Gammanpila predicts a gloomy future for SL

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) General Secretary MP Udaya Gammanpila today said Sri Lanka would be faced with a great economic collapse in future, even though the government had announced in the 2017 Budget that there would be a positive turnover in the economy of the country next year.

Navy earns Rs. 2.3 bn from Avant Garde operations

Having taken over the Onboard Security Team Operations (OBST) from Avant Garde Maritime Services, the Navy said today said that it had earned an income of Rs. 2.33 billion since November 13 last year.

Countrywide bus strike tomorrow against minimum penalty

Private bus owners will launch an island wide strike protesting against the government’s decision to impose a minimum penalty of Rs. 2,500 for traffic offences, which was proposed in the 2017 budget.

Wimal at FCID

National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader and MP Wimal Weerawansa arrived at the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) today to give a statement in connection with his alleged involvement in misusing a fleet of vehicles belonging to the Presidential Secretariat during the election campaign.

Arrests by TID illegal- relatives of ‘Aava’ suspects

Relatives of eleven suspected members of the "Aava" gang, who were arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) in Jaffna, lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) stating that the arrests were illegal.

TN started training LTTE in 1983

Soon after the July 1983 anti-Tamil riots in Sri Lanka and the influx of Tamil refugees into Tamil Nadu, the training of Tamil militants began in Tamil Nadu with the knowledge  and patronage of the Tamil Nadu government. India’s national intelligence agencies started their training program only in 1984, when New Delhi felt that Tamil Nadu’s initiative in the matter might not be in the overall Indian interest, says Air Marshal (Rt

Land Bank:Govt. to bring all crown land under one body

The government is to bring in new legislation providing for the transfer of all the State lands currently remaining under the purview of different bodies to a common institution named State Land Bank for the disbursement of them for development purposes when and where necessary, it is learnt.

Motorcyclists requested to wear black arm-bands to protest minimum penalty

The Ceylon Motorcyclists’ Association yesterday requested all motorcyclists to wear a black arm-band from tomorrow to protest against the minimum penalty of Rs.2,500 for traffic offences as proposed in the 2017 Budget.

297 Indian fishermen repatriated: Coast Guard

A total of 297 Indian fishermen, who had trespassed into Sri Lankan waters in 2015 had been repatriated by the Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG), the annual performance report of the Defense Ministry revealed.

Two-metre Tsunami hits New Zealand after multiple quakes

A two-metre high tsunami has struck New Zealand’s east coast after a powerful earthquake hit the South Island.

Villagers who protested release of MP’s nephew in fatal accident to be arrested

The Thelikada Police had informed the Court that it would soon arrest five more villagers, who protested over a release of a 17-year-old nephew of Opposition MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena, in connection with a fatal accident in Hikkaduwa.

Powerful earthquake hits New Zealand

The US Geological Survey said the magnitude-7.4 quake hit just after midnight (11:02 GMT on Sunday), some 95km (59 miles) from Christchurch.

PCs got step motherly treatment in budget: WP Chief Minister

The Provincial Councils had been ill-treated in the budget and we would bring this to the notice of the President, Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya said.

70 Judicial officers transferred

Seventy Judicial Officers including District Judges, Additional District Judges, Chief Magistrates, Magistrates and Additional Magistrates have been transferred by the Judicial Service Commission with effect from January 1, 2017.

Mother and children hacked to death; Husband arrested

A mother and two children aged 10 and 08, had been hacked to death at Kanniya in Uppuveli today, the Police said.

Central Provincial Councillors on study tour to Russia

It is reported that another group of Central Provincial Councillors have been given the opportunity to travel to Russia at the expense of the Provincial Council, despite a Presidential directive suspending such foreign visits, a senior politican said.

US to take Australia asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island

Australia and the US have reached a resettlement deal for asylum seekers held in offshore detention centres in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

Minimum traffic fine won’t be changed: Ravi

Responding to a demand  made by private bus operators to abolish the proposed minimum traffic fine of 2,500 rupees, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said that the proposal was made to save the lives of motorists as well as pedestrians and that the decision won’t be changed.

Trump’s victory shows people are sick of career politicians: Gota

Commenting on the election of business tycoon Donald Trump as the next President of the US, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the results showed that common citizens are fed up with career politicians who simply deliver speeches which had no outcome.

Budget ignores ethnic reconciliation: TNA

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which accounts for sixteen of the eighteen Members of Parliament from the Tamil-speaking north and east, said annual budget ignores the pressing issue of ethnic reconciliation.

Obama had plans to visit SL: Mangala

US President Barack Obama had plans to visit Sri Lanka last May, but was unable to do so due to the Vesak Celebrations in the country, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said.

Indian kidney racket suspects remanded

Five Indian nationals who had escaped from the Mirihana detention center where they were held for their alleged involvement in a kidney racket have been remanded until November 24.

55–year-old hacked to death

A 55-year-old father of three was allegedly hacked to death by his brother in law at Viharagala in Sooriyaweva today.

Two boys drown in Teldeniya

Two boys aged 17 drowned at Hulu Ganga at Oruthota, Teldeniya when they went to bathe with a group of friends this afternoon, police said.

Fishermen issue: India, SL should work out a win-win situation: Mangala

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera on Friday said India realised the dangers of bottom-trawling, but the two countries should work out a win-win situation for poor fishermen on both sides of the Palk Bay.

Indian arrested with foreign currency worth Rs. 6.6 mn at BIA

A 45-year-old Indian businessman was arrested by the customs officials at the Bandaranayaike International Airport (BIA) when he attempted to smuggle foreign currency worth Rs. 6.6 million to Chennai last night.

Budget 2017 favours vehicle importers

Sri Lanka Vehicle Importers’ Association Chairman Dinesh Senanayake said yesterday the 2017 Budget proposals were good for the vehicle sales industry.

“Supermoon” on November 14

The planetarium in Colombo has planned to present the moon’s closest encounter with Earth in over 68 years, which is called the “Supermoon”, on November 14, 2016.

Water bill to go up by 30%

The water tariff will be increased by 30 per cent with effect from December 01, National Water Supply and Drainage Board Chairman K. A. Ansar said.

Police to investigate Keith Vaz over alleged drug offences

Police are investigating suspected drug offences after allegations were made against the former chair of the influential home affairs select committee, Keith Vaz, who is known for his campaign for the Sri Lankan Tamil force, the Guardian reported.