IGP praises police for enforcing election laws

In the run up to the 2015 General Elections, IGP N. K. Illangakoon yesterday praised police officers countrywide for conducting their duties without bias and enforcing election laws.

Crowds hoot Nandamithra Ekanayake

Arts and Cultural Affairs Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake was humiliated at an election rally of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in Na-ula today when the crowd started hooting him.

TNA's manifesto a threat to SL sovereignty: Tissa

United Citizens' Front (UCF) Leader Tissa Attanayake said today the Tamil National Alliance’s (TNA) manifesto is a threat to the country's sovereignty because it calls for the pardoning of the LTTE.

Video: Police to probe Watareka Thera’s statement if complaint received

Police said today that it would launch a probe if a complaint is received regarding a statement allegedly made by Nava Sama Samaja Party (NSSP) Colombo district candidate Watareka Vijitha Thera that he would to tear the National Flag and trample it.

Hema Premadasa will campaingn for Champika

Former first lady Hema Premadasa today extended support to Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka for his Colombo District campaign for the August 17 general election, a media release from his office said.

MR sends Letters of Demand

Under instructions of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a collective of lawyers had sent Letters of Demand to five persons including Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayaka and JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka for allegedly making defamatory comments about Mr. Rajapaksa.

‘Ukkuwa’ shot dead

The 38-year-old underworld gangster Indika Nilusha alias "Ukkuwa" was killed and two others were injured in a shooting incident at Tangalle this morning, Police said.

Daya Rajapakse no more

Veteran cartoonist and comic strip writer Daya Rajapakse died at the National Hospital in Colombo this morning at the age of 78.

BBS: Death threats from ISIS

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) said today that they would lodge a complaint with the IGP over threats allegedly received from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to its General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera.

President to visit Maldives

President Maithripala Sirisena will undertake a state visit to participate at the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Maldives on July 26 in Male, the Foreign Ministry said.

Ready to face Ravi over Litro Gas: Bandula

Former UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardane today said he was ready to face Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake in court if the minister sued him over charging the government of privatizing state owned Litro Gas Lanka Ltd.

Govt. changes northern expressway structure: UPFA

The UPFA today charged the present government had reduced the number of lanes of the Northern Expressway planned by the previous government in order to show that it was able to reduce the cost of the project.

Senaviratne appointed Sabaragamuva,Uva S/DIG

Senior DIG Ravi Senaviratne of CID had been appointed as the Senior DIG of Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces by the Public Law and Order Ministry Secretary with the approval of Elections Commissioner, the police said today.

Conviction of ‘LTTE sympathisers’ set aside

The Madras High Court Bench on Friday set aside an “illegal conviction and seven-year sentence” imposed by a trial court on three people, alleged to be LTTE sympathisers, on charges of conspiring to smuggle acetone, glycerine, formaldehyde and dicyanamide to Sri Lanka for making explosive substances and indulging in unlawful activities in 2008.

Army says it has only ‘limited’ role in north

The Army has maintained that its involvement in the Northern Province is limited ‘only to demining, construction works and infrastructure development in connection with the resettlement of people.’

SLFP to expel 5 CC members

A decision will be taken at the next SLFP Central Committee (CC) meeting to remove the five CC members who are contesting the parliamentary election from the United National Front for good Governance (UNFGG), party sources said.

I held his hand in admiration: MR supporter

The 35-year-old three wheeler driver, Hewa Narandeniyage Chaminda of Makandura Kalahagama, who was involved in the controversial Akuressa incident of grasping the hands of former President and Kurunegala UPFA candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa said he held his hand in admiration when he was moving towards the stage among the crowd but he couldn’t get his hand back due to the pressure exerted by the crowd gathered around him.

Matale mass grave: JVP to appeal to higher court

With the Matale Magistrate observing that the Matale mass grave case could not be pursued further as a criminal case, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday said it would appeal against it in a higher court.

Litro Gas will not be privatised: Minister

In an emphatic response to UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardena, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said there was no attempt at all to privatize Litro Gas Lanka Ltd.

Maithri pledges support to Golden Key depositors

President Maithripala Sirisena today said he would appoint a committee headed by a retired judge to investigate fraud related to the Golden Key case.

NCPA task force arrests blackmailer

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) Task Force has arrested a 27-year-old man on charges of distributing obscene pictures of a 16-year-old girl using his mobile phone.

MR’s henchmen to blame for his behaviour: Rosy

Ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa turning aggressive cannot be blamed for the incident at the Akuressa rally because those who pushed him to make a comeback have to be blamed for such behavior, State Minister for Child and Women’s Affairs, Rosy Senanayake said today.

Dinithi barred from going abroad

Dinithi Aloka Ranasinghe -- the student alleged to have been abducted and held in custody by Minister Rajitha Senaratne’s son Eksath -- has been prevented from travelling abroad on an order by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya.

21 hour water cut in Colombo

A 21-hour water cut will be imposed in some parts of Colombo from 08.00 a.m. tomorrow to 05.00 a.m. on Sunday (26) because of a compulsory repair work in the Kalatuwawa water treatment plant, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said.

Five accused sentenced to death

Five accused found guilty of the charge of clubbing a man to death at Great Western Estate in Lindula in 2000 were sentenced to death by Nuwara Eliya High Court Judge Lalith Ekanayake today.

Sajin’s FR petition rejected

The Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by former UPFA MP Sajin de Vass Gunawardena challenging his arrest was rejected by the Supreme Court today.

Two Lankan refugees killed in Australia

Two Sri Lankan refugees in Australia were killed when their car slammed into a tree after losing control on Trower Road in Nakura on Wednesday, ABC news reported.

Vehicle seized at K’gollewa doesn’t belong to Army

The vehicle, with an army number plate, seized today at Kebithigollewa does not belong to the army and the number plate was a fake, the Army said.   

Run around S’wewa stadium instead of parliament: Ranil

Former MPs who wish to seize the Mace and run around parliament can do so at the Sooriyawewa Cricket Stadium in Hambantota instead, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told those who had gathered for an election rally held in Bandaragama on Thursday.

SL fishermen warn India not to use banned nets

Sri Lankan fishermen have reportedly warned their Indian counterparts that they would be attacked if they continued using banned fishing nets and damaged nets anchored in the Lankan Sea, the PTI reported.