Curfew further relaxed

Curfew will be effective only between 12 midnight to 4 am daily in all the districts in the country from tomorrow (14) onwards until further notice, Presidential Media Division said.

Announcement of date for postal voting a canard : EC

Chairman of the Elections Commission (EC) Mahinda Deshapriya yesterday said that the EC was yet to decide on the dates of marking of postal votes and the certain media reports that the dates for postal voting have been announced was totally false and misleading.

Bows,arrows and complex symbolic displays 48,000 years ago in SL

The objects were found in a cave(Fa-Hien) in Sri Lanka and include the oldest known bow-and-arrow technology outside Africa, dating back to 48,000 years ago, new research published in the journal Science Advances revealed.

Mock polls at 15 more areas

The Elections Commission (EC) has decided to conduct mock polls at 15 more areas during the next few days to work out the logistics involved in conducting a general election under the pandemic situation in the country.

Rilwan Hashim’s injuries not probed by CNH police unit in 2018

Police on duty at the Colombo National Hospital on August 27, 2018 had failed to conduct a thorough inspection when Zaharan Hashim’s brother Rilwan was admitted to the hospital with blast injuries and this led to the escape of a major suicide bomber from in-depth investigations, PCoI into the Easter Sunday attacks observed yesterday.

Cabinet approves relief to tourist industry

The Cabinet has decided to provide relief to the tourist industry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

Church services to resume from Sunday

Church services are likely to begin from Sunday with the government deciding to allow religious observances at places of worship with the congregation limited to 50.

Stop unlawful activities of leasing companies: Prez directs Police

As the method adopted by the leasing companies to seize vehicles of those who had failed to pay their loan installments is unlawful, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has ordered the Police that no room should be left to continue this practice, the President’s Media Division said.

COVID-19 Fund balance surpasses Rs.1,378mn

Following corporate, individual donations and direct deposits, ‘ITUKAMA’ COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund balance has surpassed Rs.1,378 million, the President’s Media Division said.

Peraheras, processions allowed sans spectators

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed officials to conduct Peraheras and processions of religious palaces in line with health guidelines but without any spectators, the President’s Media Division said today.

Navin to head Jathika Estate Workers Union

United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today appointed its National Organizer Navin Dissanayake as the President of the UNP-affiliated Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union (LJEWU).

Retired DIG Wickremasinghe appointed Ombudsman at Presidential Secretariat

Retired Senior DIG S. M. Wickremasinghe has been appointed as the Ombudsman at the newly created Ombudsman Office at the Presidential Secretariat.

46 more COVID-19 patients recover

Forty-six more COVID-19 infected patients were recovered and discharged from hospitals today increasing the total number of recovered patients in Sri Lanka to 1196.

15-hour water cut in Colombo this Sunday

The water supply will be interrupted for 15 hours from 9 a.m. to 12 midnight in Colombo 02, 03, 07, 08 and 10 this Sunday (14), the National Water Supply and Distribution Board said today.

Range Bandara’s son’s vehicle met with accident again

A luxury motorcar belonging to former parliamentarian Palitha Range Bandar’s son Yasodha Range Bandara met with an accident last night at Thonigala in Anamaduwa, Police said.

Ragging victim Pasindu Hirushan discharged from hospital

Pasindu Hirushan, who was undergoing treatment at the National Hospital, Colombo following a ragging incident in March, was recovered and discharged from the hospital.

Niluka Ekanayake withdraws from contesting under SJB

Former Governor Niluka Ekanayake, who was set to contest the general election from Samagi Jana Balawegaya for Ratnapura District, has withdrawn from contesting the election.

225 Lankans return from Philippine, Japan

A total of 225 Sri Lankans including two naval officials who were stranded in Philippine and Japan due to COVID-19 pandemic, arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning, the Airport Duty Manager said.

Man found dead at independence square; suspected suicide

A letter purported to be a suicide note of the man found dead at Independence Square this morning, has indicated that he had taken his life due to multiple health issues.

Senior DIG says he was doubtful about content in warning letter

Senior DIG Nandana Munasinghe, who was the Senior DIG of the Western Province in April 2019, yesterday informed the PCoI into Easter Sunday attacks that he has never contacted IGP Pujith Jayasundara, who is currently on compulsory leave, after receiving a top secret intelligence letter on April 09, 2019, mentioning a warning of an Islamic extremist terror attack.

ETI Investments; Central Bank has failed in its duty-Prez

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday said that the Central Bank has failed in its duty and cannot evade its responsibility with regard to the alleged irregularities in the ETI Investments, the Presidential Media Division said.

Hirunika hails Namal’s stance

SJB Colombo District candidate and former MP Hirunika Premachandra yesterday said she is happy about the stand of former Parliament colleague Namal Rajapaksa with regard to the Mount Lavinia beach project.

Considering of bail for prisoners through video technology

The Cabinet gave the green light on Wednesday to go ahead with a project proposed by Justice and Law Reforms Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva to consider granting of bail through video technology while the accused remains in prison.

No more arrests of protesters by Police: Govt.

The Police will refrain from arresting protesters at public venues unless there is an extreme situation that would lead to serious violation of law and order causing public unrest but all those involved would be referred to a spell of quarantine, Cabinet spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardana said today.

If fail to implement guidelines, won’t hesitate to sack CB or State Bank officials: President

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today warned that he would not hesitate to remove officials of the Central Bank (CB) or State Banks from their positions if they fail to take steps to implement the guidelines formulated by the government.

Pavithra rejects RW’s remarks, says WHO released only USD 1.9mn & not USD 230mn

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi today rejected remarks made by former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had released USD 230 million to Sri Lanka for COVID-19 operations.

Norochcholai Unit 2 breaks down

Unit 2 of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant has experienced a breakdown following a steam leak. Lakvijaya Plant Manager Indrasiri Gallage said that it would take around four days to cool down. “After four days, we will repair it and it can be completed within two days.’’

India’s tour of SL called off

The India National Team Tour of Sri Lanka, which was scheduled to take place during the month of June, 2020 will not go ahead as scheduled, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said today.

Weapon used in Soysapura shooting recovered from Piliyandala

A T-56 weapon which was allegedly used in the Soysapura shooting, was recovered from a forest behind a house at Suwarapola in Piliyandala today, police said.

Need to install mobile jammers to make phones useless in prisons: Upuldeniya

The Prisons Department is expected to introduce a new mobile jamming system to prevent inmates from using mobile phones while in prisons, Prisons Commissioner General Thushara Upuldeniya said.