Church cannot withdraw invitation to Pope: Cardinal Ranjith

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is not in a position to ask Pope Francis to cancel his visit to Sri Lanka next month, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said yesterday.

Canvassing at state institutions forbidden -- EC

It is forbidden, at any of the offices owned by the state or the provincial councils, government schools, local authorities or any institution owned by any state corporation or board, to  canvass for presidential candidates in any manner – such as by the distribution of handbills or leaflets or conducting meetings, Elections Chief Mahinda Deshapriya announced yesterday.

Petrol, diesel levies anulled after Jan. 8-Champika

The petrol and diesel levies will be annulled after the January 8, 2015 under the government of Maithripala Sirisena, said Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) General Secretary and former minister Champika Ranawaka.

Muthuhettigama asks Rajitha to show the video

Deputy Minister Nishantha Muthuhettigama today denied allegations that he was behind Wednesday morning’s attack on the stage set up for common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena’s rally at Wanduramba, Galle and challenged Dr. Rajitha Senaratne to show the video of the attack if he had one.

BASL asked to locate illegal cutouts

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) was today directed by the Court of Appeal to prepare a list containing the locations of unauthorized hoardings and cutouts and hand it over to the respondents by 1.30 pm today (19).

Rajitha acusses Muthu of arson attack

Common opposition stalwart and MP Rajitha Senaratne today levelled the accusing finger at Galle District UPFA MP Nishantha Muthuhettigama for Wednesday’s arson attack on the stage that had been erected at Wanduramba for the public rally of Common Opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

Drug addict arrested for breaking into Aravinda’s home

A man, having Rs.1 million in his possession, was arrested in connection with the robbery of former cricketer Aravinda de Silva’s home in Kollupitiya.

Defence Ministry influences LG members: Champika

Local politicians of the Jathika Hela Urumaya had been influenced by Defence Ministry and that they had been unable to attend Pradeshiya Sabha and Urban Councils or carry out their election campaign, General Secretary of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Parliamentarian Champika Ranawaka charged today.

Video: ‘Maithri will be sworn-in immediately’

Common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena will be sworn in immediately if he is elected the President of this country, the common opposition said today.

Can't allow Arab Spring in SL: MR in Mullaithivu

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today said that he cannot allow Sri Lanka to face the same fate suffered by the countries like Iraq, Libya or Egypt.

Video: MR should vacate immediately: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today said if the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated at the election in January, he would have to vacate the office right after the results were announced.

Hamas should be removed from terror list: EU court

The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas should be removed from the European Union's terrorist list, an EU court ruled on Wednesday, saying the decision to include it was based on media reports not considered analysis.

Nittambuwa claymores to be defused today

The two locally made claymore mines discovered yesterday at a cemetery in Bamunuwa, Nittambuwa would be defused by the Special Task Force today on a court order, Police said.

Madras high court suggests TN govt. free Lankan doctor

The Madras high court has asked the Tamil Nadu government to consider releasing a Sri Lankan Tamil doctor, now lodged in a special camp for refugees at Poonamallee, so that he could return to his country with his family and reclaim the property they had left behind during the civil war.

Two Pakistani Nationals sentenced to death

Two Pakistani men, who pleaded guilty to charges of possessing and peddling 1560 grammes of heroin in Bambalapitiya in 2012, were today sentenced to death by Colombo High Court Judge Irangani Perera.

Video: Gota blasts those ashamed of being Sinhalese

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa today said it was extremely unfortunate to note that there were some influential figures within Sri Lanka who have said openly that the country should submit itself to an international investigation.

Video: 10 PS members arrested for election law violations

The Police Department today said that 30 individuals including four Pradeshiya Saba (PS) Chairmen were arrested for violating election law violations.

Video: JHU says G’pila harassing them

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) today alleged that Western provincial councilor Udaya Gammanpila and some ministers were forcing the party’s local government members to defect from the JHU and join hands with the president.

Maithri will make CBK the PM: Tissa

The newly appointed Health Minister Tissa Attanayake said that common opposition’s presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena had a secret agenda to appoint former President Chandrika Kumaratunga as the Prime Minister in a government formed by Mr. Sirisena.

EC vows to resign

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said today he and his officials would resign from their posts sans pension if it was proven that any malpractice or rigging had taken place at this presidential election.

17 JHU PS members support MR

Western Provincial Councilor Udaya Gammanpila who crossed over to the government recently said seventeen out of the 29 Jathika Hela Urumaya Pradeshiya Sabha monks today joined the government to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa and vowed to form their own party.

Video: Champika in a mega deal: Wimal

The National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader and Minister Wimal Weerawansa today accused the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) General Secretary and former Minister Champika Ranawaka of publishing fake statistics to change peoples’ opinion on the economy.

Segments of E01 temporally closed

The Dodangoda-Welipenna segment of the Southern Expressway (E01) would be closed from 11 p.m. to 01 a.m for restoration of digital sign boards, Southern Expressway Director of Operations T.K. Ranathunga said.

Probe sabotage of Maithri’s rally: MR to police

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today instructed the Police Chief N.K Illangkoon to carry out an investigation into the sabotage of opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena’s public rally at Wanduramba in Galle this morning.

Video: I am still the CJ; Shirani Bandaranayake

Former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake said today she would not enter politics because she still considered herself as Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice.

Video: Corrupt investors planning jump to Kitts and Nevis: UNP

United National Party (UNP) today charged that corrupt investors backed by the present United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Government have already obtained permanent residency in Saint Kitts and Nevis islands in the Caribbean Sea to avoid being penalized under a National Unity Government.

SL tops Google’s ‘sex’ search list again

Sri Lanka topped the list of having searched for the word ‘sex’ in 2014, while India followed at the second spot, Google said.

Maithri’s rally sabotaged

The stage and decorations for a rally for the Common Opposition Candidate Maithripala Sirisena at Wanduramba in Galle was sabotaged this morning by an unidentified gang.

Minister and MP exchange blows

A heated argument between a minister and an opposition parliamentarian on Monday night had ended in an exchange of blows, political sources said.

Peshawar school attack leaves 141 dead

Militants from the Pakistani Taliban have attacked a school in Peshawar, killing 141 people, 132 of them children, the military say.