Cabinet approves President’s proposals

The Cabinet has agreed to appoint a committee headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and comprising all party leaders to discuss and make recommendations to the proposals submitted by President Maithripala Sirisena on abolishing the executive presidential system and on the introduction of a new electoral system.

Another shootout in northern Paris

Shooting broke out in northern Paris on Wednesday during a dawn raid by police hunting those behind the attacks that claimed 129 lives in the French capital five days ago, sources said.

Janaka Bandara granted bail

Former Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon who was arrested and remanded in connection with an alleged murder incident, which took place in 1999, was granted bail by the Kandy High Court today.

Customs seize counterfeit fags worth Rs.355mn

A large consignment of counterfeit cigarettes worth over Rs. 355 million imported from Dubai in a vessel declared as chest freezers was seized by the Customs this morning at the Grandpass yard.

Gunaratnam re-remanded

Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Central Committee member Kumar Gunaratnam was further remanded till November 27 by Kegalle Magistrate Prasanna Alwis today.

SL keen on sending skilled workers to Saudi: Envoy

Sri Lanka is in the process of increasing the share of skilled and professional workers among its citizens seeking employment in Saudi Arabia, new Sri Lankan Ambassador Azmi Thassim, who arrived in Riyadh last week, told Arab News on Tuesday.

Rugby-All Blacks great Jonah Lomu dies aged 40

All Blacks great Jonah Lomu, who revolutionised wing play to become rugby union's first global superstar, died on Wednesday in Auckland at the age of 40.

Three year old left on tank bund

A three year old boy had been abandoned by his mother near a bathing spot along the bund of the Mahakanadarawa tank in Mihintale. The villagers who had seen the child crying and alone had informed the Mihintale police who had taken him under their care.

MR asked to report to PRECIFAC tomorrow

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been asked to report to PRECIFAC tomorrow and on the day after to record a further statement in connection with the non-payment of money owed to the ITN.

Rajitha rubbishes Wijeyadasa's allegations as baseless

Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister Rajitha Senaratne has rejected Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe's allegations that Dr. Senaratne was found guilty of importing substandard drugs.

PM didn't caution Wijeyadasa: Ministry

Ministry of Justice and Buddha Sasana said today it was not Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe who was reported to have been ‘strongly’ advised by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on the Avant-Garde controversy as reported by some media organisations.

Action on Geneva Proposals according to Constitution: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said today every action in relevant to Geneva Proposals would be taken in accordance with the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya not to take part in APC

The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) today announced that it would no longer take part in the All Party Conference (APC) convened to consult the political parties’ opinion on how to address UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka, claiming that the APC was only a media show.

Loud yawn lands man in jail

A man was sentenced to a jail term of eight months after being found guilty of insulting the court by yawning out loud inside the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court while it was in session.

Video: Minister’s son tried to spy on me: Harin

Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando said today he would brief the Cabinet tomorrow on the incident where a minister’s son intruded into his ministry and tried to spy on him.

Video: BBS warns Govt. of impending attack by ISIS

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera today sounded a warning to the government over an ISIS attack on this country within a year.

Video: 6,000 Avant Garde employees risk losing jobs

Days after the operations of Avant Garde Maritime Security Limited (AGMSL) was taken over by the Sri Lanka Navy, thousands of its employees today claimed that they risked of losing their jobs.

Video: Govt. attempting to belittle PTA: GL

Though the purpose of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) is to protect the people from security threats, the government is attempting to make out that the PTA as something frightening, former UPFA MP G.L. Peiris charged today.

Dr. Neville Fernando demands Rs. 500 Mn from Prof. Carlo

Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital's Chairman Dr. Neville Fernando has today written to Prof. Carlo Fonseka demanding Rs.500 million as damages for making false statements on Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera's stay in the hospital.

Video: Ukrainian killed in head-on collision

A 31-year-old Ukrainian was killed in head-on collision between the motorcycle he was riding and a lorry at Thennapita in Pitabeddara on the Akuressa-Deniyaya main road this morning.

Another twist in Grand Hyatt saga

A letter from Public Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim revealed that he intends to change the entire board of directors of the state-owned Grand Hyatt Hotel holding company Canwill Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd (Canwill).

Dual citizenship given to 2000

President Maithripala Sirisena said dual citizenship was what most of the Sri Lankan expatriates asked for, whenever he met them during his tours abroad and the government had expedited in accordingly.

Cabinet paper on abolishing Exec. Presidency: MS

President Maithripala Sirisena said today that he will submit special cabinet papers to abolish the Executive Presidency and to bring in a new electoral system at the cabinet meeting tomorrow.

EU urges govt. to repeal PTA

The Council of European Union (EU) yesterday encouraged the Sri Lankan Government to take early steps to build the confidence of communities, including releasing the identity of the detainees and accelerating their prosecution or release, repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

Video: Ex-LTTE detainees call off hunger strike

The hunger strike launched by the Tamil prisoners including ex-LTTE carders last week demanding their release was called off this morning, the Prisons Department said.

Avant-Garde: PM warns Cabinet Minister

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has reportedly ‘strongly’ advised a senior Cabinet minister of his Cabinet not to engage with any parties about the Avant-Garde issue in the future.

Reports on missing persons submitted to UN group

The Dead and Missing Persons Parents Front (DMPPF) yesterday handed over a report to the visiting members of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) at the UN Compound in Colombo.

Video: FCID visits CSN

Officials of the Financial Criminal Investigation Division (FCID) today visited the Carlton Sports Network (CSN) in Battaramulla to conduct investigations regarding the awarding of broadcasting rights to CSN by violating tender procedure, Police Media Spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekara said.

Video: Power of liquor can topple govt. -President

President Maithripala Sirisena today said if the government banned all liquor licences and cigarettes putting an end to liquor sale and cigarettes, those who consume them could even topple the government.

Warnaweera suspended from cricket for 2 years

Jayananda Warnaweera, former Sri Lanka Test cricketer turned cricket official, was suspended for two years from cricket, cricket management and representation by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) today.