Supreme Court dismisses SF’s FR petition

The Supreme Court today dismissed a Fundamental Rights petition filed by Capt. Senaka Haripriya de Silva, on behalf of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka seeking his reinstatement to Parliament.

CBK led govt. was the worst: Bandula

The economic and political policies adopted during the tenure of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga were the worst in the history of Sri Lanka, United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Bandula Gunawardena charged today.

AG files appeal over Kotakethana verdict

The Attorney General (AG) had filed a Leave to Appeal application before Court of Appeal challenging an order of the High Court to acquit and discharge all accused in the killing of a mother, and her daughter at Kotakethana in July 2012.

Port city writ fixed for support

The Court of Appeal today fixed for support a writ application filed against the Chinese funded Colombo Port City Project.

Video: UNP to write to President

The United National Party (UNP) would make a written request to President Maithripala Sirisena to dissolve Parliament, a Deputy Minister said today.

Student’s body found with stab injuries

The body of a 17-year-old student with stab injuries was found in a teak forest behind a school at Miriswelpotha in Uda Walawa this morning, police said.

Basil granted bail

Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and three others were granted Rs. 100,000 cash bail each with a surety of Rs. 1 million each by the Colombo High Court today in the case where the four were charged of misusing Divineguma Public Fund.

D.V. Upul released on bail

Southern Provincial Council Minister D.V. Upul was released on a cash bail of Rs. 25,000 and two sureties of Rs. 1 million each by Colombo Fort Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today.

Gagan Bulathsinghala new SLAF Commander

Air Vice Marshal Gagan Pulasthi Bulathsinghala was appointed as the Commander of the Air Force by President Maithripala Sirisena today, President’s Media Division said.

Video: Heroin worth Rs.30 mn seized

A man was arrested with 3 kgs of heroin worth Rs. 30 million from Wattala last night by the Police Narcotics Bureau.

Eric Solheim back in SL affairs

The former Norwegian Minister Eric Solheim, who acted as the peace facilitator between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE at that time, shared his experience in engaging the Diaspora at a meeting in London, Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera said in Parliament.

MR creates ethnic rifts, prejudice: UNP

The United National Party (UNP) said yesterday that it was highly regretted to see former President Mahinda Rajapaksa trying to create rifts, prejudice, hatred and animosity among different ethnic groups in the country.

Stop playing games: Mahanayake to MPs

The Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter, the Most Venerable Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera called on all political parties in Parliament to stop playing political games such as bringing in no confidence motions.

Revellers get nasty shock at Mt. beach

Twenty-one people who were frolicking on the Mount Lavinia beach this evening were hospitalised after coming into contact with a poisonous variety of jelly fish that had been floating in the water.

MR denies allegations against wife

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa today rejected the charges that his wife, former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa had transferred the funds of the Siriliya Saviya Foundation to her private account and purchased a house in Colombo 5 using the money.

ICEU demands Bill gazetted to increase pvt sector wages

Inter-Company Employees Union (ICEU) today urged President Maithripala Sirisena to take immediate action to gazette the Bill increasing private sector workers’ wages by Rs. 2500 as promised in the Interim Budget.

Abbott ignores plea for answers on boat payment

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott refused again Sunday to deny allegations an official paid thousands of dollars to turn back a boatload of asylum-seekers, despite calls from Indonesia for answers.

Lankan arrested with Rs. 4.75 mn worth USD at BIA

A Sri Lankan was arrested this morning while attempting to smuggle out US dollars worth Rs.4.75 million concealed inside his baggage at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Gota says no to politics

Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has said he would not enter politics in the future.

Accident kills one injuring sixteen

A 49 year-old man had been killed and another 16 were injured after two lorries collided head-on near Modara bridge in Kosgoda on the Galle-Colombo Main Road early this morning, the Police said.

Lankan wins reduced jail in teen molestation on flight

A Sri Lankan passenger won his appeal and had his one-year imprisonment reduced to six months in jail for molesting a 13-year-old girl while he was drunk on a plane, the Gulf News reported.

Australia stoops to ‘new low’ if boat payment confirmed: Indonesia

Australia would have stooped to a “new low” if reports that it's navy paid people-smugglers bound for Australia thousands of dollars to turn back their boat are true, an Indonesian government official said on Saturday.

Man nabbed at BIA with gold worth over Rs.3 mn

A 33-year-old Sri Lankan was arrested by the Customs officials early this morning at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to smuggle three gold chains worth more than Rs. 3 million from Abudhabi.

SL refugee flees from custody in Chennai

A Sri Lankan Tamil refugee fled from custody while being escorted to Puzhal prison at the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus in Koyambedu on Thursday.

8 hospitalised after star class dinner

At least eight people were hospitalised last night after they fell ill following a dinner party held in the Oak room at Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo organised by the Sri Lanka UK society to celebrate British Queen’s birth day, informed sources said.

National security, Economy at stake: MR

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa alleged yesterday that the backbone of the nation was breaking while the separatist eelamist flag was being hoisted in one part of the country.

Discussed proscribed list with GTF: Mangala

Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera today confirmed that together with Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran he had met Global Tamil Forum representatives in London and discussed the reviewing of the list of organisations and individuals proscribed in a gazette notification.

Video: MR Govt. launched projects without funds - CBK

Former president Chandrika Kumaratunge said today the Mahinda Rajapaksa government had initiated development projects illegally without finding funds needed for them and that the present government has had to pay back the loans obtained by them at exorbitant interest rates.

MR makes appearance at Matara rally

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa is reported to have been at today’s rally in Matara though he had not got on to the stage.

Sajin's bail plea: HC notices on AG, OIC of FCID

Colombo High Court Judge Padmini Ranawaka today issued notice on the Attorney General and the OIC of the FCID to appear before the Colombo High Court on June 19 to consider a bail application filed on behalf of former Foreign Ministry Monitoring MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena.