Debate to continue after initial hiccup

Parliament resumed the debate on the impeachment motion after the speaker suspended sittings for 10 minutes due to representations made by the Opposition leader who said that the PSC report had not been tabled to parliament and therefore there was no premise to continue the debate

Heavy traffic in Rajagiriya, Battaramulla

Heavy traffic is reported from Rajagiriya-Battaramulla road and nearby roads due to a protest at parliament roundabout supporting the impeachment of the Chief Justice (CJ)

Impeachment protestors disperse

Lawyers, members of opposition political parties, trade union activists and civil rights groups,who were stopped by police and STF personnel from marching towards parliament, decided to disperse after holding a rally near Lake House

Protesters stopped from going towards Temple Trees

Thousand-strong STF and police personnel blocked the protest march over the impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake from proceeding towards the President’s House

Tense situation in Hulfsdorp

A tense situation prevailed at Hulftsdorp today, as a group of people obstructed the road when the protect of the pro-CJ lawyers Collective was marching towards the parliament ???

Ukrainian dies from accident

A 24 year-old Ukrainian was killed at Ambalangoda on the Galle road this morning when the motorbike he was travelling collided with a car, police said

US has serious concerns over Lankan CJ impeachment

The US on Thursday expressed serious concern over the impeachment proceedings against Sri Lanka's first woman Chief Justice, saying the issue raised serious questions about the process and government pressure on the judiciary

Prison break

Ten inmates of the Avissawella Remand Prison escaped early this morning, police said.  It is reported that the inmates had allegedly assaulted three jailors and escaped

Govt. expresses shock and grief over beheading

The government, yesterday in Parliament, expressed its shock and grief, over the beheading of Rizana Nafeek. Both Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem and Foreign Employment Promotion Minister Dilan Perera made separate statements on behalf of the ruling party

No response for visit from Navi

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navaneethan Pillay has yet to respond to the invitation by the Sri Lankan government to visit Sri Lanka and asses the post-conflict situation, despite the two conditions she set out as a preamble for her visit have already been fulfilled

SL Parliament should reject motion to impeach CJ: ICJ

Members of Sri Lanka’s Parliament should reject the impeachment motion to remove Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, that will be put before Parliament on 10-11 January 2013, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) said today

Seized African tusks to be released to temples

The 359 African tusks seized by Customs Central Intelligence Unit on May 22 last year will be released to Buddhist temples on a written request by the presidential secretariat, the Customs said

Government deplores the execution

The Sri Lankan government and President Mahinda Rajapaksa today deplored the execution of Miss Rizana Nafeek despite all efforts at the highest level of the government and the outcry of the people locally and internationally over the death sentence of a juvenile housemaid.

TNA to participate in debate

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which earlier said they would not participate in the debate on the impeachment, confirmed a short while ago that they would participate and vote against it.

Kelaniya killing could be personal dispute, says police

Police said that a personal dispute between Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha member Hasitha Madawala and the five suspects led to his killing as they found out that the suspects are close relatives of a woman who lodged a police complaint few months ago against the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman and Madawala

Video: CJ lawyers go public with defence

Lawyers of Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, Attorney-at-Law Saliya Peiris and Sugath Caldera,  went public with a detailed defense to the allegations made against her stating that every “dollar and cent” earned by the Chief Justice had been accounted for, as required by the law ???

Rizana Nafeek executed

Rizana Nafeek the Sri Lankan housemaid who was sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia was executed today, the External Affairs Ministry said

MPs voting for impeachment are violating constitution

“If any MP votes for the Impeachment motion, they would be committing a violation on the oath they have taken as MPs to safeguard the country’s constitution”, United National Party Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella said

Weapons found at Kelaniya SLFP branch office premises

Two swords and one hand grenade were found in a house at the SLFP branch office premises in Nungamugoda, Kelaniya today, police said. A woman was arrested on suspicion

CPA confiscates 800,000 kg of sand adulterated sugar

The Consumer Protection Authority said that its officials detected 800,000 Kg of Sugar mixed with sand at a warehouse in Sedawaththa

JSA to support Bar

The Judicial Services Association comprising Magistrates and District Judges across the island had also decided to support any decision taken by the BASL to safeguard the independence of the Judiciary.

Lawyers to boycott courts

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka severely condemned the Parliament’s move to take up two-day debate on the impeachment against the Chief Justice Dr. Shirani A. Bandaranayake and decided to boycott courts on January 10 and 11.

BASL: Alagaratnam withdraws

Geoffrey Alagarathnam PC who previously was to contest  for the presidency of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka after the incumbet president Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe decided not to seek a second term, said that he would not seek candidacy for the Presidency

Kerala police detains 51 SL refugees bound for Australia

Kerala police have arrested 51 Sri Lankan refugees belonging to different refugee camps in Tamil Nadu, when they allegedly tried to escape to Australia through illegal ferry. All the arrested refugees were handed over to the ‘Q’ Branch police at Theni district on Tuesday.

SC has no right to go against the legislature-MR

No one can betray the sovereignty of the people, and the Supreme Court has no right to go against the legislature, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.

Divineguma bill passed

The controversial Divineguma Bill was passed with amendments in Parliament this evening with a majority of 107 votes. 160 voted in favour of the Bill while 53 voted against it. The UNP, JVP and TNA voted against the bill, while eleven MPs abstained from voting

Appeal Court judges get threatening calls

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court ordered the Borella and Bambalapitiya Police to get relevant details from phone companies after Court of Appeal Judges S. Sriskandarajah, and Justice Anil Goonarathne had received threatening phone calls, the day before the CA delivered its ruling on PSC

UNP to vote against impeachment

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) today decided to participate in the two day debate on the impeachment motion and vote against it at the end, informed sources said

SL doctor on trial for touching nurse's buttock

A doctor from Sri Lanka is on trial for molesting a former scrub nurse in an operating theatre at Changi General Hospital in Singapore

Ranil asks Speaker to intervene soon

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has requested Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to intervene immediately and prevent a constitutional crisis