Norochcholai at a standstill

All three units of the Norochcholai coal Power Plant are still not functioning after it came to a standstill yesterday, the Ministry of Power and Energy said.

Tax on vehicles will not be changed- LVIA

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake assured that taxes imposed on vehicles by the 2016 budget will not be revised, Lanka Vehicle Importers' Association (LVIA) said today.

Skeletal remains from Mannar mass grave to be sent abroad

Skeletal remains found at an alleged mass grave at Thiruketheeswaran in Mannar will be sent overseas for DNA tests, The PTI reported quoting a lawyer.

President leaves for Italy

President Maithripala Sirisena left for Italy this morning for a two-day official visit.

Islandwide strikes as planned

The islandwide trade union strikes, which was scheduled to be hold on Tuesday (Dec.15) would be carried out as planned, the State, Private and Semi Government Trade Unions Collective has said.

GMOA to meet President

The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) said today they would have a discussion with President Maithripala Sirisena on December 18 with regard to the issues concerning the 2016 budget proposals.

SI arrested accepting Rs. 20, 000 bribe

A Police Sub Inspector (SI) attached to the Haputale Police was nabbed by bribery sleuths this morning, while accepting a bribe of Rs. 20, 000 for preparing a Police report on a three-wheeler destroyed in a fire.

50 trade unions to meet PM today

Representatives of 50 trade unions would meet Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe this evening to have discussions on some issue concerning the 2016 budget proposals, Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) president Gemunu Wijeratne said.

Screening of ‘No Fire Zone’: Malaysia urged to drop case against rights activist

Malaysian authorities should immediately drop charges under the Film Censorship Act against rights activist Lena Hendry who was charged under section 6 of the Film Censorship Act for organizing a private screening of the award-winning documentary, “No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka”, Human Rights Watch and 11 Malaysian and international human rights organizations said today in letters to Malaysia’s prime minister and

Embarkation tax increased by 5 USD from Jan. 1

The embarkation taxi levied on travellers departing Sri Lanka will be increased from 25 US Dollars to 30 US Dollars from January 1 next year in keeping with a Budget proposal, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) yesterday said.

Two killed in car-train collision

Two people were killed when a car collided with Fort bound train from Puttalam at Kapuwatte railway crossing in Ragama this morning, police said.

Constitutional Court needed to uphold credibility of judicial system: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today a separate Constitutional Court should be established to uphold the confidence of the people in the judicial system as politicization of the judiciary in the last decade had led to a loss of public confidence in the judicial system.

Opposition MPs pressured to vote for Budget: Dullas

UPFA MP Dullas Alahapperuma today charged that there was a move by the government to forcibly obtain the consent of 23 UPFA MPs of the joint Opposition for the 2016 Budget.

Kahawatte murder: 35-year-old man arrested

A 35-year-old man was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today on charges of killing a 48-year-old woman of Opathawatta in Kahawatta, Police said.

Another top US envoy to visit SL next week

US State Department Counselor Ambassador Thomas Shannon is expected to visit Sri Lanka between December 14 and 16, the US Embassy in Colombo said and added that he would also be visiting Bangladesh from December 13 to 14.

Govt. has sold SLIIT : Johnston

Former minister Johnston Fernando today alleged that the current government had sold the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) which was worth about Rs. 10 billion for a mere Rs.400 million without calling for tenders or without Cabinet approval.

Stay strong- Maithri to Kusal Janith

President Maithripala Sirisena had telephoned cricketer Kusal Janith Perera who is suspended by the International Cricket Council over dope charges, and had encouraged him to stay strong and face the future with courage.

Parliament sitting suspended for ten minutes

Parliamentary sessions were thrown into chaos and on the verge of fisticuffs with some opposition MPs attempting to assault government MP Mujibur Rahaman when he made a statement on the killing of rugby player Waseem Thajudeen.

SL in Group A for World T20 2016

Sri Lanka were drawn in Group A for the World T20 2016 alongside England, West Indies, South Africa and a fifth team which will be determined in the first round of the tournament., the ICC announced today.

Sri Lanka clears the decks for port city project

Sri Lankan government has cleared the decks for the controversial Colombo Port City project to resume, Finance Minister has told the South China Morning Post.

Kumar Gunaratnam further remanded

Frontline Socialist Party's polit-bureau member Kumar Gunaratnam was further remanded till December 18 by the Kegalle Magistrate’s Court today.

FCID quizzes Johnston, Cabraal

Former Minister Johnston Fernando and former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal were summoned to the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) this morning to record statements on two different cases.

LG Elections before Sinhala Tamil New Year: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today assured Parliament that elections for Local Government bodies would be held before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

MKDS gets three months leave

Parliament today approved three months leave for Lands Minister M.K.D.S. Gunawardane who is undergoing treatment in Singapore. Leave will come into effect from today.

Increased emission test fee on buses suspended

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has agreed to suspend the emission test fee which was increased from the budget on buses, Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) president Gemunu Wijeratne said.

Ex- Narahenpita OIC released on bail

Former Narahenpita OIC who was arrested in connection with a bribe of Rs.2.5 million said to have been accepted by the Crimes OIC was released on bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapititya today.

New fuel price mechanism in the offing

A retail price mechanism for fuel will be introduced during the first quarter of 2016, Petroleum Minister Chandima Weerakkody told Parliament yesterday.

Bill to make private sector pay hike compulsory

Legislation will be introduced soon to make the private sector salary increment compulsory, Labour Relations Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne told Parliament yesterday.

2 Lankans held with fake passport in Kolkata

Two Sri Lankans, and one Indian were arrested this morning at Netaji Subhas Chandra (NSC) Bose International airport, Kolkata in India for allegedly trying to leave the country with fake Indian passport.

Army is not there to provide protection to MPs: Ruwan

Stating that the government had taken a decision to stop providing army security to individuals, State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardane today said that the army was not there to protect Parliamentarians, but to protect the nation.