Opposition to press for Mahendrans ouster

At next Monday’s meeting of party leaders, the combined opposition will press for the motion against Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran to be taken up for debate and passage in parliament as early as possible, Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala De Silva said today.

No new Bills in parliament: Ranil

New legislations will not be tabled in the current parliament because there were some elements awaiting an opportunity to sabotage these Bills, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said.

Abduction case: Dinitha’s parents told not to comment

Dinitha Aloka Ranasinghe’s parents today assured Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya that they would refrain from commenting to the media nor launch any public protest over the abduction of their daughter or the pending habeas corpus inquiry in Court.

Baby jumbo handed over

A baby elephant allegedly kept by Magistrate Thilina Gamage without proper documents had been handed over to the Wild Life Conservation Department at Battaramulla this evening, Director General of the department H.D. Ratnayake said.

Sanga backs England's Pietersen

Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Kumar Sanagakkara was among those who criticsed Andrew Strauss over his handling of the latest Kevin Pietersen saga, questioning Strauss' logic in excluding the English batsman.

Kim Jong-Un executes defence minister for sleeping

Education mess not fault of SB or Amunugama: IUSF

The Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) said today neither former Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake nor current Minister Sarath Amunugama were responsible for the breakdown of the education sector but it was the result of the country’s adverse educational policies.

MR demands Rs.1 bn from Mangala

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had sent a letter of demand to Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera demanding Rs.1 billion as compensations over a statement alleged to have made by the minister during a news conference.

Udaya goes to BC against Maithri, Ranil

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila lodged a complaint with the Bribery Commission this afternoon against President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Hambantota Mayor further remanded

Hambantota Mayor Eraj Fernando was further remanded today in connection with the alleged attack on a group of Opposition supporters in Hambantota by the Hambantota Magistrate Isuru Nettikumara, Police said.

Lankan robbed in Kuwait

A Sri Lankan man was kidnapped and his car had been stolen along with KD 870 and two phones in Kuwait by three persons in Kuwait, the Kuwait Times said.

Interim order stays Gota’s anticipated arrest

The Supreme Court today issued an interim order staying the arrest of former defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and granted leave to proceed in the fundamental rights petition filed by him.

Pakistan Army Chief cancels SL visit

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has cancelled his scheduled visit to Sri Lanka following the deadly bus attack in Karachi, according to international media reports.

SL woman pleads in UK not to send her back

A Cromer woman who claimed she was raped and then tortured with cigarettes by security forces in Sri Lanka has pleaded with the Home Office not to send her back, the Norfolk Eastern Daily Press reported.

Gunmen kill 41 in Karachi bus attack

Gunmen on motorcycles killed 41 people in an attack on a bus in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi on Wednesday, police said, in what appeared to be the latest violence directed against religious minorities this year.

Lalith Weeratunga at Police SIU

Former president's secretary Lalith Weeratunga is being questioned by the Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU) over an alleged financial fraud amounting to Rs. 169 million at the Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA), the Police said.

SC Judge refuses to hear Gota’s petition

Supreme Court Judge Buwaneka Aluwihare who was one of the three judges appointed to hear the Fundamental Rights application filed by former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, withdrew from the case today citing personal reasons.

SC rejects FR against CB Bond sale

The Supreme Court today refused to grant leave with the Fundamental Rights petition filed challenging the controversial sale of Central Bank Bonds.

Pakistan Army Chief due today

Pakistani Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, NI (M), is to arrive in Sri Lanka this evening on the invitation of Sri Lankan Army Commander Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, the Army said.

SL frees 37 Indian fishermen

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today ordered the release of 37 Indian fishermen lodged in various prisons of the island nation after a meeting with a delegation of five Indian fishermen.

Democracy at SLC stayed till next year

Sports Minister Navin Dissanayake will run Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with the present interim committee till next year, but SLC stakeholders have not shown their pleasure at the decision, two media releases issued yesterday by the Ministry and Stakeholders after a discussion between the parties show.

Gotabaya’s FR petition to be taken up today

The fundamental rights application filed by former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa requesting that an interim injunction be issued against any move to arrest him by the FCID, will be taken up for hearing before the Supreme Court today.

TNA members to commemorate May 13-19 as Tamil Genocide Week

A few Tamil National Alliance (TNA) members of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) yesterday announced that the period May 13 to 19 would be marked as Tamil Genocide Week and began commemorating the dead with a function in Mullavaikkal in Mullaitivu District where the final battle was fought in 2009, a party member said.

Local bodies whose terms lapse will be placed under special commissioners -- MS

President Maithripala Sirisena said today that the 334 local bodies whose terms would lapse on Friday would be placed under special commissioners.

Sannasgala appointed as Ratmalana UNP organiser

Upul Shantha Sannasgala has been appointed as the UNP organiser for Ratmalana electorate.

SL grateful to Pakistan for help in fighting terrorism

President Maithripala Sirisena paid a glowing tribute to Pakistan yesterday and said that not only the government of Sri Lanka but the entire country was grateful to Pakistan for the enormous assistance it had given this country to defeat the terrorists.

Video: Maithri-Ranil in a catch 22 situation - SF

Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka said that both, President Maithripala Sirisena and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe are facing a ‘catch 22’ situation, as they both have to look after the interest of corrupt politicians who are high ranking officials of their respective parties.

Video: Build flats for Muslims in Wilpattu: BBS

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) today urged the government to build flats for the Muslims who live in the vicinity of Wilpattu so that our jungles would be spared from deforestation.

Video: FCID still to summon Mahendran - Bandula

Some UPFA MPs today charged that the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) was politically motivated and that was why Central Bank (CB) Governor Arjuna Mahendran had still not been summoned to the FCID over the controversial sale of CB Bonds.

Deputy Minister passes away

Deputy Minister of Law and Order and Christian Affairs Neranjan Wickremesinghe passed away a short while ago, following a brief illness.