Probe possible if official complaint is made: Sagala

The matter of tapping judges' phones could be solved once and for all with an independent probe if an official complaint was made on the matter, Minister of Law and Order Sagala Ratnayake said yesterday.

CB Bond issue: AG reaffirms Rs. 1.6 bn loss

The Auditor General had replied to the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) reaffirming his previous findings on the Central Bank bond issue, it is learnt.

Probe if there was excessive profits by Perpetual Treasuries: Rajitha

Cabinet Spokesman and Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said if there was an issue with regard to the massive profits made by Perpetual Treasuries, they would request the President for a probe on the matter.

Was Dayasiri's mouth full of 'pittu' as a Rajapaksa minister: Rajitha

Cabinet Spokesman and Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne today asked whether Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara had 'pittu' in his mouth when he was serving in the Rajapaksa Government.

SL should recognize Minority rights: HR expert

UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues Rita Izsák-Ndiaye, who will be visiting Sri Lanka this month, said the recognition and promotion of minority rights are critical in achieving long-lasting peace and reconciliation, particularly in countries such as Sri Lanka which were once divided by ethnic conflicts.  

SriLankan to lease four A320neo aircraft

Reorienting SriLankan airlines as a regional carrier as a part of its restructuring process to seek the attention of foreign investors, will entail the leasing of four narrow-bodied short-haul Airbus A320neo aircraft next year, the top management said.

Heavy traffic in Colombo Fort due to protest

Heavy traffic was reported in and around Colombo Fort due to a protest carried out by a group of trade unionists, Police said.

Air traffic controllers’ work-to-rule resumes

The air traffic controllers today decided to continue their work-to-rule campaign due to the unsuccessful discussion with the interim committee appointed by the Minister, Sri Lanka Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (SLATCA) Vice President Tharindu Gajadeera said.

SAARC nations need to tackle cross-border terror: PM

Cross-border terrorism was a big issue and SAARC nations need to discuss how to tackle it, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

No Seevali Grounds for JO rally

The Ratnapura Municipal Council has informed that it is unable to release the Seevali Grounds for the joint opposition rally on Saturday, UPFA MP Pavithra Wanniarachchi said.  

DNA tests on samples recovered at SAITM

Deputy Solicitor General Dilan Ratnayake today told court that the prosecution was expecting to conduct a DNA test on the remains recovered from Laboratory of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) in Malabe over the inquiry into the missing body parts of late ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen.

Central Expressway work on second stage starts tomorrow

The second stage of the construction of the Central Expressway Project (CEP Project-2) will commence tomorrow, Highways Ministry said.

Restraining order on 'Usawiya Nihandai'

The Colombo District Court today issued an order restraining the film 'Usawiya Nihandai' being screened till October 19.

CID summons former Navy Chief

The Criminal Investigations Department today summoned former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda to record a statement regarding the disappearance of 11 individuals in 2009.

Australian undergrads to study, work in SL

One hundred Australian undergraduate students will study and undertake work placements in Sri Lanka in 2017 through the Australian Government’s flagship New Colombo Plan Education Programme.

200 flights cancelled as BIA closes for maintenance

Over 200 flights are to be cancelled from January to April 2017 due to maintenance work at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Sri Lankan Airlines Chairman, Ajith Dias said today.

Wimal’s brother and fellow MP re-remanded

Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa's brother MP Sarath Weerawansa, who was remanded for causing a loss of more than Rs.10.5 million to the Government by misusing a government vehicle, was further remanded till October 10 by Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today.

Nigerian and Lankan arrested with 2 kilos of cocaine

Two smugglers, a Nigerian and a Sri Lankan were arrested with 2.1 kilos of cocaine at a housing scheme in Dehiwala yesterday, Police said.

Grade 5 Scholarship Exam top performers

The results of the island wide top scorers of the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination 2016 had been released by the Department of Examinations.

Controversy surrounds a letter sent by SAITM students to GMOA

Controversy surrounds a letter purportedly sent by the Student Action Committee of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) to the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) claiming that the SAITM had allegedly forced its students to sit for the professorial appointments without pre-professorial clinical rotations and forensic medicine.

Grade five scholarship exam cut-off marks

The Department of Examinations released the districts cut-off marks of the 2016 Grade 5 scholarship examination which was held on August 21 on Sinhala and Tamil medium.

Minister verbally confronted when he objected to an oral question

A heated argument was witnessed in Parliament yesterday when a government minister was verbally confronted by the government ally United National Party ( UNP), Joint Opposition and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna ( JVP) after he objected to an oral question.

Transfer of Thajudeen's body parts: SLMC is investigating: Rajitha

Minister of Health Rajitha Senaratne told Parliament said yesterday that the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) was currently investigating how the exhumed body parts of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen were transferred to the Merril Fernando Hospital in Malabe.

Bills postponed at request of Mahanayakes: President

President Maithripala Sirisena speaking at the opening of the Sambuddha Jayanthi Commemoration Centre in Kurukele, Peradeniya yesterday, stressed that the presentation of the Buddhist Temporalities (Amendment) Bill and the Theravada Kathikawath Bill in Parliament was postponed at the request of the Mahanayakes of the three chapters, and added that the government would always act according to the advice of the Maha Sangha.

Budget redrafted

The Government had redrafted the Appropriation Bill for 2017 targeting the reduction of budget deficit to 4.5 percent from the Gross Domestic Production (GDP) in conformity with a condition laid down by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), it is learnt.

Land for investments: Cabinet on balance

The Government yesterday sought Cabinet approval to do away with the charge imposed on land purchases by foreigners on 99 year lease for investments in the country, it is learnt.

Rs. 10.8mn worth refuse tea intercepted, one arrested

Six containers of refuse tea valued at Rs. 10.8 million which had been recalled to Colombo from a ship in Dubai en route to Iraq was seized by the customs today, Customs Spokesman Dharmasena Kahandawa said.

Fag money up in smoke: Bandula

A major cigarette manufacturing company had sold over 200 million cigarettes prior to the price hike, Joint Opposition MP Bandula Gunawardane revealed in Parliament today.

Grade 5 scholarship results released

The Grade 5 Scholarship examination results for the year 2016 have been released today, the Examinations Department announced.

ATCA suspends its work-to-rule campaign

The air traffic controllers had suspended their work-to-rule campaign, which commenced yesterday after the Subject Minister assured a favourable response for their issues within a week, Air Traffic Controllers’ Association Vice President Tharindu Gajadeera said.