Grade 5 scholarship cut off marks released

The cut off marks for the grade 5 scholarship examination were released a short while ago by the education ministry.

Packer's Crown pulls plug on SL casino plan

James Packer's Crown Group says it will not go ahead with a proposed plan to develop a $400 million luxury hotel and resort in Sri Lanka, following a decision by the government in Colombo to scrap tax concessions for the project.

Video: Even Ravi K. has to pay Mansion Tax: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayke should be aware that he too would have to pay the newly imposed ‘Mansion Tax’ of Rs.1 million.

Parliament adjourned for 20 minutes

Parliament sessions were adjourned for 20 minutes a short while ago following a special statement made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremeisnghe on the reinstatement of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayak

Audio: We’ll not tax owners of old houses: Harsha

Policy Planning and Economic Development Deputy Minister Harsha De Silva said today the Mansion Tax would not apply to owners of old houses which they had inherited but on the rich who had built huge mansions without any paying any taxes to the Government.

10,000 police transfers postponed

The transfer of some 10,000 police personnel from February 1 has been postponed to May 1, 2015, police said.

Father and son killed in fire

A 42-year-old father and his 2-year-old son were burnt to death at Walathapitiya in Sammanthurai when their house caught fire last night.

UK MP hopes press freedom will be boosted under new govt.

UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State for Sri Lanka, Hugo Swire, who travelled to Jaffna today, expressed optimism that press freedom will grow under the new government.

​Dual citizenship potentially available to all Lankans

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake presenting the interim budget 2015 today said that the option of dual citizenship would be available to all persons of Sri Lankan origin and granted after due evaluation. A payment of Rs. 500,000 will have to precede each individual request.

Dhanapala briefs UNHR Chief

Senior Advisor Jayantha Dhanapala briefed United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on the policies of the newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena and the government.

Three members of one family killed in head-on collision

Three persons of one family were killed and another two were injured when their three-wheeler collided head on with a lorry at the Banagala bend in Dompe this evening, the Police said.

Concessions Galore

The new government, in its budget, slashed the prices of 13 essential items, domestic gas, kerosene oil while announcing a host of relief measures for the general public including a monthly pay hike of Rs. 5000 for public servants effective from next month and a Rs.1000 increase on pensions from April

Sanga ton sets up victory

Kumar Sangakkara hit his 21st one-day international century to set up a 34-run victory for Sri Lanka over New Zealand in Thursday's seventh and last game of the one-day series in Wellington.

Video: Lorry with imported liquor taken into custody

The Kirulapana Police last night had taken into custody a lorry loaded with a stock of bottles of foreign liquor at the Suranimala Place, the Police said.

Thewarapperuma further remanded

Matugama Magistrate’s Court today ordered that United National Party (UNP) MP Palitha Thewarapperuma be remanded till February 2 in connection with the Agalawatta assault case, the Police said.   

Video: Sripavan to be appointed CJ

Senior Supreme Court Judge Kanagasabapathy J. Sripavan will be appointed as the next Chief Justice, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne told the Cabinet briefing this morning.

Ceremonial farewell to CJ 43

Delivering her farewell speech in front of a packed gathering of judges, lawyers, ministry officials and staff, Chief Justice 43 Shirani Bandaranayake today said that the judges who upheld the law in the wake of “baseless” accusations should be commended and valued the most.

TN urges Modi to defer meet on SL refugees

Asserting that the conditions in the northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka are still not conducive for the refugees to return to their native land, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Wednesday said a meeting convened by the Union external affairs ministry to discuss the voluntary repatriation of refugees was premature and that it should be deferred.

Amendment to Budget 2015 today

The government will enact an ‘Urgent Bill’ in the form of an amendment to the 2015 Appropriation Act, to give legal effect to its budgetary proposals, Daily Mirror learns.

Bribery case against Hyatt Regency project

Deputy Minister of Policy Planning and Economic Development Dr. Harsha De Silva yesterday lodged a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption with regard to the Hyatt Regency Hotel Project in Kollupitiya claiming there had been multiple corrupt deals with regard to the transactions involved in the project.

MR’s sons no longer rugby team captains

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s sons Yoshitha and Rohitha are to be removed from the captaincy of the Rugby teams of the Navy and Army respectively, on the instructions of a highly placed official, informed sources said yesterday.

Legislation approved to cover 80% of cigarette packs with warnings

The Cabinet of Ministers yesterday approved legislation to make it compulsory for cigarette manufacturers to cover 80 percent of the outer surface of cigarette packets with pictorial warnings against the dangers of smoking, Daily Mirror learns.

Video: Elephant calf allegedly kept illegally inside temple premises

In what is thought to be a clear violation of rules, a two and half year-old elephant calf had been found inside the Alan Mathiniyaramaya Temple in Polhengoda this evening along with another 20-year-old female elephant that was also being kept at the temple.

Shirani’s removal void and no force in law: Govt.

Procedures adopted to remove Shirani Bandaranayake from the Post of Chief Justice and the appointment of Mohan Peiris as Chief Justice was void and no force in law, Presidential Media Division said.

Azath Sally denies claims

Central Provincial Councilor Aazath Sally today denied the allegation that he threatned CJ Mohan Pieris.

Video: Gunaratnam visits Immigration

Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) leader Kumar Gunaratnam today visited at the Immigration and Emigration Department to record a statement on his political activities since his arrival in the country.

SF’s ranks, civic rights restored

The Defence Ministry today announced that former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka is entitled to his rank of Four Star General, medals, pension and other privileges which were stripped of in 2010, by two Army tribunals before he was cashiered and imprisoned.

Video: Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake resumes duties as CJ

Chief Justice-43 Shirani Bandaranayake has resumed duties in the office of Chief Justice as there had been no legal removal of her from the post, Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) President Upul Jayasuriya said.

Video: Ex- CJ arrives at Hulftsdorp Court Complex

Former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake arrived at the Hulftsdorp Court Complex a short while ago. She was welcomed by President of Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) Upul Jayasuriya.  

Azath Sally threatened me: CJ

Chief Justice Mohan Peiris today lodged a police complaint claiming that National Unity Front (NUF) Leader Azath Sally had threatened him after forcibly entering his residence last night, Police media spokesman Ajith Rohana said.