Ravi named Finance Minister of year, Asia-Pacific

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has been selected as the Finance Minister of the Year for Asia-Pacific by the prestigious ‘The Banker’ magazine for his efforts to steer Sri Lanka into a new era of economic reform and a change of mindset, the Finance Ministry today said.

Wimal Weerawansa arrested

National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) a short while ago, police said.

DIG Priyantha Jayakody appointed Police Spokesman

Deputy Inspector General of Police Priyantha Jayakody has been appointed as the Police Media Spokesman, the Law & Order and Southern Development Ministry said today.

Wimal at FCID

National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa arrived at the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) a short while ago to give a statement in connection with his alleged involvement in misusing government vehicles.

Royal College Grade 1 kids stranded?

The admission to the Grade One at the Colombo Royal College for the year 2017 had been suspended after the Education Ministry launched a special inquiry into the admission process, sources said.

LG polls under proposed system; party leaders agree

Leaders of political parties representing Parliament, have decided to hold the forthcoming local government election under the proposed mixed system, a party leader said.

Giant squirrel escapes, man in hospital

A man who tried to scare away a giant squirrel which used to eat up tender coconut flowers, ultimately ended up in hospital after the cracker he was lighting exploded in his hand.

Customs nab Iranian with Rs. 30mn in Euros

A 32-year-old Iranian national had been arrested yesterday at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by the Customs officers while he was trying to smuggle out foreign currencies amounting Rs.30 million, Customs Spokesman Dharmasena Kahandawa said.

PM playing with people’s democracy: G.L

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman G.L.Peries today said that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe appeared to be taking the public democracy for a joke.

LG election delays not because of me: Minister

The delimitation committee will submit the appeal report on the local government elections to the ministry on January 17, Subject Minister Faiszer Musthapha said today.

ACPBA wants closure of SLTB

All Ceylon Private Bus Association (ACPBA) Secretary Anjana Priyanjith today requested the government to terminate the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) service due to the colossal waste of tax money of the people per year.

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.