Ekneligoda case; Solicitor General says Rajitha is lying

Solicitor General of the Attorney General’s Department Mr. Suhada Gamalath yesterday denied an allegation made by Minister Rajitha Senaratne relating to the criminal investigation and court proceedings relating to the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.

Pardon for MS assassination attempt convict?

A Tamil man who was found guilty of conspiracy to assassinate and the attempted murder of Maithripala Sirisena (when the latter was a Cabinet Minister in 2005) on Thursday withdrew his appeal against his conviction and sentence by the High Court.

Consultation on domestic mechanism next week

The consultation process for the domestic mechanism relating to the war will begin next week, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said.

Video: Owner of world's largest blue sapphire ponders its fate

The owner of the world’s largest blue sapphire, which he says is worth more than $100 million, said on Thursday he is deciding whether to auction the Sri Lankan gem or display it as an international attraction.

Imminent arrest of MR regime bigwigs

Cabinet spokesman and Minister Rajitha Senaratne today said a number of high and mighty in the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration are to be arrested by the law enforcement authorities soon, as inquiries on cases of corruption, embezzlement, crime and misrule allegedly committed with their direct involvement have been concluded.

21 policemen transferred after man dies

Twenty-one policemen, including the HQI of the Embilipitiya Police Station, have been temporarily transferred with immediate effect, following the death of a man in Embilipitiya, police said..

SL to be made a global mega city: PM

Sri Lanka will be developed into a global city that will go between Dubai and Singapore where international trade and movement is concerned, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

JHU won’t let terrorism raise its head again: Champika

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said today it would not allow terrorism to raise its head again or allow clauses in the Constitution concerning the unitary state and giving priority to Buddhism be amended.

Live events declines commenting about refunding VVIP ticket holders

Live Events (Pvt) Ltd has still not arrived at a conclusive decision regarding compensating VVIP ticket holders who were inconvenienced at the Enrique show held in December 20, 2015 in Colombo.

BC takes Rohitha Abeygunawardene to Court

The Bribery Commission today filed legal action against UPFA parliamentarian Rohitha Abeygunawardene in the Colombo High Court on charges of unlawfully acquiring assets worth Rs.41.2 million between 2004 and 2006, sources said.

CM is all-powerful in a provincial council: Dayasiri

Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said today that people are unaware about the powers of a chief minister and that a Chief Minister could take over any ministry.

Kingswood College Principal interdicted

The Principal, of Kingswood College in Kandy, has been interdicted on charges of violating Education Ministry circulars by collecting Rs.3.6 million from parents saying it was for the purpose of constructing a new building for the school, the Education Ministry said today.

FCID visits CSN again

Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) Officers today visited the Carlton Sports Network (CSN) television to collect data of the emails in connection with the ongoing investigation.

Court allows foreign experts to examine CCTV footage

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Pieris today (07) granted  permission to  the CID  to refer the CCTV  footage  in connection with the  rugby player  Wasim Thajudeen’s  death to foreign experts .

Youth death: Hartal in Embilipitiya

Shops are closed and black flags have been raised in a protest demonstration underway in the Embilipitiya town following the death of a youth, who was injured during a clash with the Police and later died.

Passenger, immigration officer arrested with Rs.27mn worth of gold

An immigration officer and an in-coming passenger were arrested today morning by the Airport Customs Officers on charges of attempting to smuggle into the country Rs.27 million worth of gold weighing 5.1 kilos, Customs media spokesman Leslie Gamini said.

Gota arrives at PRECIFAC

Former defense secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa arrived at the PRECIFAC a short while ago to give a statement over the Rakna Arakshaka Lanka controversy.

Youth who fell off building during a clash with police dies

A youth, who was being treated at the Ratnapura Hospital after he fell off a building in Embilipitiya during a clash with the police, died this morning, police said.

Cabinet reshuffle put off

The anticipated Cabinet reshuffle is likely to not take place as President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had decided to put it off.

SL condemns attack on Indian Air Force base

The Sri Lankan government strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot on Saturday.

"Govt. to discuss with the US in joining TTP"

The government will discuss with the United States (US) in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) with that country during the next round of talks on Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), a Deputy Minister said yesterday.

Hirunika should have been arrested says Wimal

National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa said yesterday that MP Hirunika Premachandra should have been arrested already over the Dematagoda abduction if the independent police commission was ‘genuinely’ independent.

Electricity: smart meters from tomorrow

The Power Ministry would commission the Smart Meter System (SMS) for measuring electricity usage from tomorrow, Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said yesterday.

Term of imprisonment unclear: Foreign Employment Ministry

The term of imprisonment of the Sri Lankan housemaid who was charged with adultery in Saudi Arabia has not been clearly mentioned, the Foreign Employment Ministry stated yesterday.

New party aims to safeguard Sinhala identity

“Sinhale Jathika Balamuluwa,” convening its first media briefing today said it was formed to safeguard the identity of the Sinhala people and to regenerate the supremacy and pride of the Sinhala people.

SLPA refutes allegations of Communication Div. closure

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) today denied allegations that a decision was taken to seal the head office of the authority’s Communications and Public Relations Division.

Soldiers arrested to please LTTE Diaspora: Wimal

UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa today accused the government of imprisoning officers of the army intelligence unit over the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda to satisfy the LTTE Diaspora.

1,501 'statutory rapes' in 2015

A rundown of the causes of death and crimes statistics provided by the Police Department today showed that while the number of reported rape, suicides and murders in the country had decreased slightly, the number of accidents had increased marginally when compared to 2014.

Security forces fully alert to ISIS threats: Ministry

The Defence Ministry today assured that security forces and all intelligence agencies were on full alert on the possibility of any groups having links with the ISIS making their appearance in Sri Lanka.

Roads flooded; heavy traffic in Colombo

Several roads in Colombo were flooded because of rains and there is heavy traffic congestion on most of the exit roads in Colombo, police said.