55 Indian fishermen released

A total of 55 Indian fishermen, imprisoned in Sri Lankan jails have been released, while the remaining are expected to be released over the next couple of days, The Hindu reported today.

Fuel price formula not yet approved

Approval of the pricing formula for fuel (which was submitted to Cabinet) has been postponed, according to government sources.

Theravada bill will give more clout to Mahanayakes: Minister

The proposed ‘Theravada Bhikkhu Dialogue’ Bill does not aim at weakening the authority of the Buddha Sangha but to give legal authority to Mahanayakas of all chapters including the four main Nikayas to carry out punishments decreed after an inquiry by legal Sangha Sabha of each chapter, Justice and Buddhasasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said yesterday.

Ten school principals to be investigated

Allegations had been made against the principals of ten popular schools in Colombo and the outstations, and they are to be investigated by the Ministry of Education, said a senior official of the ministry.

Finance Ministry angers MS?

President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to be perturbed over the Finance Ministry allegedly placing conditions for the allocation he sought for development work in the Polonnaruwa district.

US to conduct thorough inquiry says Rajitha

The US Federal Reserve in Washington DC, has given an undertaking to Sri Lanka that it would conduct a thorough inquiry on the illegal dollar deposits of Sri Lankans and provide all information with the amount hoarded and the names of account holders, Cabinet spokesman and Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said.

Laws to control Buddhist monks will fail: BBS

The activities of certain monks who support political leaders seeking benefits have a negative impact on the entire Buddhist mission, BBS General Secretary Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera said today.

Reconciliation vital for economic growth: Hugo

Visiting Britain’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hugo Swire has said reconciliation would be key to Sri Lanka future economic growth.

Fire at shops at Kotuwegoda

Several shops at Kotuwegoda in Matara were gutted due to a fire that broke out this afternoon, Police said.

19 students hospitalised due to food poisoning

At least nineteen students at the Baduraliya Maliyadewa Primary School, Kalutara were hospitalised due to alleged food poisoning, police said.

IGP requests approval to fill 3,276 vacancies

Police Chief N.K. Illangakoon has written to the Law and Order Ministry requesting approval to fill 3,276 vacancies in the Police Department.

No Lankan casualties in Jakarta blasts: FM

The Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that there were no Sri Lankans among the injured in this morning's series of blasts and gunfire reported in Indonesian Capital, Jakarta.

Paddy stocks removed from Mattala

The process of removing more than 4000 MT of paddy stored in Mattala International Airport began today.

Blasts, gunfight in Indonesian capital; at least 7 dead

Militants launched a gun and bomb assault in the centre of the Indonesian capital today, killing at least seven people, in an attack that followed a threat by Islamic State fighters to put the country in their "spotlight", police said.

UK Foreign Minister Hugo arrives in SL

Britain’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hugo Swire has arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport this morning.

Argument over impasse

UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra's husband Hiran Yatowita had lodged a complaint with the Narahenpita Police over an argument with their neighbour, the Police said.

Complaint lodged against Gammanpila

Colombo Chief Magistrate yesterday ordered several media organisations to issue visuals of the video footage of the Press Conference held by UPFA Parliamentarian Udaya Gammanpila on January 11, after a complaint claiming that some comments made by the MP over the release of MP Hirunika Premachandra by the Court, was contempt of court.

Hot and cold over the Island

Dry and chill weather would prevail in most part of the country during the first two months of the year, the Meteorology Department said yesterday

If it does not get 2/3 majority the process will fail

The resolution to convert Parliament into a Constitutional Assembly had not received cabinet approval and if it failed to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament, due to a lack of consensus among the political parties, the entire process would fail, said Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faizer Mustapha.

Mangala's move to close mission in Iraq shelved

Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera had to shelve his move to close the Sri Lankan mission in Baghdad, Iraq due to objections by a group of cabinet ministers, it is learnt.

CID after Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera

CID officers went to a leading private hospital in Colombo this evening to record the statement of the Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera regarding his possession of an elephant without having a permit to do so. The thera had been asked to report to the CID this morning but failed to do so.

GL says Govt. bankrupt

The move by the Finance Ministry to get hold of 1 billion USDs from a ‘mystery’ investor to defend Sri Lankan rupee was not acceptable in anyway and reflected the degree of desperation of the government as well as its bankruptcy, the Joint Opposition said today.

Vehicle prices will go further up, say importers

Following the new budget proposals taxes on vehicles would increase by 20 percent, the Chairman of Lanka Vehicle Importers' Association Mahinda Sarathchandra said today.

Behaviour of cricketers: No comments, says Manager

Sri Lanka Cricket team manager Jerry Woutersz refused to comment on reports of misconduct and indiscipline by members of the national cricket team during the recent New Zealand tour but said a report would be handed over to the Minister within the next few days.

ASP Liyanage writes to IGP to probe “gold and cash” rumour

Sri Lanka Labour Party leader and businessman A.S.P. Liyanage has urged the IGP to launch an investigation with regard to reports that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had stashed away gold and cash packed in polythene bags inside a swimming pool at the Peacock Mansion in Rajagiriya, which belongs to Mr. Liyanage.

​Govt. backtracks on NBT, VAT revisions

The amendments proposed to Value Added Tax (VAT) and Nation Building Tax (NBT) Proposed in the Budget 2016 would not be implemented until the relevant legislative enactments were passed by Parliament, Finance Ministry yesterday said in a statement. 

SF challenges MS, RW to remove Wijeyadasa

Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka today challenged President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to remove Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe from the government, if they wanted to maintain ‘Good Governance’ in the country.

Alagaratnam re-elected as BASL President

President’s Counsel Geoffrey Alagaratnam was re-elected uncontested as President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) for 2016/2017, the BASL announced today.

Customs to release motor vehicles by March end

Sri Lanka Customs said today they had decided to release motor vehicles imported by individuals for personal use on a Letter of Credit opened before the effective date of the 2016 Budget.

Heavy traffic in Colombo

Heavy traffic was reported in Colombo because of a protest march by university medical students from the Fort Railway Station to the Finance Ministry, Police said.