Amunugama appointed Minister for special projects

Dr. Sarath Amunugama was sworn in by President Maithripala Sirisena as the Cabinet Minister for Special Projects at the Presidential Secretariat this morning.

Wimal allowed to leave country

Leader of the House, Minister Lakshman Kirielle informed parliament a short while ago that MP Wimal Weerawansa who was detained at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by the CID has been allowed to leave the country after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe facilitated the legal clearance of Mr. Weerawansa’s passport.    

TMVP secretary arrested in connection with murder

Tamil Makkal Viduthalapulikal Kachchi (TMVP) General Secretary and former Eastern Provincial Councillor P. Prashanthan, was arrested this morning in connection with a double murder in 2008 in Kattankudy.

Wimal detained at BIA

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader MP Wimal Weerawansa has been detained at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by the CID over an issue with regard to his passport.

Two killed, thirty injured in bus accident

Two people were killed and thirty others injured when a CTB bus plying from Mulaitive to Colombo crashed onto a tipper truck at Sirambi Adi on the Anuradhapura- Puttalam Road early this morning, police said.

Top CEB officials get lavish Rs.10m foreign training tour

Controversy surrounds a lavish Rs.10.4 million foreign training tour, to be indulged in by 11 top level officials of the Ceylon Electricity Board, in Vienna, Austria in November this year, despite a recent government circular to minimise the use of state funds.

We will be forced to form a separate state- Mavai

TNA MP Mavai Senathirajah said today that his party would be compelled to form a separate Tamil State with the help of the international community if any party resolved to form a Sinhala dominated state

Wele Suda to be detained at Welikada Prison

Commissioner General of Prisons Rohana Pushpakumara said today that Gampola Vidanage Samantha Kumara alias Wele Suda who was sentenced to death by Colombo High Court Judge Preethi Padman Surasena on October 14 on charges of possessing of 7.05 grams of heroin will be detained at the Welikada Prison due to security reasons.

CID to probe Avant Garde on money laundering

Galle Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura allowed a CID request today to conduct further investigations into the floating armoury in the Avant Garde ship at the Galle Harbour under the Money Laundering Act.

No political prisoners in SL: Govt.

While reiterating that there are no political prisoners in Sri Lanka’s jails, the government today reassured that the issue of LTTE suspects incarcerated for alleged acts of terrorism would be addressed on a priority basis and those who have evidence of direct involvement of terrorist acts against them would be prosecuted as early as possible.

Video: Paranagama report more critical than UNHRC report: Rajitha

Cabinet spokesman and Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne today said the recommendations of the Paranagama Commission report was more critical on Sri Lanka than the UNHRC report and added if it was published before the UNHRC report, the situation would have been more precarious for the country.

Video: Kodikara released on bail

UPFA Western Provincial Councillor Upali Kodikara, who was arrested and remanded under charges of obstructing a police officer from performing duties, was released on bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate today.

Video: Parliament suspended for 10 minutes

Parliament sessions were suspended for a brief period due to a tense situation over a dispute that arose over a list of speakers of the debate on the UN Human Rights Commission report.

Video: Channa and Upuli summoned to PRECIFAC

Popular dancers Channa and Upuli Wijewardena, who own the Channa-Upuli Dancing Academy, were summoned to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC), this morning to record a statement relating to the probe carried out into the expenditure of the opening ceremony of the Hambantota Harbour.

Brothel raided in Maharagama

Four women including a manager were arrested during a raid by the police Investigation Unit Maharagama on an alleged brothel being run under the guise of an Ayurvedic Medical Centre in Piliyandala, Maharagama yesterday, police said.

TULF not invited to all party meeting, Anandasangaree dismayed

The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) leader V. Anandasangaree, in a letter addressed to President Maithripala Sirisena, has expressed his dismay over the exclusion of his party from an all party meeting.

Video: Name mispronounced: Tension in the House

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said today that a parliamentary session cost as much as Rs.4.6 million and therefore the MPs should take their work seriously in the wake of a tense situation over the mispronunciation of Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake's name by UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardane during a speech.

Video: Action soon on Avant Garde: RW

There was no move by the Attorney General or anyone else to sweep the Avant Garde case under the carpet, but facts were being looked at to file legal action against the company under the Money Laundering Act, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe informed Parliament today.

Somawansa ready to join even Wimal to defeat UN resolution

Former JVP leader and present leader of the Janatha Sewaka Party, Somawansa Amarasinghe today said he would join with any political party or any politician including Wimal Weerawansa if they have a definite agenda to defeat ‘national challenge’ of the resolution adopted by UNHRC.

No one to bail out Kondaya

The Gampaha Magistrate’s Court today ordered that Dunesh Priyashantha alias Kondaya remain in custody as no one had come forward to bail him out.

Japanese Judge Noguchi calls on MR

Japanese Judge Motoo Noguchi who called on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at his residence this morning has agreed that the best course of action was to have judicial mechanisms manned by Sri Lanka’s own nationals, a statement issued by the former president’s media office said.

Police legal division fails to represent IGP

The Police Legal Division’s Acting Director has been removed from his post with immediate effect while several officers are being investigated after the Legal Division failed to represent IGP N. K Illangakoon in the Prageeth Ekanligoda case earlier this month.

Video: Herath VC for 2nd test match

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath has been named as the Vice-Captain for the 2nd test match against West Indies.

Body of 9-year-old missing boy found

The body of a nine-year-old boy who went missing on Saturday in Buttala, was found on the banks of the Menik Ganaga in Demodaramulla, today, Police said.

Members appointed to Police and Public Service Commissions

Prof. Siri Hettige has been appointed the Chairman of the Police Commission, while Anton Jayanathan, M.P.H. Manatunga, Savithri Wijesekara and Y.L.M. Zavahir are the other members of the Commission.

Disappeared Frenchman surfaces in Wattala

A 50-year-old Frenchman, who had disappeared for two days, has been found in Wattala heavily intoxicated and unconscious.

Kondaya released on bail

Dunesh Priyashantha alias Kondaya was released on bail by the Gampaha Magistrate Tikirige Jayathilake in connection with two cases.

SL born Khamshajiny to become Dy. Mayor of Oslo

Sri Lankan born Khamshajiny Gunaratnam is to become the new deputy mayor of Oslo as Norway’s Labour Party and its Green and Socialist allies retake the city after eight years of Conservative rule.

Video: Wele Suda’s sister arrested with heroin

Gampola Vidanage Dilini Nilmini-the sister of drug dealer Wele Suda-and two other were arrested with 111.54 grams of heroin in their possession, yesterday, Police said.

SA High Commissioner warns against complacence

The South African High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Geoff Doidge warned that Sri Lanka should not get too comfortable with the 'honeymoon period' granted by the international community and the human rights fraternity with regard to the UNHRC resolution passed last month.