TNA against VAT on food and education

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), in a May Day resolution, requested the government not to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) on food items consumed by the general public and education services.

President promises a host of benefits for workers

President Maithripala Sirisena, speaking at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s (SLFP's) May Day rally in Galle yesterday, vowed that five major changes to the working conditions of the workers -- increasing of pensionable age to 60, full maternity leave for all private sector female employees, making the minimum private sector salary Rs. 13,500, ensuring that all public service employees get a Rs.10,000 pay increase and creating a pension sc

I'll fight for the rights of the people- MR

Former president and present Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, speaking at the May Day rally organised by the Joint Opposition in Kirulapone, Colombo today, said his family members, including his son MP Namal Rajapaksa and brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa faced imminent arrest, but he would not shy away from fighting for the rights of people because of such threats.

JVP calls for socialism and a political culture

Reiterating that the Capitalism has no answer to the people’s problems, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today requested the people to rally together for socialism in the country and begin a new political culture in which the suppressed would be facilitated.

State institutions will be made profitable without privatisation- Ranil

The state institutions will be made profitable ventures without privatising them, said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his May Day address. He said these institutions would be placed under a Public Wealth Trust giving more and more benefits to the people at large.

Political parties hold May Day rallies

Suspect arrested while receiving Rs. 250,000 as ransom

The Colombo Crime Division (CCD) today arrested a suspect on charges of taking Rs.250,000 as ransom from a businessman.

May Day rallies underway

Four main May Day rallies –that of the UNP, the SLFP, the Joint Opposition, and JVP are underway with the participation of party supporters in Colombo, Havelock Town and Galle.

President: Govt. weak in communicating with the people

A major shortcoming of the present Government was that it did not have the ability to articulate to the people its good deeds, President Maithripala Sirisena said today.

President, PM at Premadasa commemoration

Lankan in Qatar jailed for forging document

A Criminal Court in Doha, Qatar has sentenced a Sri Lankan expatriate to one year in jail and ordered his subsequent deportation for counterfeiting an official document, the Gulf Times reported yesterday. 

May Day rallies

Give priority to safeguard workers’ rights: PM

May Day is internationally dedicated to those who labour and work for the betterment of the society at large, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in his May Day message.

Should take a firm determination to fulfill people’s aspirations: President

We should take a firm determination to fulfill the aspirations of our people with a firm commitment to make the achieved victories a reality in this May Day in the present context of the nation entering into a new economic and political process with the new democratic and free approach won on January 8, 2015, President Maithripala Sirisena stated in a message to mark May Day.

Granting of "Virusara Privilege Card"

Maritime boundary with SL not a settled question-Jaya to PM

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday said that the Centre should not treat the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) with Sri Lanka as a "settled question" as it had been challenged in the Supreme Court.

Free access to Southern Expressway on May Day

Motorists will be allowed to use the Southern Expressway free-of-charge from 6am to midnight tomorrow (May 1) due to the May day celebrations, the Road Development Authority said.

Three people shot dead in Thirappane

Three people were shot dead inside a car at Thirappane in Anuradhapura this afternoon, police said.

PM calls for explanations on missive issued to media

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has called a special meeting on Monday with Parliament Reforms and Mass Media Minister, Deputy Minister and its secretary over the missive issued to the media by the Parliament Reforms and Mass Media Ministry Secretary.

Man shot dead in Mulleriyawa

A 41-year-old man was shot dead by three armed men who arrived on two motorbikes at Pethiyagoda in Mulleriyawa last evening, Police said.

Another Pakistani arrested at BIA with heroin

A 53-year-old Pakistani national was arrested by the Police Narcotics Bureau with pellets of heroin in his stomach at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) last evening, Police said.

Basil trying to split SLFP- Dayasiri

Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa had been given a contract to divide the SLFP and weaken President Maithripala Sirisena allegedly funded by a neighbouring country, Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera charged yesterday.

Resolution not to divide country: CV

Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wignewaran said yesterday the recent resolution that was adopted to propose a federal system was not aimed at dividing the country but to unite it.

Jt. Oppn. says will respect court order

The joint opposition said yesterday it received a court order restricting its members from entering the Shalika Grounds in Narahenpita for any demonstration in relation to its May Day activities. 

Phone charges to rise due to VAT

Phone call charges will increase because of the removal of the exemption of Value Added Tax (VAT) from the telecommunication services, Minister of Digital Technology Harin Fernando said yesterday.

Focus on boosting Naval ties between SL-France

The French Navy today said that it is time to start a ‘solid’ partnership between France and Sri Lanka.

Bopage looking into words with AG, IGP

Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Ministry secretary Nimal Bopage, who is in the centre of controversy over his statement to the media, said today he, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), would discuss the possibility of introducing some mechanism to deal with the use of words with no legal validity in the media.

Protestors demand probe into journalist’s death

Court prevents Jt. Opp. from entering into Shalika Grounds

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris today issued an interim order preventing members of Joint Opposition or SLTB Motor Services Union from entering into the Shalika Grounds on May Day.

I will continue my political career with Joint Opp: Geetha

Former Benthara – Elpitiya SLFP Organiser Geetha Kumarasinghe yesterday said she would continue her political career with the Joint Opposition and would take part in the May Day rally of the Joint Opposition at Kirulapone.