CA refuses to suspend Harin from CM post

The Court of Appeal (CA) today refused to grant interim relief to suspend the appointment of Uva Province Chief Minister Harin Fernando.

Lanka student finds green way to tackle oil spills

A 24-year-old Sri Lankan post-graduate student in Chemistry at the University of Maryland USA, has discovered an agent which will clear oil spills in the sea without damaging the aquatic environment.

Lankan abducted for ransom in Nigeria

A Sri Lankan national was abducted during a brazen kidnapping operation at the boundary of Ondo and Kogi States in Nigeria. The man, identified by Sri Lankan embassy staff as Mr. Karunaratna, worked for an Italian-owned construction company and has lived in Nigeria for more than 10 years.

Ruwan refutes allegation on hoisting LTTE flag in North

Defence State Minister Ruwan Wijewardene today refuted the allegation made by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and a group of Opposition MPs that the LTTE flag was hoisted in parts of the North at a time when the nation commemorated the sixth year of defeating LTTE terrorism.

CID to take over Jaffna murder investigation

The Police Crime Investigation Division (CID) had deployed a special police team to investigate the rape and killing of an 18-year-old girl at Punguditivu in Jaffna, Police Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said.

Not even a hint of racial violence: TNA

Rejecting assertions by the Jathika Hela Urumaya, the Tamil National Alliance said today that the protest in Jaffna was only an 'expression of anger against the brutal murder' of an 18 year old student.

Two sailors remanded for carrying stone during victory day parade

Two navy men were remanded till May 25 by the Matara Magistrate today after a stone was discovered in a backpack of one of them while they were participating in the victory day parade held in Matara yesterday, police said.

Policewoman dies after PT session

A 26-year-old woman attached to the Ministerial Security Division (MSD) collapsed during a physical training (PT) session this morning and was admitted to hospital. She had died in hospital in the evening, Police said.

Probe the real motive of the Jaffna protest: JHU

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) today urged the police and security forces to implement the law against the angry mob that tried to take the law into their hands by hiding behind the murder of a student in Jaffna recently.

127 arrested over stoning of Jaffna Court

About 127 protesters were arrested and five police personnel were reportedly injured following the violence in and around the vicinity of the Jaffna court premises this morning, Police said.

SC and AC judges must resign: Purawesi Balaya

The Purawesi Balaya Organisation which played the major role in bringing the present government to office today urged the judges of the Supreme Court and the Appeal Court to resign so that new judges could be appointed under the 19th Amendment.

FCID grills Gota for six hours

The Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) today interrogated former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa from 9.30 a.m. till 3.00 p.m. on the controversial MIG deal and about a share transaction by Lanka Hospitals Ltd.

Sajin Vass further remanded

UPFA parliamentarian Sajin de Vass Gunawardene was today further remanded till June 3 on charges of misusing vehicles belonging to the Presidential Secretariat.

Vasu claims MS saying having no problem with MR as PM

UPFA Parliamentarian Vasudeva Nanayakkara today claimed that he and several other MPs were personally told by President Maithripala Sirisena that he had no problem with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa contesting and functioning as the Prime Minister if elected.

Power outage in Colombo

The electricity supply to Colombo 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 has been interrupted due to a breakdown in the power transmission, the Ceylon Electricity Board (ECB) said and that repairs were being carried out but was unable to say how long it would take.

Protesters stone Jaffna Court

A tense situation prevailed at the Jaffna Court premises this morning when some protestors stoned the Court building and the police over an incident where an 18-year-old girl was raped and killed at Punguditivu in Jaffna.

Basil further remanded till May 27

Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, former Secretary of the Ministry Nihal Jayatilake and former Divineguma Fund Director General R.R.K. Ranawaka were further remanded till May 27 by the Kaduwela Magistrate today.

Hambantota Mayor granted bail

Hambantota Mayor Eraj Ravindra Fernando was today released on bail with two sureties of Rs.1 million each when he was produced before Hambantota Chief Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara.

Keheliya gets bail

UPFA MP Keheliya Rambukwella was today released on a cash bail of Rs.50,000 with a surety of Rs.2.5 million when he was produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate in a case where he was alleged to have violated tender procedures in the purchase of galvanized pipes for the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation.

Sajin allowed to attend parliament

Former External Affairs Monitoring MP Sajin de Vass Gunawaradena was today granted permission by the Colombo Fort Magistrate to attend today’s parliamentary sessions.

New parliament by Sept.: MS

President Maithripala Sirisena this morning said that the Parliament would be dissolved after appointing the Constitutional Council and that there would be a new Parliament by September.

Video: Wimal at CID

United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Wimal Weerawansa arrived at the Crime Investigation Department (CID) a short while ago to give a statement over his wife's passport.

Video: Gota arrived at FCID

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived at the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) a short while ago after he was summoned to record a statement over the MIG deal and a fraud at the Lanka Hospital.

Gota to be questioned by FCID today

The former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been asked to come to the FCID office this morning.

PAC: EPF lost Rs. 1B last year

The Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) had observed that the EPF had lost Rs one billion last year through purchasing and selling shares.

Special traffic plan around Parliament tomorrow afternoon

A special traffic plan would be in place from 1.00pm to 7.00 pm on the Parliament Road from Polduwa junction, the Japan Friendship Road from Kimbulawala junction, the road towards parliament from Palamthuna junction and the road towards parliament from Pelwatte junction because of the commemoration of war heroes in the parliament grounds tomorrow.

Construction to go ahead without delay – Ravi K

The construction work of the Defence Headquarters Complex in Battaramulla would be completed without a delay, and there was no shortage of funds to allocate for the construction, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said today.

Thajudeen’s death: CID mulls whether homicide or natural causes

It is yet to be determined whether former Havelock rugby captain and Sri Lankan rugby player Wasim Thajudeen’s cause of death was homicide or accidental, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said today.

JVP like a bell on an elephant: Somawansa

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is like a bell hung on the United National Party (UNP) elephant and JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake looks like an actor performing in the political theatre, former JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe said today.

Sajin Vaas contracts breathing problems

United People' s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Sajin de Vaas Gunawardane, who is in remand custody, has developed breathing difficulties after the prison authorities had denied him the use of his inhaler, his colleagues informed Parliament today.