Corporal’s Body found at Kotmale Power Plant

The body of a 41-year-old Army Lance Corporal was today found outside the Kotmale Hydroelectric Power Plant signal room where he was on duty.  

Chanuka Ratwatte and four others re-remanded

Chanuka Ratwatte and four others, who were arrested by the FCID in connection with an alleged misappropriation of Rs. 4.2 billion government funds, were further remanded till October 7 by Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne.

Court refuses to issue arrest warrant on Udayanga

Colombo Fort Magistrate today refused the CID’s request to issue an arrest warrant through Interpol on one time Sri Lankan ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunge over the inquiry conducted on the alleged financial loss caused by purchasing Ukraine-built MIG-twenty seven aircrafts in 2006.

Avant Garde case: Gota and 6 others appear in Courts

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Nissanka Senadipathi and five others appeared in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court over the inquiry conducted under the Corruption charges filed by the Bribery Commission.

Take action against Perpetual Treasuries: Bandula to Govt.

UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardane yesterday questioned the government as to what action it would take in connection with the excessive profit of Rs.5.1 billion recorded by Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) last year by trading Government Bonds.

Punjab border villages evacuated after army’s surgical strikes across LoC

Punjab authorities ordered the evacuation of villages near the Pakistan border on Thursday as chief minister Parkash Singh Badal put the state government and political machinery on emergency mode following surgical strikes against “terror launchpads” across the Line of Control (LoC).

Cabana fire kills a man in hotel

A 47-year-old man was reported to have burnt to death after a cabana caught fire at a tourist hotel in Pottuvil last night, police said.

Govt. to apprise diplomats of situation in North

The government has decided to apprise the foreign diplomats in Colombo on the situation in the North in the wake of protests led by Northern Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran, informed government sources said.

New laws needed to face new threat of migration: MS

President Maithripala Sirisena said that the Security Council, which met recently, had discussed the importance of drafting new laws to face the growing threats posed by migration apart from implementing existing laws pertaining to emigration and immigration.

Magistrate says to name ex-DIG as suspect if involved in abduction

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Pieris today directed the CID to name former DIG Anura Senanayake - who is now in remand over the killing of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen - as a suspect into the abduction of two persons at Kotahena if the CID investigations reveal his involvement in the incident.

Train smashes into New Jersey station injuring 100

A commuter train has crashed into a rail station in the city of Hoboken, in the US state of New Jersey.

Ravi denies reports on gazette discrepancies

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday denied reports of discrepancies in the gazette notification pertaining to the Value Added Tax (VAT) amendment.

Talks with President ended on positive note: GMOA

The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) said today that the discussions held with President Maithripala Sirisena with regard to their school admission issue ended on a positive note on Wednesday with the President assuring them that he would mediate to find a solution to the issue.

Foreign agency to redevelop Bogambara prison site

The Cabinet yesterday approved a proposal by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to assign an international agency to redevelop the Bogambara Prison site as a tourist attraction while preserving its historical value.

MCs say no collection of garbage unless segregated

All Municipal Councils in the country have decided to refrain from collecting garbage from November 1 unless they were segregated, the Provincial Council and Local Government Ministry said today.

SLFP asks Wigneswaran to withdraw statements

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) today while condemning Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran’s ‘Eluga Thamil’ campaign, asked him to withdraw the statements made by him and called on the TNA to take disciplinary action regarding the matter.

Oil prices slip as focus shifts to details of OPEC deal

Oil prices slipped on Thursday as investors questioned whether an OPEC agreement to curb oil production - the group's first such deal since 2008 - would be enough to rebalance a heavily over-supplied world market.

Lasantha killing: MIU officer re-remanded

The Military Intelligence Unit (MIU) officer, remanded in connection with the killing of journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga, was today re-remanded till October 13 by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate.

Nawaz Sharif condemns India’s surgical strikes along LoC

The statements come minutes after the Director General of Military Operation (DGMO) confirmed that the Indian Army had conducted surgical strikes along the LoC.

Drunken driver claims he was an ex-LTTEer, threatens police

A drunken driver who had turned violent and abusive was injured when he was allegedly beaten by the Kilinochchi Police Traffic Branch OIC with a chain.

PM leaves for New Zealand

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe left for New Zealand on a three day official visit on the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.

Ambalangoda businessman killing: three suspects arrested

Three suspects including the main suspect were arrested yesterday in connection with the murder of Galle District Cricket Association President and millionaire businessman Premasiri Halambage, Police said.

Chinese woman nabbed with gems worth Rs.1.1mn

A 30-year-old Chinese woman had been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), when she was trying to smuggle out uncut gems to Hong Kong last night, Airport Deputy Customs Director Parakrama Basnayake said.

Many politicians, officials haven't identified their duties: President

Many politicians and public official in our country have not identified their duties and responsibilities properly and in many instances they do what is unnecessary while ignoring what is necessary, President Maithripala Sirisena charged yesterday.

Sampur coal project: India looks at other options

Following the government’s decision to terminate the Sampur Coal Power project as an Indian investment, Indian Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said her government was looking at other options in Sri Lanka’s ambitious plan to move towards renewable energy sources by 2020.

No room for special treatment for doctors' children: Mujibur

It is in no way possible to grant the demands made by the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) that doctors' children be admitted to popular national schools, United National Party (UNP) MP Mujibur Rahaman told a media briefing yesterday.

Pakistan says SAARC summit still on

Unfazed by the decision of India and three other SAARC member nations not to participate in the grouping’s summit in Islamabad, Pakistan on Wednesday said it would go ahead with the event in November.

Tapping of HC Judge's phone/JO calls for inquiry

The Joint Opposition yesterday urged the government to investigate the alleged tapping of a mobile phone belonging to a senior High Court judge who was a member of the Bench that tried Duminda Silva and others for the murder of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.

Four months concessionary period to register motorcycles

Cabinet approval was received to grant a concessionary period of four months from October 2016 to January 2017 to register motorcycles that had not yet been registered or licensed by their owners to date, the Motor Traffic Department said today.

Bail condition relaxed on Vass Gunawardena

The High Court relaxed former Monitoring Minister Sajin de Vass Gunawardena’s bail conditions on consideration of a revision application filed by him in court pleading to relax the bail conditions.