Video: DIG Dissanayake further remanded

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Vavuniya Police U.K. Dissanayake, who was arrested on charges of illegal treasure hunting, was further remanded till September 30 by Vavuniya Magistrate today.

Prisoner shot within Kaduwela Court premises

In a dramatic shooting incident at the Kaduwela Magistrate Court this morning, a remand prisoner, who was to be produced in court, sustained serious injuries to his chest, the Police said.

Gallows to be ready by November

Prisons Commissioner Rohana Pushpakumara said yesterday the Prisons Department was refurbishing the gallows at the Welikada Prison to be prepared in case the death penalty was reactivated on the orders of President Maithripala Sirisena.

MR before PRECIFAC tomorrow

Former President and MP Mahinda Rajapaksa has been 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) tomorrow.

Wijeweera's family allowed to stay six more months

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) founder Rohana Wijeweera's family has been allowed to stay at the naval quarters for another six months following President Maithripala Sirisena’s directions.

Premier details reconciliation measures

The government will soon set up several commissions including a South African-style parliamentary truth commission, a compassionate commission and a permanent office to look into disappearances, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe told parliament today.

Import levy on big onions increased by Rs. 20 per kilo

The import levy on big onions had been increased by Rs. 20 per kilo under the directives of Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, the ministry said today.

Reject the OHCHR report: MR to Govt.

Former President and MP Mahinda Rajapaksa today called upon the government to reject the report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Sri Lanka.

Video: Saltwater crocodile spotted in Kollupitiya

A 10ft long saltwater crocodile was spotted in the sea off Kollupitiya today. The Wildlife Department said there are only two saltwater crocodiles in Sri Lanka. It was reported that the crocodile had been in the sea off Dehiwala area 10 days ago.

No ‘cookie-cutter model’ for reconciliation: German FM

There is no ‘cookie-cutter model’ that can be applied to achieve reconciliation and the efforts should instead be focused on a holistic approach that incorporates several elements, German Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier said this morning.  

Three MPs take oaths today

UNP MP Palitha Thewarapperuma, who was not present in parliament at its inaugural session and two other MPs took their oaths as members of parliament today.

Sajin Vass re-remanded

Former UPFA MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena was further remanded till October 6 by Colombo Fort Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage today in connection with allegedly misusing 22 vehicles belonging to the Presidential Secretariat.

Gazette on subject purview of ministers released

The gazette notification on the subject purview of ministers, have been released, the Government Printer said.

Hundreds arrested in TN during SL protests

The Indian police today arrested hundreds of cadre of Tamilaga Valvurimai Katchi (TVK) when they attempted to picket the trains in Salem city, Tamil Nadu demanding international probe into the alleged massacre of innocent Tamils during the military offensive by the Sri Lankan Government in 2009, The Hindu reported.

Four go missing in Rangala forest

Four persons, who went to see the Gonawala Waterfall in the Rangala Forest of the Knuckles mountain range, have not returned home, the Ragala Police said.

Ms. Wijeweera hits out at JVP attitude towards them

The late JVP leader Rohana Wijeweera's widow Chitrangani today said she wondered how the JVP was now saying that the party would take care of her family, since the party had failed to look into the well-being of her family for the past 26 years.

Video: Hirunika's dilemma: How to address MR?

UNP Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra today said she was uncertain as how to address former President Mahinda Rajapaksa since he was also now an ordinary parliamentarian.

Video: JVP allocated Rs.10mn for Wijeweera family: Somawansa

Former JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe today said the party Central Committee had decided four years ago to allocate Rs. 10 million to provide a house for the family of its founder Rohana Wijeweera if they were evicted from the Naval quarters in Welisara.

No increase in import tax on paper: Ravi

Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake today denounced the claim made by a consumer rights group that there is a move to increase the import taxes on paper and the taxes charged from the advertisements in electronic media.

Wele Suda case: CID says 85 phone calls to prison officials

The CID has informed Court that investigation had been carried out on 184 telephone conversations made by drug kingpin Wele Suda and it had been revealed that 85 of them had been made by prison officers.

DNA report soon on late Thajudeen's body parts

Genetech Company's Senior Scientist Ruwan J. Illeperuma informed Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Pieris today that his company was conducting DNA tests on the body parts of rugby player Mohamed Waseem Thajudeen who died under suspicious circumstances.

Four bailed over stealing a duck

Four suspects were granted bail after being produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya on charges of stealing a duck kept for public viewing at the Vihara Maha Devi Park in Town Hall, Colombo.

Bridge will make SL another Indian State: Gammanpila

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) General Secretary and MP Udaya Gammanpila today criticised the move by India to create a bridge connecting Sri Lanka and charged the link would only work in favour of India ultimately making Sri Lanka another State of India.

Video: JVP to take care of Wijeweera family

The widow and the children of the late JVP leader Rohana Wijeweera had been asked to vacate the Navy quarters they had been occupying in Welisara on October 1, the party’s general secretary Tilvin Silva said.

Uva CM assaulted me: Ex- Passara PS member

Former Passara Pradeshiya Sabha UNP member Rukman Rajapaksa had lodged a complaint that newly appointed Uva Province Chief Minister Chamara Sampath of the UPFA had assaulted him after a heated argument between them, Police said.

Salaries of Lankans in Qatar through bank accounts

From November onwards, the salaries of Sri Lankans employed in Qatar will no longer be paid in cash but through bank accounts, the Foreign Employment Ministry announced today.

SL could never get rid of terrorism without help by Pakistan: Envoy

Without cooperation and help of Pakistan by virtue of defense relations, Sri Lanka could never get rid of terrorism it has been facing during the previous decades, Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka EAS Wijayanthi Edirisinghe said.

Limiting vehicle leasing rate: Temporary measure to reduce new vehicles

Transport Deputy Minister Asoka Abeysinghe said the government made it compulsory to pay 30 per cent of the value of a vehicle to the leasing company when purchasing a vehicle on lease and it was just a temporary measure to reduce the number of new vehicles registered and not to create hardship to the purchasers of vehicles.

Clandestine love affair led man to push wife, infant to sea

The suspect who pushed his wife and youngest daughter into the sea, in a confession to the police, said that he had wanted to get rid of his wife so that he could marry a woman who he had not even seen.

Baby trampled by elephant

A ten-month-old baby was trampled to death by an elephant, when a relative of the baby attempted to carry it under the belly of the animal during a festival at the Medagama Devala in Gokarella.