‘Internet freedom’ improved in SL: Survey

Internet freedom in Sri Lanka has significantly improved this year compared with previous years, Freedom on the Net 2015 - a report compiled by the Freedom House said.

Speaker signs six financial Bills

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has today signed six financial Bills including the Bill to implement the Mansion Tax, enacting them with effect from today.

Excise officer nabbed while soliciting bribe

The Northern Province Assistant Excise Commissioner was arrested by the Bribery Commission officials today while soliciting a bribe of Rs.120,000 to renew the license of a foreign liquor shop.

Lankan born elected mayor in Australian city

Samantha Ratnam, whose family fled Sri Lankan riots for a better life in Australia has been elected Moreland’s first Greens mayor, Herald Sun‎ reported on Friday.

Video: Three Customs officers re-remanded over Rs. 125 mn bribe

The three Customs officials who were arrested and remanded on charges of soliciting a bribe of Rs. 125 million were further remanded till November 13 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate today.   

Video: 39 HNDA students granted bail

The 39 students of the Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (HNDA) who were produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate today were released on personal bail of Rs.100,000 each.

Video: Demos in several areas over police attack

Demonstrations were staged by university students in several areas including Kandy, Wijerama in Nugegoda, Kelaniya, Moratuwa and opposite the Colombo University in protestover yesterday’s police attack on the students of the Higher Diploma in Accountancy.

Student with neck pierced by stick dies

The 16-year-old student who was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital with his neck pierced by a stick has died this morning, hospital sources said.

Video: Govt. action shows suppression of people’s rights: NFF

National Freedom Front (NFF) MP Jayantha Samaraweera said yesterday the police attack on students of the Higher Diploma in Accountancy showed the government’s suppressive reaction to the people’s demands.

Bandula, Gamini at PRECIFAC

Former Ministers Bandula Gunawardane and Gamini Lokuge arrived at the PRECIFAC (Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges) today to give statements over various allegations.

Attack on student protest: PM requests report

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had requested a report from Law and Order Minister Tilak Marapana on the police crackdown of the Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (HNDA) students protest in front of the University Grants Commission (UGC) yesterday.

MR at PRECIFAC for the 4th day

Former President and Kurunegala District UPFA MP Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the PRECIFAC (Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges) a short while ago to give a statement over the alleged non-payment of bills to state owned ITN.

Casinos are needed: Dy. Minister

Casinos are required to bring in additional high-spending tourists, Tourism and Christian Affairs Deputy Minister Arundika Fernando told Mirror Business.

Secretary justifies lavish tour for CEB officials

The lavish Rs.10.4 million training tour to Austria for eleven senior CEB officials that caused so much controversy for misusing state funds was justified by the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy, who explained that it was not public funds that were spent on the programme.

Video: Kondaya's lawyers violated professional ethics: Police

  Police Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara yesterday said that they would file a lawsuit in the Supreme Court against lawyers Udul Premaratne and two others for spreading malicious lies, violating the ethics guiding the law profession.

Space object should pose no danger to SL-Dr. Jayaratne

A space object, now better known as WTF1190F, would not cause any damage in Sri Lanka, Senior Lecturer in Physics, University of Colombo and Consultant on Astronomy and Space Science, Arthur C Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies, Dr. Chandana Jayaratne, said yesterday.

​SL govt living up to its commitment-US

While strongly criticizing the previous Rajapaksa government in Sri Lanka, US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said that the new Sri Lankan government “moved swiftly to show it was serious about living up to its commitments, from stopping harassment of human rights defenders and journalists, to exposing rampant corruption.”

Video: SL could impose fine on TN for damage to fisheries: Amaraweera

The government was contemplating the imposition of a fine on Tamil Nadu for the damages done to the underwater marine life and the pollution caused by its fishermen the Sri Lankan fisheries industry, Subject Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said today.

Video: We used minimal force on the students: Police

Police spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said today that the police had used minimal force to disperse the students who had protested aggressively on the main road.

President to guide SLFP at LG election

President Maithripala Sirisena said today that he would provide leadership and guidance to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to win the forthcoming Local Government election, the President’s Media Unit said.

Video: Karate Soysa killing: three more suspects arrested

Three more suspects including a naval rating attached to the Karainagar Naval base were arrested yesterday in connection with the killing of Anuradhapura nightclub owner Wasantha Soysa while 8 more suspects taken into custody on Wednesday evening were produced before Anuradhapura Additional Magistrate and Additional District Judge and remanded till Novemebr 9.

Lankan tourists injured in Thai bus accident

Twenty-two people, mainly Sri Lankan tourists, were injured when their tour bus overturned into a ditch in Ratchaburi’s Photharam district in Thailand Thursday afternoon, Bangkok Post said.

Video: Police fire tear gas at protesting students

Police fired tear gas and aimed water cannons at the students of the Higher Diploma in Accountancy while they were on a protest march to the University Grant Commission (UGC) in Colombo 7.

Heavy traffic at Town Hall

Heavy traffic was reported in the Town Hall area due to a protest march carrying out by the students of Higher Diploma in Accountancy, towards the University Grant Commission (UGC) in Colombo 7.

Nishantha informs PRECIFAC he is abroad

Former SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe has informed that he was abroad and unable to give a statement to the Presidential Commission PRECIFAC this Friday.

90% loan margin for vehicle leasing effective from today

The 90 per cent loan margin for the leasing of vehicles will be effective from today, the Finance Ministry announced.

Video: MR, Keheliya at PRECIFAC

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella arrived at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) with regard to the non-payment of bills owed to state owned ITN .

Video: Paba, Ruwanthi at PRECIFAC

Actresses Upeksha Swarnamali and Ruwanthi Mangala arrived at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC).

Space junk could land 100km south of H'tota

Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies yesterday said WT1190F, which is believed to be a part of a spacecraft was expected fall 100km south of Hambantota.

Dodgy SLC tender handling irks suppliers

Questions have been raised by different parties over the manner in which Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has handled a tender estimated to be worth Rs. 20 million to supply 200 cricket kit bags to schools and an e-mail exchange between one of the bidders and some SLC interim committee members shows how certain members of SLC interim committee had attempted to influence the tender process.