MS to visit Pakistan this month

President Maithripala Sirisena will visit Pakistan this month, the Government said today.

Bak Poya today

SriLankan flight turns back

A SriLankan airline flight to Beijing had to return to the Bandaranaike International Airport after developing a technical fault, a spokesman said.

Video: Cabinet nod for laws banning hate speech

The Cabinet has approved an amendment to the Penal Code by including strict laws to take action against those who engage in hate speech that would result in communal, religious and ethnic disharmony.

Indian fishermen regret SL President’s stand

Indian fishermen’s associations today expressed regret over Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s remark that he has clearly instructed the island nation’s navy to seize boats that violate the country’s territorial waters.

Video: UNP behind moves to get MR back: Rajitha

The United National Party (UNP) is also behind moves to bring former President Mahinda Rajapaksa into active politics again, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said today.

Fire at shoe factory

Fire destroys shoe factory

‘Erosha Enterprises’ a shoe factory at Rajamahavihara in Navinna caught fire earlier today and was reported to us at 11.45 a.m., the Fire Department said.

Jayasuriya resigns as Chairman of Selectors

Jayasuriya, in a letter to Minister of Sports Navin Dissanayake, cited the impending end of his tenure as the head of the selection committee as the reason for his resignation.

Lankan refugee murdered in TN

A Sri Lankan refugee was hacked to death in his house at Puliampatti refugee camp near Palani in Tamil Nadu (TN) on Wednesday night. The deceased was identified as G. Kamala Nathan (35), a daily wage worker engaged in painting work.

CBK calls for reconciliation

The government’s efforts to promote national unity in Sri Lanka will break down unless there is reconciliation, according to the former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (CBK).

Video: Commission to prepare electoral reforms: JVP

The Executive Council has decided to set up a commission to prepare a new electoral process to be implemented soon, a JVP council member revealed yesterday.

US delegation meets Ruwan

Bribery Comm. DG denies receiving two salaries

Categorically denying the allegations that she received two salaries Bribery Commission Director General Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe yesterday requested the Commission’s Chairman to conduct a full-scale probe into her actions.

China rejects Rajitha’s claim

The Chinese embassy in Colombo today denied claims by Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne that the estimated cost of the Colombo Outer Circular Road was reduced by Rs.30 billion.

Bodies of Indian couple found in Wellawatta

Bodies of an Indian couple, who died in suspicious circumstances, were found at a hotel in Wellawatta where they stayed, police said.

SL govt. unlikely to allow Dalai Lama visit- reports

Sri Lankan Buddhist monks have invited exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to make his first visit to the island, after a strongly pro-China government was voted out in January, but an official said Colombo was unlikely to allow it, Reuters reported.

Consignment of dried fish seized by CAA

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) today seized seven tons of dried fish valued over Rs.2 million that were unfit for human consumption, at a warehouse in Wattala.

China agrees to assist in evacuating Lankans in Yemen

China has agreed to assist Sri Lanka to evacuate Lankans stranded in Yemen following a request by the Lankan government, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said today.

Video: No reason to enter this parliament yet: MR

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that ‘there is no reason yet’ for him to enter the present parliament, although many members have offered their seats in order to make way for his entry.

IUSF says no Policemen injured during clash

The Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) today rejected the news that several Police personnel were injured in a clash between the university students and the Police during the recent protest march at Kollupitiya.

CA suspends full face helmet ban

The Court of Appeal today issued an interim order suspending the operation of police advisory circular banning the use of full face helmets until April 28.

Judgment on Tissa expulsion in May

The judgment on the petition filed by former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake against his expulsion from the party was reserved for early May by the Supreme Court today.

NEC: JVP to decide today

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) would decide on remaining in the National Executive Committee (NEC) following the NEC meeting held today, party sources said.   

Wele Suda in Court

Rajitha case sent to Magistrate’s Court

Colombo High Court Judge Lalith Jayasuriya today ordered the Magistrate’s Court to submit a report after hearing the case filed through a Habeas Corpus petition against Minister Rajitha Senaratne, his wife and the younger son on charges of abducting an underage girl.

Probe over Russian Embassy employee’s death

Attanagalla Chief Magistrate M.Y.M. Irshadeen ordered the Nittambuwa Police yesterday to report back to court after holding a full inquiry before the Attanagalla Acting Magistrate into the mysterious death of R.K.A.D. Noel Ranaweera (36), an employee of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Russia, which had occurred nine months ago in Russia.

Presidential pardon for Sigiriya girl

President Maithrpala Sirisena has signed the documents to pardon the girl (23) who damaged the Sigiriya Mirror Wall using a hairpin, Minister Wijayadasa Rajapaksa said.

Karaliyadda resigns

Buddha Sasana and Democratic Rule Deputy Minister Tissa Karaliyadda today said that he resigned from his Deputy Ministerial post because he cannot work with the United National Party (UNP) and he could not just be a ‘pambaya’, (scarecrow).

Warning opportunity for full-face helmet users

The rule on wearing full-face helmets by motor cyclists will be implemented from today, Police said. They said that as an initial step motorcyclists, who are not obeying the rule, will be issued a warning.