Govt. to extend 48hr detention law

The government was preparing to extend the Procedure to detain a suspect arrested without a warrant up to 48 hours by another two years, a top source said. “It would seriously affect on country’s Human Rights records,” Human Rights Commissioner Dr. Prathibha Mahanamahewa said today.

Video: Govt. to compensate victimized UNPers

A memorandum will be submitted to the Cabinet soon to provide redress to those who had been subjected to political victimisation from 1994 to 2015, UNP General Secretary and Minister Kabir Hashim said today.

President’s Media denies reports

The President’s Media Division today said that there was no basis in social media claims that Zackey Ahmed was currently not in control of President’s accounts.

New DG for CDF

Be patient -SL tells Int'l community

The new Sri Lankan government on Wednesday urged the international community including the human rights community to be patient stating that 'this is a time of fragile transition' in Sri Lanka.

India must support NPC plea for probe into genocide: VCK

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) Leader Thol Thirumavalavan on Wednesday urged the Indian Centre to support the resolution passed by the Northern Provincial Council in Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in March 2015, demanding a thorough probe and report on the genocide of Tamils.

Woman attempting suicide dies in hospital

A woman who was reportedly rescued while hanging from a beam of a home in Veyangoda had died on admission to the Wathupitiwala Hospital.

Drowned student couple: boy’s body found

Body of the 17-year-old school boy who was alleged to have jumped into the Deduru Oya with a girl was found in Deduru Oya Reservoir today, the Police said.

CID summons Duminda for third day

CID has summoned MP Duminda Silva to appear at the CID for the third day for further questioning, Police said.

Govt says seeking delay in UN war-crimes report

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said on Wednesday that they were seeking a delay of several months in the release of a U.N. report on alleged war crimes during the civil war until the government had time to establish a mechanism to deal with the issue.

No one will be able to replace me - Gota

One of the most influential figures of the Rajapaksa regime, he was admired by many, feared by some and hated by others. With many allegations made against him following the end of the Rajapaksa rule, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa spoke to  and responded candidly to the accusations that are being made against him, on the speculations made concerning his entry to politics and why he believes he is irreplaceable. . .

Inconvenience faced by Facebook users

The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (SLCERT) said a web link which was sharing on the social media network had inconvenienced Facebook users.

PM to get powers to sack corrupt officials

Standing Orders of Parliament will be amended to empower the Prime Minister to take action against officials in state enterprises found guilty of mismanagement, financial frauds and corruption by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), COPE Chairman DEW Gunasekara said.

No armouries in Hambantota: Namal

Denying allegations made by the government MPs that there are private armouries in Hambantota, the UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa yesterday said violence were unleashed in the area only during the 1980s.

Lankan nabbed with Rs.48Mn foreign currency

A Sri Lankan male was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) departure lounge this morning while attempting to smuggle out foreign currency worth Rs.48,309,692 concealed in his Baggage.

China firm 'sure' about Colombo project go-ahead

The Chinese construction company behind the controversial $ 1.34 billion Colombo port city project - currently being reviewed by the new Sri Lankan government - has said it is "sure" about being given the necessary approvals for the ambitious land reclamation initiative.

Champika to produce blacklist of corrupt VIPs

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka today vowed to publish a blacklist exposing all the VIPs and higher-ups who have allegedly amassed billions of rupees and dollars of ill-gotten lucre and other assets during the tenure of the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime.

Student couple drowns in Deduru Oya

A student couple of the Grade 11 class had drowned in Deduru Oya reservoir in Minuwangete, Wariyapola this afternoon, the Police said.

Five killed in head-on collision

Five people were killed when a three-wheeler they were traveling in, collided head-on with a SLTB bus this afternoon at Pallemalala in Hambanthota, police said.

Four Thai women nabbed for prostitution

Four Thai women allegedly engaged in prostitution and six Indians who are alleged to have aided and abetted them were nabbed by the Special Investigation Unit of the Department of Immigration and Emigration today.

Video: Welcome for Tissa

Can't call it 'genocide': Rajitha

Terming the resolution an ‘extremist position,’ Health Minister and Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said President Maithripala Sirisena had promised to initiate an internationally approved, domestic inquiry process into alleged war crimes committed by Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE.

Air China in SL from today

SL’s duty on war crimes: NYT Editorial

It was just one month ago that Sri Lanka surprised the world by electing opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena as president, rejecting the authoritarianism, corruption and dynastic politics of the administration of the incumbent, Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Video: Tissa released on bail

Former Health Minister Tissa Attanayake was today released on bail with two sureties of Rs.1 million each. Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage fixed the next hearing for March 11.

HRW says SL workers abused at Abu Dhabi worksite

Human Rights Watch on Tuesday accused an Abu Dhabi company building local branches of the Louvre and Guggenheim museums of mistreating its migrant workers mostly from India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, despite some improvements five years after the group first raised concerns.

CID summons Duminda again

The CID has summoned UPFA Colombo District MP Duminda Silva to appear at the CID today 11.00 a.m. for further questioning, the police said.

Sarana released on bail

UPFA MP Sarana Gunawardena was released on Rs.150,000 cash bail with a surety of Rs. 60 million by the Colombo Chief Magistrate today in the case where he had allegedly been involved in 107 frauds including Rs.36 million fraud while he was the National Lotteries Board Chairman.

India not for International war crimes probe against SL

Any attempt to challenge the new government in Colombo with an international genocide probe could “complicate matters”, sources in New Delhi say.

New DIG for PM security division

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Jayantha Wickramasinghe has been appointed as DIG of the Prime Minister's Security Division (PMSD) with immediate effect, the Police Department announced today.