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.

Grade 5 scholarship exam

President visits Sampur

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.

No UPFA approval for MOU: Dinesh

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) yesterday disassociated itself from the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between its main constituent Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP), a party leader said yesterday.

UNP-SLFP consensus on Uva PC

The two main parties are hoping to arrive at a consensus with regard to the appointment of the Uva Provincial Council's Chief Minister and the administration of the UPC, a politician said yesterday.

Sobitha Thera slams appointment of defeated candidates to national list

While stating that it was wrong to appoint defeated candidates to the national list, leader of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera said yesterday the only solution to prevent such moves was to enact a new constitution.

Despite defeat, I will serve the people: Upeksha

Popular actress Upeksha Swarnamali aka 'Paba' who lost her bid for election on the UPFA ticket in the Gampaha district said today she would continue serving the people.

UPFA finalises National list

The UPFA today finalised the party’s National List and sent it to the Elections Commissioner. S.B. Dissanayake, Thilanga Sumathipala, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardane and Vijith Vijayamuni Zoysa had made it to parliament through the list.

New US Ambassador to SL presents credentials

New U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Atul Keshap presented his credentials to President Maithripala Sirisena in a ceremony at the Presidential Secretariat today.  

Welgama, Chandrasena, Pavithra out of UPFA EC

Former Ministers Kumara Welgama, Pavithra Wanniarachchi and S.M. Chandrasena have been removed from the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Executive Council (EC).