Country did not suffer without GSP+: MR

Saying that it was good to regain the GSP+ facility, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that the country had not been adversely affected by losing the facility.

CBK'S 2000 Constitution: UNP rejected as it created 'Union of regions': Rajitha

Responding to former President Chandrika’s Kumaratinga’s claim today that the UNP did not support her constitutional reform programme in 2000, cabinet spokesman, Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said the UNP rejected it because the draft constitution in 2000 had proposed to create a ‘Union of Regions’ which is extreme power devolution going even beyond the federal system.

PM should not intervene in Weerawansa's case: Ranjan

The Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe should not heed to any request from anyone to intervene in the case of Joint Opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa who was arrested, Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said on Tuesday.

Release drone video: Dullas

The Joint Opposition today challenged the police and the government to release the video footage of the seized-and-then-released drone camera belonging to a TV station so that the people could witness who cast the first stone at whom during the Saturday’s protest in Hambantota.

Obtain approval for use of drones: Media Ministry

In the wake of the police apprehending a drone used by a TV station to cover clashes in Hambantota on Saturday (7), the Mass Media and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry today laid down guidelines and regulations on the use of drones for media purposes.

Wimal gets food from home

National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa, who was remanded yesterday on charges of misusing 40 state vehicles, has requested permission from Prison Authorities to get all three meals from his home.

Music Company offers Obama a job

Days before US President Barack Obama ends his final term at the White House, the soon-to-be unemployed world leader was already being lured by music-streaming site Spotify.

Hashish valued at Rs. 10 mn seized at Colombo Mail Exchange

Customs Narcotics Control Unit today seized a parcel containing 1358 grams of cannabis and 84 grams of hashish valued at Rs. 10 million at the Colombo Mail Exchange.

European Commission proposes GSP+ to SL

The European Commission today proposed that a significant part of the remaining import duties on Sri Lankan products should be removed by the European Union in exchange for the country's commitment to ratify and effectively implement 27 international conventions on human rights, labour conditions, protection of the environment and good governance.

Will soon make move to regain power: MR

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa today tweeted that he would make his move to regain power when the people were ready and he believed that it would be very soon.  

Death sentence for five family members

Matara Magistrate Damith Thotawatte today sentenced to death five family members including two women after they were found guilty of clubbing to death a 44-year-old resident of Gandara Kottegeda in 2009.

Implement CTF recommendations: HRW

The government should promptly implement recommendations on transitional justice proposed by the Consultation Task Force (CTF), the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said today.

UAE officials killed in Afghan attack

Five officials from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been killed in a bomb attack in Kandahar, Afghanistan, officials have confirmed.

Ban Ki-moon's brother and nephew charged with bribery

Prosecutors have charged relatives of former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with conspiracy to bribe a government official.

Jaliya Wickramasuriya re-remanded

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the USA, Jaliya Wickramasuriya, who was charged with misappropriating USD 332,000 from state funds when purchasing a building for the Sri Lankan embassy in Washington, was re-remanded till January 13 by Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today.

President releases water to the Moragahakanda Reservoir

President Maithripala Sirisena inaugurated the filling of water to the Moragahakanda Reservoir this morning.

'We rise or fall as one': Obama

President Barack Obama warned on Tuesday that the United States faces a stern test of its democracy, in a speech to the nation that was both a fond goodbye and a call to arms.

Maithri next Presidential candidate: SB

SLFP Chairman President Maithripala Sirisena would be the next Presidential candidate of the SLFP, Social Empowerment and Welfare Minister S.B. Dissanayake said yesterday.

RTI Act comes into force on Feb.3: Gayantha

Right to Information (RTI) Act would be fully operative from February 3 enabling people to obtain any information from the government, Mass Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka said yesterday.

PM's Constitutional Proposals based on my draft in 2000: CBK

Former president Chandrika Kumaratunga said yesterday Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is to introduce a new Constitution based on the Constitutional draft presented by her in Parliament in 2000 but defeated by the then UNP.

Ranil wanted me arrested: Wimal

Before his arrest by the FCID, MP Wimal Weerawansa told reporters that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had wanted him and several others arrested.

UNP lauds Chamal's remarks on HIZ

The views expressed by former Speaker and joint opposition MP Chamal Rajapaksa are always welcome, United National Party (UNP) MP Mujibur Rahaman said today adding that the UNP held views similar to those expressed by Mr. Rajapaksa.

No instructions to probe IGP's phone conversation: Ministry Sec.

Law & Order and Southern Development Ministry Secretary Jagath P Wijeweera said today he was not instructed to conduct an investigation into the controversial phone conversation in Ratnapura where IGP Pujith Jayasundara was involved in reference to an arrest by the FCID.

Hirunika hospitalised; trial on her, nine others re-fixed

Colombo High Court today re-fixed the trial against Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra and eight others over an alleged abduction of a youth in Dematagoda area, since the absence of the accused, Premachandra.

H'tota deal not the best for SL: MR

While claiming that the agreement negotiated by his government with China to manage the Hambantota Port is the best deal yet, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa said today this government has failed to get the best deal for Sri Lanka.

Yahoo to be named Altaba

Yahoo Inc said Monday that it would rename itself Altaba Inc and Chief Executive Officer Marissa Mayer would step down from the board after the closing of its deal with Verizon Communications Inc.

51 Indian, 3 Sri Lankan fishermen repatriated

Fifty-one Indian and three Sri Lankan fishermen were yesterday repatriated to their respective countries in line with the decision taken at recent ministerial-level talks held in Colombo, a Fisheries official said.

Wimal Weerawansa remanded

Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa, who was arrested by the FCID, was remanded till January 24 by Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today.

Kerosene price reduced by Rs.5

Price of a Kerosene litre would be reduced by Rs.5 with effect from midnight today, the Ministry of Finance announced. Accordingly, the price of a Kerosene litre would be reduced from Rs. 49 to Rs. 44.

Tense situ outside FCID following Wimal’s arrest

A tense situation was reported outside the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) today afternoon following the arrest of National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader and MP Wimal Weerawansa.