Fire breaks out at four-storey building in Pettah

A fire has broken out at a four-storey building at the 1st Cross Street in Pettah a short while ago, the Fire Brigade said.

Five arrested over throwing tyre at J’pura student

Five students of the Sri Jayawardenepura University including the main suspect had been taken into the custody over the incident where a first-year student was injured in a ragging incident.

Three-judge bench to hear writ applications by Ravi, others

A three-judge bench was appointed by the Court of Appeal today to hear the writ applications filed by former MP Ravi Karunanayake and three others seeking an order preventing their arrests.

Second patient cured of HIV, say doctors

A man from London has become the second person in the world to be cured of HIV, BBC reported today quoting his doctors. It said Adam Castillejo is still free of the virus more than 30 months after stopping anti-retroviral therapy.

AG says PCoI has no authority to question AG’s functions

Attorney General Dappula De Livera has responded in writing to Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) Probing into Incidents of Political Victimization that it has no judicial power or authority to question the Attorney General’s functions before the Trial-at-Bar, the AG’s Coordinating Officer State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said.

MR signs nominations papers to contest from Kurunegala

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has signed nomination papers at his residence in Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7 today to contest the upcoming General Elections from Kurunegala District, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Govt. requests public support for COVID-19 prevention

While confirming the first COVID-19 infected Sri Lankan the Government requested the general public to support the health authorities in taking preventive measures.

First Sri Lankan in SL infected with Covid-19 found

The first Sri Lankan infected with Covid - 19 (Coronavirus) has been found and currently being treated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Angoda, informed sources said.

UK Health minister Nadine Dorries tests positive

Health minister and Conservative MP Nadine Dorries been diagnosed with coronavirus.

Old parliament open to public on weekends

The old parliament building which houses the office of the Presidential Secretariat will be open for public viewing during the weekends, the Presidential Secretariat said.

5% Fuel price reduction is not sufficient: former Oppo. Leader

Five percent fuel prices reduction proposed by the government is hardly sufficient as it does not give the people in Sri Lanka the fullest benefit of the decrease of prices in the global market, former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said yesterday. Mr Premadasa told a press conference that prices of fuel could be reduced by 40 percent.

Some Govt. MPs to cross over to SJB ahead of polls

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), led by Sajith Premadasa is in talks with a group of government MPs who have expressed their willingness to join the opposition and contest the upcoming general election under the new alliance, the Daily Mirror learns.

Two Sri Lankans infected with Coronavirus in UAE

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Tuesday confirmed two Sri Lankans infected with the Covid-19 coronavirus in the country.

Court re-issues arrest warrant on secretary

The Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar yesterday re-issued the warrant for the arrest of P.K. Weerasinghe, the Secretary of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) appointed to probe incidents of political victimisation under the ’Yahapalanaya’ government.

Cabinet approval sought to reduce fuel prices: Amaraweera

Power, Energy and Commuter Transport Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera will appraise the Cabinet today on the low level of fuel prices in the global market and seek the possibility of reducing prices in the domestic market.

Japanese vehicle prices may go up by 10% due to strong Yen: VIASL

The price of the vehicles imported from Japan would be increased due to increase of the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of Japan vehicles by 10 per cent, the Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) said today.

SJB to seek stay order if UNPers not allowed to join

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) said today it would seek a stay order from Court if the United National Party (UNP) applies undue influence on its members to prevent them from joining the new alliance led by former opposition leader Sajith Premadasa.

14-day quarantine for 170 Lankans arriving from Korea, Italy and Iran

Some 170 Sri Lankans who arrived from Korea, Italy and Iran during the past few days have been quarantined for 14 days at centers set up at the Batticaloa Private Campus in eastern Sri Lanka, the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre and Leprosy Hospital in Hendala, Director General Health Services (DGHS), Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

To escape from Coronavirus: UK firm names SL as safe to travel

PC Agency, a firm in UK has recommended Sri Lanka and the Caribbean’s as two of the safest places for UK citizens to travel to escape from the Coronavirus (Covid19) outbreak, foreign media reported.

SJBers likely to lose UNP membership: Range Bandara

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) must understand that its members may lose their membership in United National Party (UNP) because its constitution states that UNPers cannot obtain the membership of another party, former UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara said today.

Beauty queen turned Bhikkhunī organises Int’l Bhikkhunī Conference

Ven. Dr. Elizabeth Wo, a Vietnamese-American Bhikkhunī who was crowned Princess Asian-US 2006, organised an International Conference of Bhikkhunīs at the Mount Lavinia Hotel recently.

Won’t charge fees from passengers under quarantine: Army

No fee would be charged from the passengers who are directly being sent to quarantine centres in Punani and Kandakadu, Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander Shavendra Silva said.

Seven arrested over fatal clash at Negombo hotel

Seven suspects were arrested in connection with the clash at a hotel at Periyamulla in Negombo where a 36-year-old was hacked to death, Police said.

Police probe into undergrad being hit by tyre at Ja’pura

The Mirihana Crimes Division is investigating into the incident where a first-year student of the Sri Jayawardenepura University was hit on the head with a tyre thrown at him by a group of senior students.

If formula implemented, fuel prices can be reduced by Rs.20 per litre

Former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera today said that if the fuel price formula was implemented, all types of fuel could be reduced by Rs.20 per litre from March 10.

One arrested with dried cannabis worth Rs.80mn

A suspect who was in possession of over 3,200 kgs of dried cannabis worth Rs.80 million was arrested by the STF during a raid at Kotiyagala in Ethimale yesterday.

CSE trading halted for 30 minutes

Trading at Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) was halted for 30 minutes as the benchmark All Share Price Index (ASPI) plunged over 5 per cent soon after the market opening, following turmoil in world markets as a result of coronavirus fears.

Ravi’s lawyers file writ over arrest warrant

A writ application has been filed before the Appeal Court by lawyers of former MP Ravi Karunanayake requesting to cancel the arrest warrant issued on him by the Colombo Fort Magistrate.

SJB under telephone symbol

As the talks between the United National Party ( UNP) and the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) collapsed yesterday the latter decided to contest the April 25 general election under the telephone symbol.

Public assembly including large scale election gatherings to be restricted if situation worsens

Sri Lankan health authorities are closely monitoring the global COVID-19 outbreak and studying its mode of transmission from country to country and will caution against large scale public gatherings including large election gatherings if the situation worsens, sources from the Health Ministry told the Daily Mirror yesterday.