I’ll speak on behalf of SL: Blair

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is in Sri Lanka on a private visit, met President Maithripala Sirisena today and assured he would speak on behalf of Sri Lanka to help negate the misconceptions being spread about the country.

Video: Gotabaya quizzed by PCoI for five hours

Former defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa was today questioned by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) over allegations of misusing state funds and using personnel of the state-owned security firm, Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Limited (RALL) for the presidential election campaign.

Four army personnel arrested over Eknaligoda disappearance

Four army personnel were arrested by the CID today in connection with the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, police said.  

Sarana remanded

Sarana Gunawardane and two others were remanded today till August 26 by the Gampaha Magistrate for allegedly assaulting a man in Gampaha during the election campaign period.

Eknaligoda disappearance: CID quizzes four army personnel

Four army personnel are being questioned by the CID in connection with the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, police said.

Wrong Scholarship paper: Inquiry initiated

An inquiry would be carried out into an incident at the Presbyterian Girls’ National School, Dehiwela, in which an invigilator of the Examination Department had distributed the 2nd paper of the Grade Five Scholarship Examination instead of the 1st paper, the Examinations Department said today.

President offers UK HC post to Sanga

President Maithripala Sirisena today invited Sri Lanka’s former cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara, who retired from Test Cricket, to accept the post of Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK.

Three ministers sworn in

Former ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and D.M. Swaminathan were today sworn in as ministers of the new government by President Maithripala Sirisena.

TNA names its national List MPs

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) today finalised its national list with the appointment of K. Thurairatnasingam from Trincomalee and Shanthi Sriskantharajah from the Vanni.

President and PM at Sanga’s last match

President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are likely to be present at P Sara Oval Stadium in Colombo today to pay tribute to retiring cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara.

Gota arrives at PCoI

Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa arrived at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) in BMICH this morning to give a statement into allegations of large scale corruption and fraud.

UNFGG ministers to be sworn in tomorrow

Thirty cabinet ministers and 40 state and deputy ministers from the UNFGG will take their oaths tomorrow, informed sources said.

Senior SLFPers tipped for ministries

Several senior members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party will be offered portfolios in the national unity government to be formed jointly by the United National Front for Good Governance and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, sources said.

Election to 335 LG bodies in November

The government is determined to hold elections to the now dissolved local government bodies in November, an authoritative government source said yesterday.

SLFP likely to break-up with UPFA

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) headed by President Maitripala Sirisena and its newly appointed officials are contemplating the termination of its political affiliation with the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), informed sources said yesterday.

Poll monitors regret defeated candidates entering parliament

A leading election monitoring group today expressed its regret and disappointment over the nomination of defeated candidates to parliament through the national list and called for a new criterion for this purpose.

We'll function as main opposition: TNA

Selvam Adaikkalanathan, who was elected to parliament on the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) ticket said today his party intended to function as the main opposition in parliament.

Sampur lands returned to owners

A new ministry will be set up to promote reconciliation, mutual understanding and communal harmony soon under the powers vested with the President in the 19th Amendment, President Maithripala said.

NFF to file action against Susil Premajayantha

The National Freedom Front (NFF), a constituent party of the UPFA, today claimed that it would take legal action against former UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha for including defeated candidates in the party’s national list replacing the original nominees.

Sanga plays last innings

Kumar Sangakkara was dismissed for 18 in his final international innings, ending a remarkable 15-year career during the second Test against India in Colombo on Sunday.

Student in hospital sits for Grade 5 Scholarship Exam

A student from Hatton, who was under medication at Peradeniya hospital for his injured hand, had sat for the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination at the hospital premises today.

JVP lost because it supported the UNP: Somawansa

Former Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Somawansa Amarasinghe said it was sad to see the JVP being wiped out at the August 17 general election. Mr. Amarasinghe said the main reason for the debacle was that the JVP was toeing the UNP agenda.

Rosy asks for recount; rejects UK HC offer

In the wake of a large number of supporters requesting former state minister and UNP Colombo district candidate Rosy Senanayake to apply for a recount, she had written to the Elections Commissioner requesting him to carry out a recount of the preference votes polled at the August 17 general election.

Four Indians arrested in Kalmunai

Four Indian nationals had been arrested by Kalmunai Police last night for overstaying visa and violating immigration laws.

New portfolios being finalised

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and former president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga are in the process of finalising the list of members from the two main parties to be assigned portfolios in the national unity government, party sources said yesterday.

CBK says MR won’t be opposition leader

Former president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga yesterday reportedly told the SLFP seniors that under no circumstances would former president Mahinda Rajapaksa be made opposition leader.

President’s Coordinating Secretary appointed as Municipal councillor

President’s Coordinating Secretary Rajika kodithuwakku has been appointed as a member of the Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Municipal Council by President Maithripala Sirisena today.

Ramaphosa makes brief landing at BIA

The flight carrying South Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa made a brief landing at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for refuelling this morning.

T.B. Ekanayake expelled from UPFA EC

Former Minister T.B. Ekanayake said today he received the letter of expulsion from the UPFA Executive Committee (EC) yesterday.

Ban Ki-moon telephones PM, assures UN support

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday congratulated Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on his election and assured the support of the United Nations to Sri Lankan Government.