​SL seeks to expand ties with int’l community

Sri Lanka now seeks to expand cooperation with the international community including through new partnerships with donor agencies, such as U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to provide a tangible peace dividend to its people, the Sri Lankan government said.

​RBI signs currency swap agreement with SL Central Bank

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday signed a Special Currency Swap Agreement with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Under the arrangement, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka can draw up to $1.1 billion for a maximum period of six months.

'Art of Living' at BMICH

COPE committee members to go to court

Former UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardane said today COPE committee members had decided to explain their position to the court regarding the enjoining order which prevented the publication or circulation of the COPE subcommittee draft report on the sale of Central Bank bonds.

Indian police to block Indo-Lanka drug trafficking

The Indian Police have constituted a special squad called the D-Team, to mount surveillance on drug traffickers and contain the smuggling activities after witnessing a spurt in smuggling of drugs between Sri Lanka and India via sea route.

Swedish national arrested in Wennappuwa

A Swedish national was arrested yesterday at Dummaladeniya in Wennappuwa for staying in the country without having valid visa, the Police said.

Legal action against Keheliya, Kiriella, Kongahage

Police at the Kandy Police Headquarters was considering taking legal action against Keheliya Rambukwella (UPFA) Lakshman Kiriella (UNP) and Shathini Kongahage(UNP) for violating elections regulations and engaging in illegal propaganda activities after the handing over of nominations on Monday (13).

UNFCG won’t let anyone mislead President: Ranil

The United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG) will not allow anyone to push President Maithripala Sirisena out of his good governance policies, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

​MR promises new-look Lanka under new UPFA govt.

Former President and UPFA Kurunegala district candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa today said he came before the people after the January 8 electoral defeat as a new leader and promised to turn Sri Lanka into a new country after a UPFA government is formed after the August 17 general election.

Permission to transfer weapons to another vessel

A request made by the Ceylon Shipping Company to transfer the stock of weapons from the controversial floating armoury belonging to the Avant Garde company into another ship was granted today by Galle Chief Magistrate Nilupuli Lankatilleka.

UNP defends restraining order on COPE report

The United National Party (UNP) today defended the court order restraining the publication of the report by the parliamentary Committee On Public Enterprises (COPE) on the sale of Central Bank bonds saying the report was not an official document.

New moon sighted, Ramazan tomorrow

Muslims in Sri Lanka will celebrate Ramazan Festival tomorrow (18) as the new moon of Shawwal has been sighted, Colombo Grand Mosque announced.

Is everything okay?

Rear Admiral Ranasinghe is Navy Chief of Staff

President Maithripala Sirisena today appointed Rear Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe as the Navy’s new Chief of Staff.

Politicians should retire when their time is up: Mahanayaka Thera

Malwatta Chapter Mahanayaka, Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera said politicians should think of retiring at the correct time as politics is not a profession one does for a lifetime.

Video: Obtaining enjoining order blow to freedom of information

Former UPFA MP Rajiva Wijesinha said today that the obtaining of an enjoining order, preventing the publication or circulation of the COPE sub committee draft report on the sale of Central Bank bonds, was a huge blow to the freedom of information.

​FR petition seeks withdrawal of MR’s security

A fundamental rights petition was today filed in the Supreme Court seeking to remove all police security and to suspend all privileges including houses, offices and vehicles afforded to ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa by the State following his nomination as a candidate at August 17 general elections.

Racial political parties should be banned-Sumangala Thera

Political parties representing communities and religions should be banned in Sri Lanka to ensure national reconciliation in the country, Chief Incumbent of the Rangiri-Dambulu temple Ven. Inamaluwe Sumangala Thera said.

Excise raids well-known restaurant in Dehiwala

The Excise Department Bureau of Special Operations raided a popular beach restaurant in Dehiwala on Wednesday night for selling alcoholic beverages without a licence.

Stop telecasting MS's speech- Election Chief

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya has given instructions to all electronic media institutions to refrain from repeat telecasting the special message of President Maithripala Sirisena.

Many tried to impede my progress: Malsha

"The way I do politics has become an issue for many, and there were many who attempted to keep me from being involved in active politics," said Malsha Kumarathunga, who was contesting in the Colombo District under the UPFA said.

Ranil to SLFPers: Decide whether to support MS

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members should decide whether they were going to support President Maithripala Sirisena, who had made his stance clear, to continue with his good governance policies, said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Video: Robbery at Wellawatte, Police seek assistance

Police are seeking public assistance to apprehend a suspect wanted for a robbery at a shop in Wellawatte on July 5.

EC says can't reduce MR's security

Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya today ruled out the legal possibility for him to reduce the security and other privileges assigned to Mahinda Rajapaksa as the former President despite him being a candidate at the upcoming polls contesting from the Kurunegala district under the UPFA.

Video: Susil comments on enjoining order

UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha said today the enjoining order issued by the District Court against the UPFA Central Committee had been obtained without knowing the facts as the petitioner was immature.

Video: MR should be defeated :JVP

The government of the SLFP and UNP headed by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had failed to take effective steps to put an end to ‘Rajapaksa political culture’, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today.  

Video: Excise revenue had increased - Ravi K

The Excise Department had collected a monthly revenue of Rs. 9,900 million as fines in April this year while it had only collected Rs. 3,300 million as fines in November last year under the rule of the previous government, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said today.

Video: Cabinet approval granted for export of Wallapatta

The cabinet approval was granted to the proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena as the Mahaweli Development and Environment Minister to promote the exportation of Gyrinopswalla (Wallapatta) plant and cultivate the plant based on its commercial value, Cabinet spokesman and Minister Rajitha Senaratne said today.

One killed in Wadduwa bowser mishap

Video: Sudarshani, Lasantha, Erick resign

SLFP Deputy Ministers Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Erick Weerawardane today resigned from their Ministerial portfolios.