Pope Francis leaves for Philippines

Basil resigns as SLFP national organiser

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa today resigned from his post and notified his decision to party General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, sources close to him said.

Video: WPC disputes Uva CM appointment

The Western Provincial Council today said the appointment of UNP Provincial Councillor Harin Fernando as the new Uva Chief Minister was against the Constitution.

Video: Set up police unit to nab extortionists: LPBOA

Lanka Private Bus Owners Association (LPBOA) President Gemunu Wijeratne said today they would not allow extortionists to solicit bribes from bus operators.

Van on expressway catches fire

A van travelling on the southern expressway from Galle to Kottawa is reported to have caught fire close to the Dodangoda exit point Police said.

T’phone Nos. to report post-election violence

President Maithripala Sirisena today appointed Defence Ministry’s additional Secretary Ms. D.M.S. Jayaratne to carry out an investigation on post-election violence.

Video: I’m ‘Matara Sunil’: Ranjan

United National Party (UNP) MP Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday revealed that he was the person who made a phone call during a political programme telecast live on a private television channel under the identity ‘Matara Sunil’.

MR says ready to handover SLFP Chairmanship to Maithri

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had told party leaders of the UPFA last night that he was willing to hand over the Chairmanship of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to President Maithripala Sirisena.

Fly Dubai flight delayed

A Fly Dubai Airline flight was delayed for more than an hour because of a bird hitting theplane as it was landing at the MahindaRajapaksa Airport in Mattala.

Pope Francis leaves for Philippines

His Holiness Pope Francis left for Manila, Philippines in a Sri Lankan flight concluding a successful two-day official visit to Sri Lanka a short while ago.

Rs. 170mn loss to CPC from Sajin’s petrol station

The Petroleum Corporation has refused to issue fuel to a petrol station in Ambalangoda town which is said to have been owned by a well known politician of the former government due to his failure to pay a sum of Rs. 170 million due to the corporation.

President to meet MR today

A special meeting is to take place this afternoon between President Maithripala Sirisena and former president Mahinda Rajapakse, political sources said. They said the meeting would be held at President Sirisena’s residence on Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo.

Pope Francis meets MR and Gota

Pope Francis met former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ayoma Rajapaksa at the Vatican embassy, in Colombo, last evening, Papal spokesman Fr. Fedrico Lombade said.

Fresh look at UNHRC probe

In its handling of the country’s foreign policy, the new Government has decided to look afresh at the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL), a deputy minister said yesterday.

Pope visits Mahabodhi Temple in Maradana

Pope Francis made a surprise visit to the Mahabodhi Temple in Maradana late this evening and viewed the sacred relics of the Buddha's disciples, Papal spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi said today

Video: Mangala complains to CID on alleged attempt to thwart democracy

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera lodged a complaint with the CID this afternoon, requesting an immediate investigation into an alleged conspiracy that was hatched at Temple Trees, which, if successful would have dealt a hammer blow to Sri Lanka’s democracy.

President visits Gangaramaya temple

​SL processes the release of Indian fishermen-FM

Video: Truck set on fire: Man burnt

Police Spokesman Ajith Rohana said investigations were underway into an incident where a truck parked outside a house at Hakuruwela in Weeraketiya had been set on fire by a group of people and killing a mentally retarded person who was sleeping inside the vehicle.

Dunesh Gankanda appointed as Dy.Minister

UNP Ratnapura district MP Dunesh Harsha Gankanda has been appointed as Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage Board, the government information department said.

We still want Rajapaksa to go to the Hague - MIA

While claiming that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa should be taken to Hague for  alleged war crimes, Maya Arulpragasam, the Sri Lankan Tamil recording artist said that Sri Lanka's new government has the ‘same face’ as it includes politicians who have been involved in government for the last 30 years.

Putin keen to further strengthen ties with SL

Russian President Vladimir Putin in a felicitation message to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, reaffirmed that Russia was looking forward to further strengthening of fruitful bilateral relations between the two countries.

Namal rejects allegations

UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa rejecting the allegations levelled against him said he was fully prepared to face the consequences, if he had done any wrong.

Jacqueline opens up on Salman’s SL visit

Actress Jacqueline Fernandez is unhappy with media as she thinks that media should have asked them before printing about their Sri Lanka visit.

Cannonised

Video: Prisoners released in view of Pope’s visit

A total of 612 prisoners had been released islandwide today to mark the visit of Pope Francis to the country, Prisons Spokesman Thushara Upuldeniya said.

Video: Harin sworn in as Uva Chief Minister

United National Party Member of the Uva Provincial Council, Harin Fernando was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of the Uva Provincial Council a short while ago.

Video: Wele Suda brought to SL

Notorious drug smuggler Samantha Kumara alias Wele Suda, who was arrested in Pakistan yesterday, had been brought to Colombo this morning, the Police said.

Alagaratnam elected as BASL President

President’s Counsel Geoffrey Alagaratnam was duly elected uncontested to the post of President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) for the years of 2015/2016.

Lankan fishermen arrested by India

Six Sri Lankan fishermen had been apprehended by the Indian Coast guard yesterday allegedly found fishing inside the Indian Maritime Boundary, the Fisheries Department said.