Vehicle import cost goes up

The total vehicle import cost had gone up by eight to ten per cent due to the appreciation of the Japanese Yen against the Sri Lankan Rupee, Vehicle Importers Associationof SriLanka (VIASL) President Indika Sampath Merenchige yesterday said.

Study finds toxic chemical in Kelani River

Studies conducted by the Centre for Environment and Nature Studies (CENS) have found high levels of toxic chemical Arsenic - nearly 0.004 kg / m3 (4.00 milligrams) per litre - in several areas in the Kelani River which is main source of drinking water for Colombo and its suburbs.

FR petition filed against excessive cabinet

A fundamental rights petition was filed in the Supreme Court today challenging President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to increase the number of cabinet ministers from 30 to 48.

Will not allow anyone to divide the country: Maithri

President Maithripala Sirisena said he would not allow anyone to divide the country which was united by the valiant war heroes shedding their blood.

Three killed in motorbike accident

Three men were killed when the motorbike they were riding crashed into a tree at Galnewa this afternoon, police said.

CEPA agreement with India will affect SL: Wimal

Alleging that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Indian counterpart will finalise the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) during Mr. Wickremesinghe’s visit to New Delhi next week, MP Wimal Weerawansa today said Sri Lanka will be adversely affected by entering into such an agreement.

MR hits out at CBK

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in a statement posted on his website for the consumption of voters, took a swipe at his erstwhile colleague former President Chandrika Bandaranaiake Kumaratunga saying her recent remarks to the foreign media was detrimental to the interests of SLFP as a whole.

Thajudeen's injuries could have been from assault: JMO

Ex –JMO Prof. Ananda Samarasekera in his final autopsy report filed in court asserts that the death of Mohamed Waseem Thajudeen was due to unconsciousness, disability of limbs and inhalation of carbon monoxide gas emitted from the fire.

CBK justifies choice of ministers

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, in a status posted on her facebook account, said some might have been perplexed over the appointment of some cabinet, deputy and state ministers, but there was no other alternative as no party obtained a clear majority to form a single party government.

Ariyaratne, Aziz and Radhika nominated to CC

The Constitutional Council (CC), which met for the first time today, has decided to appoint Sarvodaya Movement Founder A.T. Ariyaratne, President’s Counsel Shibly Aziz and former United Nation official Radhika Coomaraswamy as its civil society representatives.

SriLankan flight lands safely after technical fault

Chennai bound SriLankan flight from Colombo, with 102 passengers 12 crew on-board, landed safely at Chennai Airport yesterday upon experiencing an overheating of a hydraulic system, the airline said.

Update: Three decomposed bodies found in Gampaha

Three severely decomposed bodies of a man, a woman and a child have been found in a remote house in Udugampola, Gampaha this morning, Police said.

Two more Dy. Ministers sworn in

Kandy District MP Anuradha Jayaratne and Kegalle District MP Dushmantha Mithrapala were today sworn in as Deputy Ministers by President Maithripala Sirisena.

Video: Five PSD officers killed; several injured in accident

Five presidential Security Division (PSD) officers were killed and several others injured when a defender vehicle and two private buses crashed into each other at Miriswatte on the Minuwangoda-Colombo Road this morning.

Key witness of Thajudeen case intimidated: AG

Attorney General’s Department informed court today that a key witness of the Wasim Thajudeen murder case had been intimidated and that CID was investigating into the matter.

Shashindra Rajapaksa summoned to PCoI

Former Uva Province Chief Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa has been summoned by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Large Scale Corruption (PCoI) with regard to an allegation of distributing state owned lands in Mahiyangana incurring a loss to the government.

Six arrested for assaulting retired Navy officer

Six people were arrested and will be produced in Court today in connection with an assault on a retired Naval Officer at a night club in Kollupitiya last Sunday.

Politicians must make sacrifices-Ranil

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said politicians must make sacrifices if they genuinely want to serve the people. He said cabinet ministers,

Tin not so empty

Teen singer M .G. Dhanushka, who became popular by singing the song Hiss tin ekak wage apey me givithe malli was released on Rs. 500,000 personal bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today.

CC nominees not in Yahapalana line: Dinesh

The appointment of those with Cabinet portfolios to the Constitutional Council was against the principles of good governance, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) leader Dinesh Gunawardane charged today.

No one can topple government: President

Whatever said and done by political opponents, the government would rule the country for the next five years without any hiccup to meet the targets set by UNP-SLFP led consensual government, President Maithripala Sirisena said today.

Hands free causes more accidents: Report

Using Bluetooth headset while driving increased the chances of accidents by 75 percent, a senior officer at the Police Traffic Headquarters said.

JVP nominates Herath for CC

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today nominated its MP Vijitha Herath for the Constitutional Council (CC).

New State and Deputy Ministers

The swearing in ceremony of the new State and Deputy Ministers of the national government commenced a short while ago at the Presidential Secretariat.

RADA officials granted bail

Finance Director of Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA) and its Construction Director has been released on bail by Colombo Fort Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage today.

Import tax on potatoes, sugar increased

The import tax on a kilo of potatoes has been increased by Rs.10 with effect from last night, while the tax on a kilo of sugar has been increased by Rs. 12, the Finance Ministry said today.

Champika, Wijeyadasa nominated to CC

President Maithripala Sirisena today nominated Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka for the Constitutional Council (CC) while Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe was nominated by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Three more Cabinet ministers appointed

UNP MP Malik Samarawickrema was appointed as the Cabinet Minister of Development Strategy and International Trade by President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat a short while ago.

Sarana released

Former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena who was in the remand custody for allegedly assaulting a person, was released on bail by Gampaha Chief Magistrate Tikiri K. Jayatilake today.

Floating armoury: Gota says CID probed charges properly

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said a thorough inquiry was conducted by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) into the floating armoury belonging to the Avant Garde Company and it had come to the conclusion that there was no illegality or even procedural infirmity in his actions.