Govt. to refurbish Lakvijaya power plant to avoid breakdowns

The Power and Renewable Energy Ministry is to refurbish the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant (LCPP) for the first time since it was built in 2012, which the government hopes will put an end to the continuous power failures that occur when it breaks down.

SLFP bankrupt to accept those sacked by JVP: Vijitha

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said yesterday the Sri Lanka Freedom party (SLFP) had become so bankrupt so as to take in some of the JVP members who were sacked from the party.

GMOA urges govt to issue gazette abolishing SAITM

The GMOA yesterday urged the government to immediately issue a gazette notification abolishing the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) in Malabe.

Rs. 48 mn allocated for P'naruwa Hospital Director’s official residence: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena, while highlighting the fact that Rs.48 million was allocated to construct the official residence of the Polonnaruwa Hospital's Director, stressed the need to have proper management and fiscal policies when spending public funds.

CB bond issue: President will act against those responsible

President Maithripala Sirisena will take prompt action to implement the recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Central Bank bond issue when the report is submitted to him by next week, Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said.

Abduction of 11 youth: Witness says CID changed statement

When the case where former navy spokesman D.K.P. Dissanayake was an accused was taken up for hearing before the Fort Magistrate Court, a key witness the CID had changed several parts of his initial statement and requested that he be allowed to made a personal statement in Court.

Jaffna Naga Viharaya Prelate's funeral site: Jaffna MC rejects petition

A petition filed in the Jaffna Magistrate Court seeking an order to prevent the holding of the funeral ceremony of Jaffna Naga Viharaya Chief Incumbent and Northern Province Chief Sanghanayaka the late Most Ven, Meegahajandure Gnanarathana Thera at the Jaffna Mutraveli Ground, was today rejected by Jaffna Magistrate S.Sadeeskaran.

14 cases of election law violations reported

Fourteen complaints of election law violations were reported from December 9 to 22 countrywide, the Police said.

US MCC re-selects SL for grant programme

The Board of Directors of the US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has re-selected Sri Lanka for its grant programme at its meeting held on Tuesday this week.

Two teenagers killed in motorcycle tragedy

Two teenagers who sat for the recently concluded GCE O/L examination were killed in a motorcycle accident at Thalangama on Thursday night, police said.

Country’s vote not against any UN member state: SL

The Sri Lankan Government today said the country’s vote in favour of the UN resolution on Jerusalem was not a vote against any member State of the United Nations.

Sampanthan hospitalized

Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan was admitted to a private hospital last evening after a sudden illness, a family member said today.

Maharagama nomination list rejection: SLPP files SC petition

Six Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) candidates today filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court over the rejection of the party’s nomination list for the Maharagama Urban Council.

UN condemns Australia's forced return of SL refugee

The United Nations’ refugee agency has condemned Australia’s forced return of an asylum seeker to Sri Lanka without any assessment of his claim for protection, the Guardian reported on Friday.

Rs. 25 mn worth narcotic pills seized at Kiribathgoda

Nearly 7,800 narcotic pills worth some Rs.25 million were seized and two suspects aged 24 and 25 arrested at Kiribathgoda yesterday, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said.

Fmr. Navy Spokesman further remanded

Former Navy Spokesman Commodore D.K.P. Dassanayake, who was arrested over abduction and disappearance of 11 youth, was further remanded till January 2 by Fort Magistrate’s Court today.

One killed, three injured in train-car crash

One person was killed and three others injured when a train travelling from Chilaw to Colombo Fort crashed into their car at Kattuwa this morning. Those injured were admitted to the Negombo Base Hospital.

Shalila’s request to travel abroad refused

The Colombo Fort Magistrate today dismissed a request made by former Litro Gas Lanka Ltd Chairman Shalila Moonesinghe to travel abroad for medical treatment.

UN vote on Jerusalem: SL votes in favour, defies Trump

Sri Lanka, along with 127 other UN States, voted in favour of the UN resolution rejecting US President Donald Trump's decision on December 6 to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

UN votes to reject Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as capital

The United Nations general assembly on Thursday voted to reject US President Donald Trump’s unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the Guardian reported.

8 suspects who had links with 'Makandure Madush' arrested

Eight suspects who had connections with the underworld figure known as Madush Lakshitha alias Makandure Madush were arrested by the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID) officers last afternoon, police said.

Six arrested for running brothel disguised as massage parlour

Six women and a man were arrested last night by the Welikada Police on charges of operating a brothel under the guise of an Ayurvedic massage parlour at Walter Gunasekara Mawatha, Nawala, Rajagiriya, Police said.

Strict action against social media posts igniting violence: Minister

Strict legal action would be taken against those who make social media posts igniting communal and religious tension ahead of the Local Government elections, Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake said yesterday

31 JVP members pledge support to President

Thirty-one Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) members including four former Parliamentarians had pledged their support to President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday, the President's Media Unit said.

Emission Tests useless, says racer Dilantha

There is no standard on tests performed on vehicle emission for motor vehicles when obtaining the certification for the annual renewal of vehicle revenue licence, Sri Lankan racing driver Dilantha Malagamuwa said.

Two SL projects win UN funds to promote peace-building

Two Sri Lankan projects made with the intention to increase gender-responsive and youth-inclusive peace-building, had won UN funds worth $ 2,454,148 on Thursday, the UN Peace-building Fund said.

Will do justice to O/L Math paper: Akila

In a response to the claim by MP Bandula Gunawardane that the Mathematics paper of the GCE O/L Examination was too difficult for students, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that he would inform the Examination Department and do justice for the students if there was a common issue.

O/L Math paper too difficult for students: Bandula

The Mathematics paper of the GCE Ordinary Level Examination was extraordinarily difficult for the students, Joint Opposition MP Bandula Gunawardane claimed.

Do more to attract investors: British HC

The Government should take more steps, similar to the ones it took in the budget, to make Sri Lanka an easier place investors to do business and win their confidence, the British High Commissioner said today.

More SLPP nomination lists rejected

The nomination lists of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) for the Jaffna Municipal Council and the three Pradeshiya Sabhas of Valikamam-North, Valikamam-East and Delft had also been rejected today.