SL to buy Chinese Xian Y20 military-cum-civil transport planes

Sri Lanka is to buy China-made Xian Y20 military-cum civil transport planes, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told South China Morning Post.

WP Councilor Jagath Kumara granted bail after surrendering to court

Western Provincial Councilor Jagath Kumara was granted bail after he surrendered to Court earlier today.  

Nishantha - Aruna settle

The case filed against former Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Nishantha Ranatunga for posing death threats to Colombo Cricket Association Secretary Aruna Wijaya de Silva during an election at the SLC on December 18, 2015, was concluded today after both parties came to a settlement.

86 factory workers hospitalized

At least 86 employees of a garment factory in the Avissawella Industrial Zone were hospitalized this morning with symptoms of vomiting and fainting.  

Karuna refused bail

Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today refused to grant bail to former Minister Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan, alias Karuna Amman who is in remand custody till December 7 for misusing a state vehicle.

Tissa Attanayake released on bail

Former United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Tissa Attanayake was today released on a cash bail of Rs. 25,000 and four sureties of Rs. 500,000 each.

Constitutional reforms amidst chaos in country: MR

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today issuing a statement said the government has introduced constitutional reforms without reforming the electoral system and abolishing the executive presidency as promised during the Presidential election.

Police to probe ex DIG’s boot boy

An investigation is to be initiated over the incident, where a retired senior Police officer had been captured by the Daily Mirror on Friday while he was stuffing a young domestic aide into the boot of a vehicle in the Matale town, Matale SSP I.B.T. Sugathapala said.

New Zealand PM John Key resigns

John Key, the New Zealand Prime Minister and leader of the National party, has resigned in a decision that has taken the country by surprise.

Italian PM Matteo Renzi resigns after heavy poll defeat

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has resigned after suffering a heavy defeat in a referendum over his plan to reform the constitution.

Jayalalithaa suffers cardiac arrest

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram yesterday suffered a cardiac arrest, only days after she handed many of her responsibilities to a deputy because of illness, the Gulf Times reported.

SLMC gets ultimatum

The Elections Commission has issued a deadline on Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) to settle its internal dispute with regard to the post of Party Secretary who would deal with matters concerning elections with the Commission.

FCID probes into 4,012 mn Nilwala River Diversion Project

The FCID had sought a court order to obtain a detailed report from a State Bank on release of Rs.4, 012 million for the Nilwala River Diversion Project.

President says freedom of religion ensured in SL

Freedom of religion had been ensured in Sri Lanka, President Maithripala Sirisena at a religious ceremony held at Raddolugama Methodist Church this morning.

SLTB receives a record income

Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has received a record income of more than Rs. 120 million during the private bus operators’ strike on Friday (02) and 128 SLTB buses had been damaged by the unruly individuals, who joined the strike, sources said.

Navy arrests 5 local fishermen engaged in illegal fishing

The Sri Lanka Navy said it had arrested five local fishermen who allegedly engaged in illegal fishing practices in the seas off Silawathura.

STF brought in to control tense situ. in Batticaloa

The Special Task Force (STF) has been deployed to areas of Batticaloa to maintain law and order in the areas following a clash between two parties yesterday, Batticola Police said.

MR won’t split SLFP, says Grero

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa didn’t like to split, leave or harm for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and he didn’t even show a sign of doing such thing, State Minister for higher education Mohan Lal Grero stated in an event held in Mt. Lavinia yesterday.

40 feared dead in blaze at California party

Up to 40 people were feared dead in a huge fire that tore through a rave party in a warehouse near San Francisco, as authorities warned Saturday of a prolonged search and recovery effort.

One killed in CM Peshala Jayarathna’s jeep collision

A 60-year-old man was killed and another injured in a head-on collision involving a three-wheeler and the North Central Chief Minister Peshala Jayarathna’s vehicle in Sigiriya last night, Police said.

Allow TN fishermen for Katchatheevu festival: PMK

Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S.Ramadoss on Saturday demanded that fishermen from Tamil Nadu should be allowed to take part in the festival in St. Anthony’s church in Katchatheevu in Sri Lanka on December 7.

Indonesian police plane with 15 on board goes missing

A twin-engine Indonesian police plane went missing yesterday with 15 people on board en route to the island of Batam, south of Singapore, police and rescue authorities said, as search teams scoured the area.

Cross talk over alleged UL shady deals

The government and the joint opposition yesterday made allegations against each other on alleged shady deals involving the national carrier SriLankan Airlines during the past and the present regimes in Parliament yesterday.

Negombo protest: Suspects remanded

The 18 suspects who were arrested in connection with the Negombo incident were remanded till December 9 by Acting Magistrate Shantha Niriella.

PM to meet IGP over phone call

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is to meet IGP Pujith Jayasundara today over the controversial cellular phone call the IGP had made with reference to an arrest by the FCID.

Police fire tear gas at JO protest

Police fired teargas and water cannons to disperse a group of Joint opposition protestors who attempted to move towards Parliament from the Polduwa Junction.  

18 arrested over Negombo protest

At least 18 people were arrested and six three-wheelers and a private bus were taken into custody in connection with incident where a group of people staged a protest by obstructing the Colombo-Negombo main road yesterday.

Parliament Road closed due to protest

The Parliament Road was temporarily closed from Polduwa Junction and Jayanthipura Junction due to a protest staged by the Joint Opposition, police said.

President appoints committee over bus issues

President Maithripala Sirisena today appointed a special committee to look into the issues faced by bus operators, Presidential Media Unit said.

No traffic fine increase: Bus Associations

Private Bus Associations said today President Maithiripala Sirisena assured them that there would be no traffic fine increase without consulting relevant parties.