VAT and NBT from Nov.1

The Value Added Tax (VAT) and the Nation Building Tax (NBT) will be implemented from November 1, The Finance Ministry announced a short while ago.

Udalagama granted bail, re-remanded due to absence of sureties

Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagama, who was remanded in connection with the assassination of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, was granted bail by Mount Lavinia Magistrate Mohammed Sahabdeen today.  

JO urges govt. to allow CSN to broadcast

The Joint Opposition today urged the government to reverse the decision to suspend the broadcasting license of Carlton Sports Network (CSN) stating that suspension of the licence would set a dangerous precedent.

Raviraj case to be tried before Special Jury

The Colombo High Court today allowed the trial over the assassination of former TNA MP Nadaraja Raviraj in the presence of special jury.

Kudu Roshan, ten others ordered to be detained under CCD custody

Colombo Additional Magistrate Chandana Kalansuriya today ordered the CCD to detain the eleven suspects, who were arrested in connection with the Mattakkuliya quadruple murder, till October 31 for further interrogation.

Unfair to level war crime allegations: Gen. Gerry de Silva

Former Army Commander, Retired General Gerry de Silva yesterday said that it was unfair to level war crime allegations against Sri Lankan forces and having inquiries into them, without having a proper idea on what really took place in the humanitarian mission and finding out both sides of the story.

Three Indians nabbed with heroin

The Sri Lankan Navy today arrested three Indian nationals who had attempted to smuggle in two kilogrammes of heroin in a boat in the seas off Arippu in Mannar.

Health Min. employee protests on rooftop

A Health Ministry employee is staging a protest on the roof of a building at the Health Ministry demanding a salary hike.  

Bambalapitiya building on fire

A fire has broken out in a building in Duplication Road, Bambalapitiya a short while ago, Police said.

D.L.S Dias appointed Airforce Chief of staff

Air vice Marshal D.L.S Dias was appointed as the Chief of staff of the Sri Lanka Air force from October 1, Airforce spokesperson wing commander Gihan Seneviratne said.

New army Chief of Staff appointed

Major General Ubaya Medawela had been appointed as the new Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and Major General Channa Gunathilake had been appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff effective from November 1, Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi said.

COPE report to be presented tomorrow

After heated arguments which lasted for days, the members of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), yesterday, unanimously agreed on the wording of the report of the investigations it carried out -- which included the controversial bond issue.

Keppitpola Disawe still a “traitor ”

The proclamation issued by the British Government naming 19 Sri Lankans including Kepptipola Disawe as traitors almost 100 years ago was yet to be cancelled, Parliament was informed yesterday.

One cope report including dissenting views: Sujeewa

Member of the Parliamentary oversight committee COPE, and State Minister of International Trade Sujeewa Semasinghe Senasinghe said there would be only one COPE Report, which would be presented to Parliament by COPE Chairman Sunil Handunetti, with the comments of different or dissenting views of a number of other members.

Pakistani jailed for trying to rape Lankan maid in kitchen

A man has been jailed for three years for trying to rape a Sri Lankan maid in Dubai after he pretended to be the new gardener and followed her into the kitchen to get a broom.

Cabinet approves by-pass over Battaramulla

A proposal, which had been made for the construction of by-pass road from the Polduwa junction, Battaramulla to the Udumulla Junction via Suhurupaya was approved by the Cabinet, Cabinet Co-Spokesman Gayantha Karunathilake today said.

VAT Bill passed

The Value Added Tax (VAT) which received public criticism will now come into force, as Parliament passed the legislation with a comfortable majority today.  

GSP+: Committee to look into Muslim Marriage, Divorce Act

A committee had been appointed to consider reforms to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act to the norms stipulated in international conventions, Cabinet Co-Spokesman Gayantha Karunathilaka said today.

Flight delay due to hydraulic fluid leak: SriLankan

The Monday’s delay of SriLankan flight UL132 from Trichy to Colombo was due to a hydraulic fluid leak from an engine driven hydraulic pump, SriLankan Airlines announced today.

NFF brandishes unofficial COPE Report

National Freedom Front MP and COPE member Weerakumara Dissanayake yesterday claimed he would release a report, which would hold all those responsible for the alleged bond scam if the official COPE Report was not released this week.

Bus stoned, group of youth assaulted in Jaffna

It was reported that stones were hurled at a bus while several motorcycles were damaged at Anaikkottai in Karainagar last night, Police said.

Crack the whip, not jokes: JO to govt.

The Government should comprehend the gravity of the recent violent incidents taking place in the North and act accordingly, without cracking jokes like Aava- Giya in the name of reconciliation, the Joint Opposition said today.

Depression developed into cyclonic storm ‘Kyant’

The deep depression in the Central Bay of Bengal has turned into a cyclonic storm known as ‘Kyant’, the Meteorology Department said today.

Austrian woman allegedly sexually abused by therapist

A 24 year old massage therapist was arrested by the Habaraduwa Police for allegedly sexually abusing an Austrian woman at a massage center in Unawatuna.

Sarana to plead guilty: Court releases him on bail

Former Development Board Chairman, Sarana Gupta Goonawardane, was today released on bail over two cases filed by the Bribery Commission against him for not declaring his assets and liabilities from 2005 to 2007.  

Trinco oil tanks issue still unresolved despite Indian envoy’s visit

Despite the visit of the Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar accompanied by a high-level team from the Indian Oil Corporation over the weekend, differences between the Lanka IOC (LIOC) and the government of Sri Lanka over the Trincomalee oil storage tanks persist, the New Indian Express reported today.

Kudu Roshan arrested

The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) arrested eleven suspects in Ratnapura last night, including the main suspect 'Kudu Roshan' for the Mattakkuliya quadruple murder, Police said.

Nobody pushed AG to change his findings: Harsha

Deputy Minister Harsha De Silva posting a comment on his Facebook account yesterday said that at no time did any of the members of COPE push the Auditor General to change his findings.

Aged woman locked in poultry shed

An eighty four year old woman who had been locked up in a poultry shed behind a house in Wanni Kudawewa, in Kudawewa was found by the Galgamuwa Police yesterday. Police had taken her daughter into custody on suspicion.

COPE will present a landmark report: Ajith P. Perera

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) would present a landmark report which will hold all those responsible for the alleged bond scam culpable and call for their arrest, said Deputy Minister and COPE member Ajith P Perera at a media briefing last evening.