system properly, election watchdog Campaign For Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) Executive Director Keerthi Thennakoon said today.

Dry spell once again

The prevailing showery condition over the island was expected ease off in the coming days, sources said today.

Fake media will learn a lesson on Feb 10: Kiriella

Certain media institutes were fabricating fake news and they would learn an unforgettable lesson after the February 10 elections, UNP Parliamentarian Minister Lakshman Kiriella said at a UNP meeting in Gurudeniya

Two nabbed with narcotics at BIA

Two suspects were taken into custody at the Bandaranaike International Airport while smuggling narcotics including drug tablets and abortion tablets by the Katunayake Airport Police this morning.

Parliament fracas: PM to seek disciplinary action

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe would seek disciplinary action against UNP MPs who behaved unruly in Parliament last week, State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene said over the weekend.

President voids liquor Gazette

President Maithripala Sirisena said today that he had instructed the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister to cancel the Gazette notifications issued revoking the prohibition of selling liquor to females and the time extensions on liquor shops.

Man arrested with weapons and ammo in Karandeniya

A suspect had been taken into custody this morning with large number of weapons and ammunition at Karandeniya, Madakumbura by the Organised Crimes Investigation Unit of the Special Task Force (STF).

China Merchant pays second tranche of US$97.3mn in H’tota Port investment

China Merchant Port Holdings (CMPort) today made the payment of US$ 97.365 million to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) as the second tranche of its investment in the Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

Sushma Swaraj meets Minister Mangala in New Delhi

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday met Sri Lankan Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera in New Delhi and discussed issues of development cooperation between the two countries.

Man shot dead in Rakwana

A 69-year-old man was shot dead in Rakwana on the Kohombakanda-Labuwelwatta Road last night, Police said.

Hawaii panics after false alert of incoming missile

An alert warning of an incoming ballistic missile aimed at Hawaii was sent in error Saturday, sowing panic and confusion across the US state -- which is already on edge over the risk of attack -- before officials dubbed it a “false alarm.”