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.

District Judge visits Duminda in prisons hospital

A District Judge has gone to the Welikada Prisons hospital on Thursday (10) night to visit former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva who was convicted in the Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra murder case and spent some time before leaving, a prison spokesman said.

Attack on disabled soldiers: Action against policemen: PM

Action will be taken against the police personnel who attacked the disabled soldiers during the recent protest in Colombo, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday.

Indigolla church robbed

The St. Jude Church at Indigolla in Gampaha had been robbed two days ago and eight church tills and a gold necklace had been stolen from the church.

Electronic voting system, soon in Parliament

Arrangements are underway to use the electronic voting system in Parliament and fingerprints are being recorded for this purpose.

2017 Budget -- Deficit bridged with taxes, loans and fine

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today, the 2017 Budget based on the conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund, had pushed the people from the frying pan to the fire.

Hotlines for inquiries on Budget 2017

The Finance Ministry today published special hotlines for further inquiries about Budget 2017 proposals.

New dress code for suspects in transit

The Prisons Department has introduced a dress code for suspects when being transported to courts and back for identification parades in a move to protect their privacy and identity from the public, Prisons Commissioner Thushara Upuldeniya said today.

Countrywide strike if minimum penalty not removed: LPBOA

The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne today warned that they would launch a countrywide strike by private bus operators if the government failed to remove the minimum penalty of Rs.2,500 for traffic offences as proposed in the 2017 Budget.

Probation officers to keep an eye on student hacker

Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today directed probation officers to monitor the behaviour of the Kadugannawa schoolboy who had hacked the President’s website.

UN tells Muslims to cooperate with peace process: Bathiudeen

Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said yesterday the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Miroslav Jenca had requested the Sri Lankan Muslim community to work closely with the country’s peace process.

Keshap optimistic admiration towards SL remains same

With the election of Republican Candidate Donald Trump as the President of the US, US Ambassador for Sri Lanka Atul Keshap said he hoped the admiration of the new administration towards Sri Lanka would remain the same.  

I am satisfied with my performance: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said he was satisfied with his performance as the President where he succeeded in getting the 19th Amendment to the Constitution passed in parliament and getting independent commissions established.

India will retrieve 115 seized boats from SL: Minister

Union Minister of State Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan on Thursday said the Centre would secure the release of 115 boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen.

Gymkhana set to rob government

Once the country’s most prestigious recreational and sports clubs, Gymkhana has fallen under the iron grip of a few shady officials who have been carrying out some corrupt activity for a long time at one of Colombo Seven’s most iconic landmarks to bring the club to its knees, while their latest unscrupulous adventure seems set to rob the country of a few billion Rupees.  

Five escaped Indian kidney transplant racketeers arrested

Five out of seven Indian nationals who were allegedly involved in the kidney transplant racket were arrested by the Pesalai police yesterday, police said.

Donald Trump had acted in a Sri Lankan film

America’s President-elect Donald Trump had acted in a film co-produced by the veteran Sri Lankan film-maker Chandran Rutnam along with Bo Derek.

Budget looks good on paper: TNA

TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran said the prices of some essential goods have been reduced marginally and the budget looks good on paper.“The budget looks good on paper but one wonders how realistic some proposals which were presented such as revenue collection, It seems that the trend continues

Govt. ministers call budget one of prosperity and development

Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said that the budget outlines plans of the government to take the nation towards economic prosperity with an emphasis on the issues faced by the youth.

More taxes will increase burden on people: JVP

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader, MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the government had now decided to put taxes on goods and services that were exempted in the past and the new taxes such as  the carbon tax will increase the burden on the people.

Budget will have adverse effect on working class: Dinesh

Commenting on the 2017 budget proposals Parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardane noted that the increase in taxes would effect almost all sectors as well as the working class citizens of this country.

Sarath Jayamanne appointed Bribery Commission DG

President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanne has been appointed as Director General of the Commission to Investigate allegations of Bribery or Corruption by President Maithripala Sirisena today.

Aussie company forced to pay thousands to underpaid Lankan

A Melbourne removalist company has been forced to pay $9,000 to a Sri Lankan asylum seeker it underpaid for work over three months, the Guardian reported on Thursday.