19-A: Over 20 petitions in SC

The Supreme Court today began its hearing into the constitutionality of the proposed 19th Amendment to the Constitution sequent to 16 special determination petitions and five other intervenient petitions filed for and against the proposed bill.

China agrees to write off US$ 30 M from OCR cost

China had agreed to write off US$ 30 million from the total amount which it had lent to Sri Lanka for the construction of the Outer Circular Road (OCR) which connects several highways, the Sri Lankan Government announced today.

Minister wants Sanga to extend career

Sports Minister Navin Dissanayake had made an open request to batting great Kumar Sangakkara to reconsider his retirement.

Govt. expedites evacuating Lankans in Yemen

Due to the volatile situation in Yemen, the government had made arrangements to evacuate all Sri Lankans in Yemen, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Champika more suitable for Presidency: Warnasinghe

Commenting on the reports that JHU General Secretary Champika Ranawaka was aspiring to become the Executive President and that was why he was against the 19th Amendment, JHU National Organiser Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said Minister Ranawaka was more suitable for the Presidency than any of the others who were spreading rumours linking the minister and the presidency.

Lalith Weeratunga quizzed by the CID

The CID today recorded a statement from former President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga over the vehicles belonged to the President’s Secretariat, the police said.  

Video: Not sanitary ware, but shoes

A 20-foot container imported from China which contained shoes valued at more than Rs. 2 million had been seized by the Customs today, Sri Lanka Customs Spokesman Leslie Gamini said.

Video: I thank ‘Yahapalanaya’ for this opportunity: Duminda

Parliamentarian Duminda Silva today said that he was thankful to the ‘Good governance regime’ for providing him the opportunity to absolve himself from allegations of a murder.

Duminda in High Court

Accident kills a soldier and injures 28

One army personnel killed and 28 passengers were injured after a private bus and an Army truck collided head-on in Ratnapura new town a short while ago, Police said.

Complaint against BC Director General

SLFP Parliamentarian Manusha Nanayakkara today complained to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption against the Commission’s Director General Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe.

Video: Dhanuna in two minds about politics

Dhanuna Thilakarathne, the son-in–law of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said he was yet to decide if he were to enter politics.

Duminda released under previous bail conditions

UPFA Parliamentarian Duminda Silva and 10 others, who were accused in the killing of former Minister Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra were released under the previous bail conditions with two more sureties by the Colombo High Court today.

Gnanasara Thera questioned by police

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera was yesterday questioned by the Buddha Sasana Ministry’s special police unit set up to investigate religious disputes.

Bogollagama released on bail

Ex- Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama released on bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate over a financial fraud case against him when the BOI was under his purview in 2006.

Donald Perera quizzed by FCID

Former Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Commander Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera is being questioned by the police Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) over the MIG deal, the Police said.

Falling glass kills youth

A 26 year-old youth was killed in a glass warehouse in Mahaiyawa, Kandy when several pieces of glass fell on him yesterday, Police said.

Measures for passengers safety by CAA

Following the incident of a Germanwings Airbus A320 co-pilot who allegedly locked the pilot out and then crashed the plane in the French Alps, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday said it will require SriLankan airlines and Mihin Air always to have two authorised crew members in the cockpit.

Five books by Sathish Kamar launched

We should respect others’ opinions and rectify our mistakes: MR

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa attending a function held at Abhayaramaya temple in Narahenpita said today that one should respect others’ opinions and rectify one’s mistakes.

Video: Ranil: SL should resolve energy issues

If Sri Lanka expected to become an economic power house in South Asia it must first resolve its political and energy problems in the same manner other Tiger Economies in Asia like Malaysia had addressed those issues in their way to success, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

Two killed, 2 injured in three-wheeler accident

Two women were killed on the spot and two others were injured when the three-wheeler they were travelling in plunged down a 100-foot precipice at Wanaraja on the Bagawanthalawa-Hatton road this evening, police said.

ICC warns SLC of suspension

Just as a new politically appointed interim committee is to take control of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the sport’s world governing body which has not yet been officially informed of the move, warned in no uncertain terms that Sri Lanka is perilously close to being suspended from the International Cricket Council (ICC) membership.

IUSF protest

FR against MR refused

The Supreme Court today refused Leave to Proceed with a Fundamental Rights violation petition filed by Duminda Nawagamuwa of Frontline Socialist Party against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and several other respondents over deploying of army personnel during the Presidential Election.

Video: Police fire tear gas

Police fired tear gas to protesting students of Sri Jayawardenapura University a short while ago in Kollupitiya, the police said.

JHU challenges the 19th Amendment

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) today filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the proposed 19th Amendment to the Constitution, highlighting that the proposed devolution of powers among the heads of State and Government was vague and the amendment itself was a violation of the election manifesto of President Maithripala Sirisena.

Rathgama killing: Main suspect surrenders

The main suspect of the Rathgama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Manoj Pushpakumara Mendis’s killing, Janith Madusanka de Silva alias Podi Lassiya, had surrendered to the Kalutara Magistrate Court today, the Police said.

New way to alert Police

Meetiyagoda residents find new way to alert Police

Residents of Meetiyagoda, which is under a cloud after revelations of systemic terror unleashed on residents by gangs, now  supply information to Police on the underworld by cutting letters out of papers to withhold their identities.