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.

Paranagama Commission rejects Darusman Commission's findings

Rejecting that findings of the Darusman report that 40,000 civilians were killed during the final stages of the war and numerous other findings, the Commission of Inquiry into Abductions and Disappearances (Maxwell Paranagama Commission) had stated that it was the LTTE that had killed a majority of the civilians even up to the last hours of the conflict.

PMK wants TN varsities to conduct distance education in SL

PMK leader S. Ramadoss on Tuesday appealed to the University Grants Commission (UGC) to allow universities in Tamil Nadu to conduct correspondence courses in Sri Lanka for the benefit of Tamil students in Sri Lanka.

Japanese judge to assist SL probe: PM

In the wake of a request made by the Japanese Prime Minister, Sri Lanka is likely to obtain the services of a Japanese judge for the investigation into alleged human rights violations during the armed conflict.

Ex-lover surrenders with abducted teacher

The man who claimed to be the ex-lover of the 28-year-old abducted female schoolteacher surrendered to the Urubokka Police along with the said teacher thiis afternoon.

Video: What is the use of parliament if UNHRC dictates terms? : GL

Former External Affairs Minister, Prof. G.L. Peiris had written to the religious leaders including the Mahanayaka Theras informing them on the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka and requesting them to intervene to reject the resolution from being implemented.

SL experts confirm bomb blast on Maldivian president’s speedboat

The explosion on the Maldivian president’s speedboat on September 28 was caused by a bomb targeting President Abdulla Yameen, an inquiry commission revealed today.

Justice Titus Bodhipala appointed BC Chairman

President Maithripala Sirisena appointed three fresh Commissioners to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, today, ending several months of inability to function fully.

Resolution to increase T Bill threshold passed

A resolution presented by the government to increase the current Treasury Bill limit by Rs. 400 billion, a resolution which was defeated on April 7, was passed in parliament today.

Kandy Vishnu Devalaya Basnayake Nilame passes away

The Basnayake Nilame of Kandy Sri Maha Vishnu Devalaya and Aluthnuwara Dedi Munda Devalaya, Mohan Panabokke passed away this afternoon at the Kandy General Hospital.

Paranagama and Udalagama reports tabled in parliament

The government today tabled in parliament the recently released report of the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva recently.

Video: Lawyers to file FR case against CID

Attorney-at-law Udul Premaratne today appeared at the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC), to forward a petition on behalf of Dunesh Priyashantha, alias ‘Kondaya’ against alleged abuse and the recording of a false statement by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID).