GK repayment plan: AG seeks time

The Attorney General today sought a further date to submit the government’s decision to repay 41 % of the deposited money of Golden Key (GK) depositors, when the fundamental rights petitions filed by depositors were taken up in the Supreme Court.

8 Indians, Lankan arrested with gold worth Rs.4.5mn

Eight Indians and a Sri Lankan were arrested this morning by the Sri Lankan Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to smuggle out more than Rs.4.5 million worth of gold to Chennai, Customs said.

Govt.to prohibit erecting of unauthorised structures in City

President Maithripala Sirisena has prohibited the erecting of unauthorised structures on the streets of Colombo and Mayor A.J. Muzammil had also agreed to withdraw the unauthorised pavement boutiques erected recently on three streets in Colombo, Skills Development and Vocational Training Deputy Minister Thilanga Sumathipala said.

Banks refusing to pay guaranteed 15% interest: JVP

Banks had refused to pay the guaranteed 15 per cent interest rate for the deposits of senior citizens with over a million rupees in their accounts despite the assurance given by the government in the budget this year, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP Sunil Handunnetti said yesterday.

SLMC now worse off than before-Rauff

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem, in an emotional speech, said in Parliament yesterday that his party had been placed in a worse predicament after it tried to unseat former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Will it be another white elephant?

The Ministry of Sports will press ahead with the proposed multi-million dollar High Altitude Training Centre and the super luxury hotel within the confines of the picturesque Race Course in Nuwara Eliya once it gets the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) done.

Parliament dissolution within next two days

Parliament is likely to be dissolved either tonight or tomorrow night to enable General Elections to be conducted by the middle of August, informed sources said yesterday.

City hawkers to get IDs

Street vendors, who have been given permission by the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to set up their stalls, would be given an identification card to operate, Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil said yesterday.

US report used with ulterior motives: Ruwan

State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene said that statements portraying ‘danger to national security’ citing a recent report by the US State Department were baseless and made by persons with ulterior political motives.

Lanka Sathosa to be restructured

The government has decided to restructure LANKA SATHOSA, Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said today.

Video: Anyone can go to court

Minister Mangala Samaraweera today said he welcomed any party to institute legal action against the Diaspora Festival being planned by his Ministry to be held by the end of the year.

Nine new ambassadors

The Foreign Affairs Ministry today confirmed the appointments of new ambassadors to nine countries out of thirty three.

Basil’s FR granted Leave to Proceed

The Supreme Court granted Leave to Proceed in the Fundamental Rights petition filed by former Minister of Economic Affairs Basil Rajapaksa.

BBS boils over noodles

Sri Lanka was becoming the largest garbage food dump in Asia because the food items imported were usually unsuitable for human consumption, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera charged today.

Sajin re-remanded

UPFA MP Sajin de Vaas Gunawardena was further remanded till July 7 by Colombo Fort Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya a short while ago.

Bangladeshi black money invested in SL- Report

Sri Lanka is among many countries where the ill-gotten money of several Bangladeshi politicians are being siphoned off and invested in properties and businesses to ensure a secure future for their families, Bangladesh based Daily Star newspaper reported.

SL a critical partner: US

Sri Lanka would be a critical partner in broadening the United States interests across the Indo-Pacific region, US President Barack Obama's ambassadorial nominee for Sri Lanka Atul Keshap told lawmakers on Tuesday.  

Probe into missing arms at army museum

The Sri Lankan Army today said it had launched an investigation into the misplacement of three weapons at the Diyathalawa Army Camp museum.

Body found in hotel room

The body of a 28-year-old male was found in a hotel room in Wadduwa last night, the police said.

Saliya released on bail

Saliya Wickremasuriya, the former Chief Operating Officer of the Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA) was released on bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate today.

India asked SL Navy not to fire on fishermen

The Indian External Affairs Ministry on Tuesday informed the Madras High Court in Madurai that it has impressed upon the Sri Lankan Navy “to act with restraint, not to fire on Indian fishermen and to treat them in a humane manner,” the Hindu reported.

Parliament to be dissolved today?

Speculation is rife that Parliament will be dissolved tonight, following intimation to that effect, by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to Tamil political parties at a meeting on June 16.

Why didn't UPFA govt. reform electoral system? - Ranil

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday asked why the UPFA government had failed to bring in a new electoral system despite enjoying a two-thirds majority.

I was not contacted over charges against Kshenuka: Kunanayakam

Despite being a key person who brought the ‘Genevagate’ controversy before the public, former diplomat Tamara Kunanayakam says no testimony was obtained from her and neither was she contacted by the investigator who recently concluded the probe on the contentious audit report relating to the issue.

Another batch of refugees head back to SL

A batch of 46 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, who were staying in camps across the State for several years, returned to their country from the Tiruchi airport on Tuesday.

Street vending only on certain streets-Mayor

Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil said yesterday that street vending would be allowed only on certain pavements in Pettah and nowhere else in the city.

Stop Indian Maggi Noodles entering SL: CAA to Customs

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) today requested the Sri Lanka Customs to stop consignments of rejected Maggi Noodle from India being released to the importers because they are said to contain high levels of Mono Sodium Glutamate (MSG).

Former RADA director arrested

Reconstruction and Development Agency’s (RADA) former Finance and Administration Director Dr. Jayantha Samarasinghe was arrested by the Police Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in connection with an alleged fraud that had taken place at the RADA in 2006.

Body found from Bambalapitiya Housing Scheme

The body of a 45-year-old man was found from the Paradise Housing Scheme in Bambalapitiya last night, the Police said.The body was found at 9.30 p.m. after a strong stench was reported from one of the houses.

Six million votes not only for MS but also for UNP: Akila

The United National Party (UNP) said today it was certain to obtain almost six million votes at the general elections similar to the January 8 presidential election where the UNP and the common opposition were able to muster the most number of votes for the then opposition candidate.