4 Lankan Tamils held for forging Passports

Four Sri Lankan Tamils, allegedly part of a racket that forged Indian passports for sending refugees to European countries, were arrested in Chennai by the sleuths of Q-Branch police, on Tuesday. Police are on the lookout for two others who are suspected to be part of the gang.

Ven. Sobitha Thera says no post expected

Expressing his contentment over the enactment of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, National Movement for Social Justice Head Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera yesterday said he did  not expect to serve in the Constitutional Council that is be established in accordance with the new legislation.

My int’l achievements ignored: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said today that during his tenure as Health Minister, he received two awards -- one from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the other from the University of Harvard – but they were not acknowledged by the previous regime.

India requests SL Navy not to fire on Indian fishermen

Indian Government today said it has requested Sri Lankan Navy to act with restraint and not to fire on Indian fishermen if they stray into the waters of the island nation.

Two youths killed in train tragedy

Two youths were killed after they struck the Mee Oya Bridge between Ambanpola and Galgamuwa while travelling on the train this afternoon, police said.

Time to begin work on 20A: JHU

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) General Secretary Patali Champika Ranawaka said today the JHU’s mission to get the 19th Amendment approved in parliament was achieved and it would soon start the next mission to introduce the electoral reforms by way of the 20th Amendment.

Fresh efforts for MR-MS meeting

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Kumara Welgama said he would make fresh efforts to resolve any differences between President Maithripala Sirisena and his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa with a meeting to be held in May after Vesak.

Not in the moustache: Rajitha

Minister Rajitha Senaratne today commended President Maithripala Sirisena’s personality and said a person’s personality was in his or her heart and mind and not in a moustache.

Jacqueline demands Rs. 4 crore to dance at a wedding

Sri Lanka’s Jacqueline Fernandez has accepted an offer to perform at a high-profile wedding in London and has quoted Rs. 4 crore to shake a leg.

UK congratulates SL on 19 A

Newly appointed British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, James Dauris today congratulated President Maithripala Sirisena on the passing of the 19th amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution.

Kuragala protest: Sinhala Ravaya members get bail

Sinhala Ravaya Organisation Chairman Ven. Akmeemana Dayarathana Thera and 24 others yesterday appeared in Court on charges of staging a protest at the Kuragala archaeological site on April 4 despite a court order banning such protests.

Video: Police fire tear gas at IUBF protesters

Police fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse the Inter-University Bhikku Federation (IUBF) students who were protesting outside the University Grants Commission (UGC) in Colombo 7.

Hambantota Mayor remanded till tomorrow

Hambantota Mayor Eraj Fernando, who was today arrested on charges of assaulting a suspect in police custody, was ordered to be remanded until tomorrow by the Hambantota Magistrate.

Fmr PM Manmohan Singh's travels cost Rs 6,76,74,33,477

Rs 6,76,74,33,477 (Rs 676.7 crore) was the cost what the nation incurred during the 73 foreign trips that Dr Manmohan Singh made as Prime Minister.

AG requests more time to inform govt’s stance on Port City

Attorney General today requested more time from the Court of Appeal to inform the government’s stance over the Colombo Port City project.

Dayasiri- UNP members agree to settle defamation

The Colombo District Court today suggested a settlement to North Western Provincial Chief Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara with regard to a case filed demanding Rs. 500 million from several UNP party members.

FCID questiones RDA DG & ADG

The Financial Crimes Investigations Department (FCID) has commenced its investigations reagarding alleged road construction contracts during the previous government.

Lankan origin Australian executed in Indonesia

Myuran Sukumaran, the British-born Australian national, originally from Sri-Lanka, one of the ringleaders of the infamous Bali Nine, was executed by firing squad on Nusakambangan Island in Java, Indonesia, on yesterday.

Hambantota Mayor arrested

Hambantota Mayor Eraj Fernando has been arrested by the police special Investigation unit for allegedly assaulting a suspect while in the Hambantota police custody, Police said.

President thanks all those who supported

After the passage of 19th Amendment to the Constitution in Parliament yesterday, President Maithripala Sirisena thanked all those who had fought for the containment of powers of executive presidency during the 37 years since the inception of the executive presidential system.

Third reading of 19th A passed

Third reading of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was passed with the amendments by 212 votes to one.

Hirunika willing to take over Kolonnawa

Western provincial councilor Hirunika Premachandra said she would handle the Kolonnawa electorate if the President offered it to her.

Won’t give up on Kolonnawa: Duminda

UPFA parliamentarian Duminda Silva said today he would continue the development work he had started in Kolonnawa despite the mud-slinging campaign against him.

Ranil says Nepal operation a first; Wimal says no

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa are reported to have had a heated argument in Parliament today.

Two-thirds majority for 19A

At its second reading in Parliament a short while ago, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was passed by a two-thirds majority with 214 MPs voting in favour .

19A: Debate extended by an hour

The parliamentary debate on the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was extended by one hour allowing political party leaders to meet for a discussion.  

Video: Nandimithra expresses concerns over portfolio

Reviewing the 100-day programme of the government, Cultural and Arts State Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake today expressed disappointment about being overlooked for a Cabinet Minister post during the appointment of new cabinet ministers while he still remained a state minister.

Only a conspiracy can defeat 19A: Rathana Thera

Historically it will be one of the most wrong decisions if for some reason the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was not enacted in Parliament, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Chairman and MP the Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said.

Audio: Yahapalanaya not “collective of gods”: Sujeewa

The good governance (Yahapalanaya) was not a “collective of gods” and does not mean it would not go wrong, Deputy Minister of Justice Sujeewa Senasinghe said today.

Earthquake shifts Kathmandu by 3 metres

The earthquake that devastated Nepal and left thousands of people dead shifted the earth beneath Kathmandu by up to several metres south, but the height of Mount Everest likely stayed the same, experts said today.