Northern resettlement to finish by next year

Resettlement of over 3,000 people displaced in the northern Jaffna will be completed by mid next year, an official has said, days after UN chief Ban Ki-Moon called for expediting reconciliation efforts with the minority Tamils.

Work to rule at SriLankan: Management not informed

Though the pilots of SriLankan Airlines had decided to conduct a work-to-rule campaign with effect from Thursday midnight, sources at SriLankan Airlines said its management had not been informed of the trade union's decision.

Monitoring mechanism to prevent abuse of news

Deputy Mass Media and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Karunaratne Paranawithana said yesterday that the government would set up a ‘Monitoring Mechanism’ for news broadcast and publications in the print and electronic media under the proposed ‘Press Commission’ to prevent the abuse of news in print and electronic media.

New premises for Foreign Affairs Ministry

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be relocated in a modern building in a plot of land about two acres in extent at Jawatta Road, Colombo.

Udayanga and his wife given ordinary passports

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga and his wife have been given ordinary passports following the cancellation of their diplomatic passports, Parliament was informed yesterday.

Six year old girl found killed and buried

The body of a 6-year-old Vedda girl who is believed to have been murdered was found buried in the jungle near Neelankeni in Sampur today.

Bribery Com. files action against Aluthgamage

The Bribery Commission today filed action against former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage for allegedly using state funds to import game boards worth over Rs.53.1 million to be distributed in the run up to the 2015 Presidential Election campaign.  

JO urges Govt. to declare definite date for LG elections

The Joint Opposition today urged the Government to declare a definite date to hold the local government election despite making contradictory statements.

Kataragama Walli Guhawa Temple chief incumbent stabbed

Sella Kataragama Walli Guhawa Temple’s chief incumbent Ven. Rambukwelle Sangananda Thera has been hospitalized after being stabbed at the temple this evening, police said.

Refusing nomination to Duminda justified: SLFP

The death sentence on former MP Duminda Silva by the Colombo High Court has shown that President Maithripala Sirisena was correct in refusing to endorse the Mr. Silva’s nomination for last year’s general elections, Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.

Justice finally prevailed: Hirunika

In the immediate aftermath of the High Court convicting her father's murder accused to death, MP Hirunika Premachandra, broke down in Courts and said justice prevailed finally and thanked the government of good governance.

Death sentence: Duminda, four others to appeal

Defence counsel appearing for Duminda Silva and four others, who were sentenced to death, told the Media they would appeal against today’s judgment delivered by the judges of the High Court Trial-At-Bar.

Assault on SL envoy: Malaysia to review KLIA security procedures

Police are reviewing the security procedures at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) following Sunday's assault on Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Malaysia Ibrahim Sahib Ansar.

Duminda, four others sentenced to death

Former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva and four others were sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court today over the 2011 killing of former presidential adviser Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and three others.

Court orders to exhume Lasantha's body

Mt. Lavinia Magistrate today ordered to exhume the body of former Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge who was assassinated in January 2009.

Lalith Weeratunga arrives at PRECIFAC

Former President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga arrived at the PRECIFAC a short while ago to give a statement over a financial misappropriation.

Thajudeen Murder: Carlton House included in Pres. Sec. phone network

Senior State Counsel Dilan Ratnayake informed Court that it had been revealed that Carlton House in Hambanthota had been included in the internal phone network connection of the Presidential Secretariat.

Next COPE report on Oct 13

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) will present its next report, with details of the controversial bond issue, in Parliament on October 13 this year, its chairman Sunil Handunnetti said yesterday.

We hope to recruit more Tamils for Security Forces: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament today the Government was hoping to increase the percentage of Tamils in the Security Forces, the Police Service and the Prison Service.

CID wanted to question me: Astrologer Wijemuni Vijitha

Astrologer Wijemuni Vijitha Rohana de Silva said today that the CID wanted to record a statement from him over a video released by him forecasting the future of President Maithripala Sirisena and said an astrologer should have the freedom to carry out his work independently.

We too deserve to serve as doctors: SAITM graduates

Students’ Union of the first batch to graduate from the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) said today they too deserve to serve as doctors in Sri Lanka and underscored their competency as being on par with those from State medical faculties.

Attack on envoy;conspiracy to dilute SLFP anniversary: JHU

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) yesterday alleged that the assault on Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner Ibrahim Ansar at Kuala Lumpur on Sunday could be a conspiracy to divert public attention from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) 65th anniversary celebrations.

Businessman remanded till Sep. 13

Mohammed Nasli, the 35-year-old businessman from Bandaragama, has been remanded till September 13 by Trincomalee Magistrate S. Swarnaraja today.

LG polls likely to be held in Feb.'17

The much anticipated local government polls will be held in February next year provided the delimitation committee submits its final report to the Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry at least by October, Subject Minister Faizer Mustapha said today.

Senanayake fined for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

Sri Lanka’s off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake has been fined 30 per cent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the opening Twenty20 International (T20I) against Australia in Pallekele yesterday.

Committee rules out post mortem for Sobitha Thera

The Committee appointed to inquire into the death of Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, filing a report in court today agreed not to request for an inquest or post mortem into his death.

‘Facebook IGP’ arrested

A man, who impersonated the Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara on Facebook and deceived a number of women, was arrested on Monday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Heavy traffic in Pettah

Heavy traffic was reported in Pettah due to a protest march by the Government Technical Officers Union which is heading towards the Presidential Secretariat.  

Missing businessman found

Mohammed Nasli, the 35-year-old businessman from Bandaragama, who was reported missing in Trincomalee has been arrested in Balangoda today, Police said.

Weerawansa’s brother re-remanded

Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa's brother Sarath Weerawansa, who was arrested by the FCID under the Public Property Act for allegedly causing a loss of Rs.10.5 million to the Government, was ordered to be remanded till September 21 by Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne.