No need for Western attire: MS says

President Maithripala Sirisena said today he would cancel the circular issued by a former president making it mandatory for high-ranking public servants to be clad in western attire when reporting to work.

Convicted of murder: Six cops sentenced to death

Six police personnel including a sub inspector attached to the Kandaketiya Police were sentenced to death by Badulla High Court Judge Rohan Jayawardane today after they were found guilty of murdering a youth and assaulting four others at Meegahakiula in Angurukaduwa in 2014.

25% of vehicle drivers are drug addicts LPBOA

The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) President Gemunu Wijeratne said today some 25 per cent of the vehicle drivers were known to drive their vehicles after smoking ganja also known as cannabis.

Thugs were brought to make protest violent: Gammanpila

The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) General Secretary MP Udaya Gammanpila, who took part in the protest which turned violent at Hambantota on Saturday, charged that government MPs had brought thugs from elsewhere to the location of their protest to make it violent.

Daisy Forrest released on bail

Ms. Daisy Forrest Wickramasinghe, the great aunt of Yoshitha Rajapaksa, was released on bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today over the controversial land case in Mt. Lavinia.  

H’tota clash: 32 suspects re-remanded

Thirty two suspects, who were arrested on charges of violating court orders and damaging public property during a protest in Hambantota, were further remanded till January 16 by the Hambantota Magistrate Court today.

Italian anti-submarine warship to visit SL

The Italian Navy FREMM (European Multi-Mission Frigate) Carabiniere is scheduled to arrive in Colombo for a four-day visit from January 11 to 14.

H’tota Indus. Zone can be shifted to another part of country: PM

The industrial zone in Hambantota can be shifted to another part of the country if there is opposition to it, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinge said today.

Sarath Kumara Gunaratne further remanded

Former deputy minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne, who was arrested by the CID on charges of misappropriating Rs.12 million belonging the Negombo Fisheries Harbour Corporation, was further remanded till January 13 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lal Bandara today.

Panneerselvam writes to Modi on fresh arrests of fishermen

In the wake of the fresh arrest of 10 fishermen from Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan Navy in two separate incidents on alleged charge of trespassing into the island nation’s waters, Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to secure the release of the fishermen and the boats.

Runway repair: Checking in to close 1 hour ahead of schedule

Explaining as to why, outbound air passengers are required to arrive at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) five hours prior to the departure as a result of the repairs to the runway, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said passenger screening and checking in counters would be closed one hour in advance to departure schedules.

TNA positive about subcommittee reports on new Constitution

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said yesterday it was ‘fairly positive’ in the overall context about the reports submitted by the six subcommittees with proposals for making the new Constitution.

Naidu Maithri exchange pleasantries

Chief Minister of the Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu said he was highly impressed with the progress made by Sri Lanka in many fields, especially in education and health and added he was privileged to participate at the 2nd Anniversary ceremony of the government of President Maithripala Sirisena.

Unity Govt. will serve full term -- President

President Maitripala Sirisena, in his second year anniversary speech, asserted that the current national unity government would serve its full term, and said anyone interested in nation building should join hands with it.

Not invited for any event or party: MR

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa said today that he did not receive an invitation for the ceremony to mark the commencement of President Maithripala Sirisena's second year in office that was held today at the BMICH nor to take up the leadership of any new political party.

Police crackdown on H’tota protest justifiable: Sujeewa

The Police crackdowns on Saturday’s protest at Hambantota was completely justifiable since the protestors broke into the function, where Parliament members and Chinese delegations were present, State Minister of International Trade Sujeewa Senasinghe said today.  

Hambantota clash: Arrested gone up to 41

The number of people arrested over last day’s clashes in Hambantota had gone up to 41, the Police said. They have been arrested for damaging public properties during the protest held against the Ruhunu Development Project in Hambantota.

Foreign Minister to leave for UK

Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera will leave for the United Kingdom tomorrow on a five-day official visit (9-14), the Foreign Ministry said.

SL to urge UN to declare Vesak as full UN holiday

President Maithripala Sirisena is to submit a proposal to the International Buddhist Seminar-a segment at the 2017 UN Vesak Day celebrations to be held in Sri Lanka- to declare Vesak Day as a fully-fledged UN holiday, Parliamentary reforms and Media Ministry Secretary Nimal Bopage said today.

SL's strategic location potential to become hub of global maritime trade: Envoy

The strategic location as well as the economic health of the country was indicative of Sri Lanka’s potential of becoming a hub of global maritime trade, the Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka Dr. Sarfraz Ahmed Khan Sipra said yesterday.

285 prisoners get released to mark President's 2nd Anniversary in office

A total of 285 prisoners, including six women, had been released from prisons across the country today in view of the 2nd anniversary of President’s Maithripala Sirisena’s swearing in as President, Prisons Department said today.

India opposes SL’s bid to shape ETCA to suit political exigencies

Negotiations between India and Sri Lanka on an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) hit the hard road at an official’s-level meeting held in Colombo on January 4 and 5, Indian Express reported.

23 remanded over H’tota clash

At least 23 people, who were arrested on charges of violating court orders and damaging public property, during a protest in Hambantota, were remanded after they were produced in the Hambantota Magistrate Court yesterday.

10 more Indian fishermen arrested in SL waters

Ten Indian fishermen were apprehended along with two fishing trawlers by the Navy, for poaching in Sri Lankan waters, in two separate incidents inTaleimannar and Karainagar last night.

Traffic on Galle road restricted

Traffic on Galle road from NSA roundabout to the Galle Face Roundabout has been restricted from 8.00 to 10.00am today in view of the Late Prime Minister S.W.R.D Bandaranaike’s 118th birth anniversary commemoration in front of the Bandaranaike statue in the Galle Face.

H’tota IPZ was former regime’s plan: Ranil

The industrial zone in Hambantota was originally planned by the previous regime led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Saturday.

Faizer Mustapha advised to accept delimitation report

Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Faizer Mustapha had received legal advice asking him to accept the final delimitation committee report after all five committee members signed it, Ministry sources said.

Over ten people and cops injured during H’tota protest

More than ten people including several police personnel were Hospitalised following the tense situation prevailed during the opening ceremony of the Southern Industrial Zone today, Hospital sources said.

China to invest US$ 5 billion in Sri Lanka: Ranil

China would invest US$ 5 billion in Sri Lanka within the next two to three years, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinge said today.

Four killed in two separate accidents

Two women were killed and another one injured when the three-wheeler they were traveling in veered off the road and crashed onto a tamarind tree at Padawgama on the Mattala airport road last evening, Police said.