Basil files bail revision application

Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa today filed a revision application in Colombo High Court seeking bail over the inquiry conducted on the allegation of misappropriating Divineguma funds for the supply of GI pipes to local government authorities at Kaduwela Magistrate's Court under the Public Property Act.

Man shot dead at Mt. Lavinia

A 39-year-old man was shot dead by two unidentified men in Mount Lavinia last night, Police said.

Kiriella offers five posts for JVP

While denying media reports that a Buddhist monk named Ven. Wattappola Rahula Thera was appointed as a consultant to the road development project, Highways and Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament yesterday he was even ready to offer five such posts to the JVP which raised the matter.

Donald Trump accepts Republican presidential nomination

Donald Trump formally accepted the Republican nomination for president on Thursday night, giving the biggest speech of his short political career — seeking to end a troubled, fractious GOP convention on a high note.

Malaysian Govt. to study request for Lankan workers

The Malaysian Government will study Sime Darby Group Bhd’s request to bring in workers from Sri Lanka to work in the plantation sector, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

SL plan to close down Jaffna’s IDP camps next month

Sri Lanka government is contemplating closing down all 31 camps of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Jaffna district of the Northern Province and completing resettlement of 971 IDP families by August 15.

Criticism of UN approach towards SL abuses legitimate: Helen Clark

Helen Clark, one of the frontrunners to succeed Ban Ki-moon as UN secretary general, has said there were legitimate criticisms of the way the UN dealt with Sri Lankan abuses during the civil war with the LTTE.

MPs disappointed by Murali’s Aussie consultancy: Thilanga

Sri Lanka Cricket President Thilanga Sumathipala said yesterday that MPs had expressed disappointment over the country’s cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan joining the Australian team as a spin bowling Consultant.

Another round of talks on ETCA in August

India and Sri Lanka will begin another round of talks on the proposed Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) on August 9, 2016, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, Malik Samarawickrama informed Parliament yesterday.

Events at Jaffna Uni needs Senate approval hereafter: Kiriella

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has instructed that students' activities at the Jaffna university should be organised only with the agreement of the Senate hereafter, Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament yesterday.

Govt. would remain for five years: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe asserted yesterday in Parliament the current rule would serve for another five years under the concept of the national unity government.

SriLankan may lease four planes to Pakistan

Sri Lanka's cash-strapped national airline is in talks to lease four of its Airbus A330 planes to Pakistan International Airlines Corp, months after cancelling an order for four Airbus A350 aircraft, a minister said on Thursday.

Malaysia to study SL's request for deportation of prisoners

The Malaysia government will look into Sri Lanka's request to have all Sri Lankan prisoners in Malaysia be deported to their country of origin, the Bernama news reported today.  

Largest ever cocaine haul seized

The largest ever detection of cocaine, weighing 274 kilograms and valued at around Rs. 4.1 billion, was made this evening. It had been found inside a container of sugar in the Peliyagoda container yard, police said.

Parents of 800 students not willing to send children to Jaffna uni.

A Parents collective of the injured Jaffna University students said today they would not send their children to the university until the security of the students were guaranteed.

Shops in Olcott Mawatha catch fire

Several shops along the Olcott Mawatha in Pettah, near the Fort Railway Station, had caught fire a short while ago, police said.

SL, Pak communities urge UN to resolve Kashmir issue

The Kashmir Study Forum Sri Lanka along with Pakistani and Sri Lankan community organized a peaceful demonstration outside the United Nation Office in Colombo today to highlight the recent violent incidences in Kashmir.

SLFP threatens defeat of VAT

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) would defeat the VAT Amendment if SLFP proposals were not incorporated or if the tax was increased to fifteen percent, SLFP Spokesman Dilan Perera said today.

No loss to Govt. on coal deal: Siyambalapitiya

The Government had not incurred any loss due to the coal purchasing deal as alleged  by some people and a committee of experts had been appointed to look into the matter, Minister of Power and Energy Ranjith Siyambalapitiya  said today.

SL declared as Filaria free

The World Health Organisation today declared Sri Lanka as a Filariasis free country, and awarded a certificate in recognition of the declaration, the Health Ministry said

Fmr Sathosa Chairman arrested

Former Lanka Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando was arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) on charges of misusing vehicles belonging to the Lanka Sathosa during the last Presidential election campaign.

Man stabbed to death inside a hotel

A 32-year-old man was stabbed to death inside a hotel at Minuwangoda early this morning, Police said.

Elephant in Kartaragama under Wild life custody

A female elephant aged about six years was taken into custody by the Wildlife officers this morning at the Kataragama temple area, Police said.

SL will play constructive role in Asia’s peaceful development: Mangala

Sri Lanka will play a constructive role in promoting dialogue and cooperation for peaceful development in the region, Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera said.  

Ranil-Wimal exchange words over CBK friendship

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday that he did not have any knowledge about the existence of an organization by the name of the Task Force for National Reconciliation headed by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

A pricing formula for private sector healthcare services

Private hospital charges for surgeries, medical tests, scanning and drugs will be regulated by pricing formula making it affordable to the rich and the middle class while the National Medicinal Drugs Policy will introduced in six months, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.

TUs want President to take over Customs

Hitting back at Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake on his remarks to go ahead with the new Customs Act despite objections, Customs Trade Unions yesterday urged President Maithripala Sirisena to either remove Minister Karunanayake or to bring the Customs under his purview.

New Airport Terminal for BIA

Work on a new Airport Terminal that is capable of handling 20 million people will be begun at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) next year, Deputy Transport Minster Asoka Abeysinghe said yesterday.

Women too affected by cigarette, alcohol price increases: Geetha

Joint Opposition MP Geetha Kumarasinghe yesterday said the impact of the increase in the prices of cigarette and alcohol would effect women as well because it was unlikely that those who were in the habit of drinking and smoking would stop or even reduce their alcohol and nicotine intake even if prices for these items go up.

All educational institutions must be reconciliation centres: MS

President Maithripala Sirisena said all educational institutions, including universities and vocational training centres should act as reconciliation centres and reconciliation should be included as a subject in the school curriculum.