Susil, Anura expelled from SLFP

Susil Premajayantha and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, who were removed from their respective general secretary posts of the SLFP and UPFA, had also been expelled from the membership of the SLFP.

EU monitors launch poll observations

Foreigner tries to smuggle 5 Kg of cocaine

A 39-year-old European woman was arrested by Customs officials today at the Bandaranaike International Airport carrying 5 kg of cocaine worth Rs.85 million concealed in story books and fax rolls.

I never knew Mr. Thajudeen: Yasara

A name that has come up with the death of Rugby player Wasim Thajudeen was of Yasara Abeynayake.  In her comments to the Daily Mirror, Yasara said, “I never knew Mr. Thajudeen nor have I ever even spoken to him.

Court stays Anura,Susil functioning as general secretaries

Former UPFA MPs Duminda Dissanayake and Dr. Vishwa Warnapala today obtained an enjoining order preventing SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha from functioning as the general secretaries of the SLFP and the UPFA and that Mr.Dissanayake and Dr. Warnapala be empowered to function as the general secretaries of the SLFP and the UPFA respectively.

Video: Ranil as PM without mandate, then why not MR - Wimal

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal weerawansa said if the premiership could have been given to Ranil Wickremesinghe without any mandate, President Maithripala Sirisena would certainly have to give it to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa who would win the election with a majority seats and have majority support in parliament.  

Hasitha Madawala’s murder: Main accused sentenced to death

The main accused in the murder of Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha Member Hasitha Kelum Madawala was today sentenced to death by the Gamapaha High Court.

Suspected LTTE senior member detained, deported: IGP

On Aug 7 the Police’s Counter Terrorism Special Branch launched an operation in the vicinity of Kuala Lumpur which led to the arrest of a male Sri Lankan citizen.

Don’t repeat President’s letter to MR: EC

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya today instructed media institutions not to keep repeating President Maithripala Sirisena’s letter sent to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as it could affect his candidature.

MR asks Maithri to respect people’s verdict

In a response to President Maithripala Sirisena’s letter, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said today that he hopes President Sirisena would respect the verdict of the people at the parliamentary elections in the same manner he respected the verdict on January 09 and left the Temple Trees by early morning.

Senior UPFA members want MR as PM- Susil

UPFA general secretary Susil Premajayantha said yesterday that he and other senior party members had signed an agreement that, if the UPFA won the elections of August 17th, they would support the appointment of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister.

Court rejects Premalal's request to vote

The request of former Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara , who is now in remand custody, to cast his vote at Monday's general election was rejected by Pelmadulla Magistrate Dinesh Lakmal Perera today.

Maithri sends hard-hitting letter to MR

In a hard-hitting letter to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, President Maithripala Sirisena as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) today asked Mr. Rajapaksa not to raise communalism and said that he will not be appointed Prime Minister if the party gets more than 113 parliamentary seats as there are more senior SLFPer who could be appointed as the Premier.

No role for Army in polls duties

Military Spokesman Jayanath Jayaweera today said the army would play no role in election duties in view of Monday's parliamentary election.

Lankan tourist found dead in temple pond in India

A 78-year-old Sri Lankan tourist, who was missing two days ago, was found dead in a pond at Korean temple in Bahraich district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, police said today.

Ranil briefs media

Video: Power devolution through ‘Grama Rajya’ system: Ranil

A United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG) government would devolve power up to the village level according to a ‘Grama Rajya’ system but will not adopt federalism, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

Packer steps down as Crown chairman

Australian billionaire James Packer has stepped down as chairman of Crown Resorts with the gambling tycoon taking on a new executive director role with oversight of the company's $4 billion Las Vegas casino.

Vote for any animal but not betel leaf: CBK

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike said the people could vote for any animal and not for the betel leaf symbol or the hand symbol at the forthcoming general elections if they wanted to save the country from corrupt individuals.

Thajudeen case delayed by govt. institutions-Sister

Aisha Thajudeen, the sister of the popular ruggerite, Wasim Thajudeen, who died under mysterious circumstances, said that the case had dragged on due to delays on the part of government institutions.

Soldier gets life sentence for heroin possession

A former army major who was found guilty of possession of six kilograms of heroin was sentenced to life imprisonment by Colombo High Court Judge Lalith Jayasuriya.

CB governor, son-in-law noticed

Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran and his son-in-law, Arjun Aloysius, have been noticed to appear in court on October 30 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Chandima Liyanage over the Central Bank bond issue.

Video: All use State resources PAFFREL

The ruling party and the Opposition have both used State resources and State powers to get an advantageous situation during the forthcoming elections, a leading election monitoring body, People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) said today.

Will continue struggle towards just society: Sobitha Thera

Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, the Head of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) today reiterated that they would not remain silent once the election was over, and would continue to force the government until it implements its political reforms and national policies.

French national falls to his death in Kandy

A 28-year-old French national staying in the circuit bungalow at Ampitiya was reported to have been killed last night after he fell off the third floor of the Bungalow.

Paddy Marketing Board considers taking MRIA stores

The Paddy Marketing Board was looking at the possibility of using stores at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) to store the paddy harvest of the Hambantota District in the Maha season, a top official told the Daily Mirror today.

Police looking for ‘Sudu’

Police are seeking people’s assistance to locate the suspect wanted in connection with the Bloemendhal shooting which killed two people and injured eleven others, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said.

Susil: Will sack top management of SOEs

A UPFA government formed after August 17 would replace the entire top management of State bodies with highly qualified new officials and immediately open inquiries on 70,000 files claimed to have received by the government, since January on corruptions and misdeeds at State commercial ventures, the UPFA said today.

Video: EC can save us from mudslinging, says JVP

Intervention of Elections Commissioner could stop mud-slinging targeting the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the party said today.

Chandimal jumps over the ball