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.

Separate lane for buses from December: Gemunu

The Megapolis and Western Region Development Minister had approved the separate lane for buses during peak hours from Battaramulla to Colombo Fort from December 1, Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association Chairman (LPBOA) Gemunu Wijeyaratne said yesterday.

JHU wants total crackdown on ex-LTTEers in NE

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) today claimed that ex-LTTE cadres might be behind the criminal activities taking place in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and called for a total crackdown on the 12,600 of them who were released after rehabilitation.

Govt. must be judged by its actions and not on statements made: Mangala

Commenting on the controversial speech made by the President recently, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera today requested the government be judged on its actions and not on the statements made.

Police investigating ‘AAVA gangsters' in Jaffna

The Police have launched an investigation into the group called the ‘AAVA Gangsters’ which has claimed the responsibility for the sword attack on the two police officers at the Chunnakam market.

Short stint for tinted glasses

A week long operation inspecting vehicles with tinted or curtained front windows was launched countrywide by the police today.

Only minimal force if vehicles disregard order to stop: IGP

Rejecting reports that the police had no right to shoot at a vehicle for disregarding an order to stop, IGP Pujith Jayasundara said today the police could use minimal and necessary force in such cases.

UNP protecting 'Ali Baba' in bond scam: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today accused the UNP members in the parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) of attempting to protect “Ali Baba” and recommend action only against a few of the thieves involved in the bond scam.

Sergeant hit on face with bottle, hospitalised

A sergeant attached to the Kilinochchi Police was hospitalised after he was assaulted with a bottle on the face by a drunken man outside the Kilinochchi Hospital this evening.