Attempts to create rifts within Buddhist chapters to be probed: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that the government would appoint a presidential commission to investigate whether anyone had tried to create schisms within the various Buddhist chapters.  

RTI not a law yet

The Right to Information (RTI) Bill, though passed in Parliament more than a month ago, is yet to become the law of the country because the authorities concerned are struggling with difficulty to incorporate a certain amendment proposed by the Joint Opposition’s parliamentary group leader Dinesh Gunawardane during its third reading , it is learnt.  

Paada Yathra to end at Kiribathgoda today

Residents of Rathupaswala have left dozens of bottles filled with water on roads in Balummahara, Rathupaswala for the use of protesters of Jana Satana Paada Yathra organised by the Joint Opposition marking the third anniversary of Rathupaswala clash.

Three mahouts attacked by elephant in Pinnawala Orphanage

Three mahouts were hospitalised after being attacked by an elephant in the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.

SLFP considering disciplinary action against Paada Yathra participants

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) central committee will be convened next week to decide on disciplinary action against those party members who participated in the ‘Paada Yatra’ the joint opposition protest march and the rally, a government Minister said today.

Japan grants Rs.10 bn concessionary loan for development

The Japanese government had granted Rs. 10 billion concessionary loan to implement development proposals made in the 2016 Budget, the Finance Ministry said today.

Vehicle permits for govt. servants again: FM

The Vehicle Import Permits offered to public officials and officials of the State Corporation and Statutory Boards under a concessionary basis would be implemented again with amendments, the Finance Ministry said on Sunday.

PM to leave for Indonesia tomorrow

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremeisnghe will leave for Indonesia tomorrow on an official visit to participate in the 12th annual World Islamic Economic Forum.

Enough is enough: Mangala responds to MR

Responding to Former President and Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa’s statement on the Office on Missing Persons, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera today said MP Rajapaksa is trying to score political points at the expense of the grieving mothers and the future generations.

NSS’s BIA chief arrested for using State vehicles for Paada Yathra

The Chairman of Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya (NSS) of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) Airport & Aviation Branch Warnasiri Bandara was arrested yesterday for using two State owned vehicles for the Joint Opposition’s Paada Yathra march.

Unprotected railway gatemen go on island wide strike

The keepers of unprotected railway gates would be on strike from this morning, urging a wage hike, their collective said.

Afghan national drowned, three hospitalized

A 16-year-old Afghan national was drowned and three others were hospitalised after they drowned while bathing at the sea at Thalpe in Habaraduwa yesterday.

Isuru Devapriya to reveal JO conspiracy with UNP

Western Province Chief Minister Isuru Devapriya said today he would reveal the Joint Opposition’s conspiracy with the UNP to save the Rajapaksa family in the future.

“Paada Yathra” no challenge to govt. : Hirunika

UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra said today the Jana Satana Paada Yathra would not make any impact on the government other than some physical changes on the Joint Opposition MPs who were marching from Kandy.

Paada Yathra now in Weweldeniya town

The Jana Satana Paada Yathra organised by the Joint Opposition was passing Weweldeniya town a short while ago on its third day.

Sri Lanka beat Australia by 106 runs in 1st Test

Veteran spinner Rangana Herath grabbed a five-wicket haul to help Sri Lanka stun top-ranked Australia by 106 runs on the fifth and final day of the first Test in Pallekele today.

Swaraj chairs meeting on vexed fishermen issue with SL

In an effort to find a permanent solution to the vexed fishermen issue with Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday held a high-level meeting with various stakeholders and deliberated on its different aspects.

CV’s suggestion unacceptable: JVP

The suggestion made by Northern Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran for an MoU between the Northern Provincial Council and the Central Government to divide the ownership of Moragahakanda Project was unacceptable, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said on Thursday.

Warakapola, Colombo Courts refuse restraining order on Paada Yathra

Request made by the Peliyagoda Police to restrict the Jana Satana Pada Yathra from Kiribathgoda to Colombo were yesterday rejected by Colombo Additional Magistrate Chanima Wijebandara.

Do not delay LG polls: EC

Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya is reported to have emphasised at a meeting with Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Faiszer Mustapha that the local authorities’ election should not be delayed any further.

Journalists oppose Ranil's comments against media

The Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) yesterday strongly opposed comments made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe against the media while speaking at a public meeting in Kandy recently.

No need to walk if they had done their duty: MS

If the former leaders had performed their duties and governed properly, there would not be a need for them to undertake long marches for political purposes, hurting their feet, President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday

Return students’ money, GMOA tells SAITM

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said the management of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) should return the money of students with interest for the years they had wasted seeking a degree.

WP minister wants extra grade 1 classroom in 21 schools: CTU

Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) today charged that Western Province Education Minister Ranjith Somawansa had ordered the Provincial Education Director to add another classroom to grade one in 21 schools located in Western Province to facilitate the whims of provincial council members.

30-year-old shot dead in Modara

A 30-year-old man was shot dead at a house in Redbarnawatta, Modara by three men who had arrived in a three-wheeler this evening, police said.

Gampaha Magistrate puts conditions on Paada Yathra

Gampaha Magistrate Kavindaa Nanayakkara today ordered the Joint Opposition’s Paada Yathrawa to march on the left side of the Colombo-Kandy road from Kalagedihena to Kirillawala next Sunday (31), so as not to inconvenience the public.

Court refuses restraining order on Paada Yathra, UNP recruitment

Attanagalle Magistrate Dinesh Lakmal Perera today refused to grant a restraining order to prevent the Joint Opposition from holding meetings in Nittambuwa on Sunday in line with its Paada Yathrawa and the United National Party (UNP) from conducting a membership recruitment drive during the weekend.

Paada Yathrawa reaches Kegalle

The Jana Satana Paada Yathrawa organised by the Joint Opposition reached Kegalle town a short while ago on its second day.  

CMC uncertain about Hyde Park Ground

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) today said it was not certain as to when the renovation of the Hyde Park Ground would be completed so that it could release the ground to those who had reserved it including, MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara.

Former TNA MP P.H. Piyasena arrested by CCD

Former TNA Ampara District MP P.H. Piyasena was arrested by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) in Colombo this morning over an alleged misuse of a government vehicle, Police said.