Wellampitiya Police OIC demands inquiry

Wellampitiya Police OIC Gamini Senarath Hewawithana has complained to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) demanding an inquiry against Colombo Magistrate Court Judge Priyantha Liyanage over the release of nine employees on bail of the copper factory in Wellampitiya.

Arrested software engineer key in Easter attacks

The software engineer suspected by authorities of having provided technical and logistical support to the Easter Sunday suicide bombers was monitored by Indian intelligence agencies three years ago for links with Islamic State suspects, Reuters reported on Tuesday quoting investigators.

Namal Kumara, Amith Weerasinghe arrested

Leader of the Mahasohon Balakaya, Amith Weerasinghe and Anti-Corruption Force Operations Director Namal Kumara were arrested today, police said.

Easter bombs had explosives not used before by LTTE or military, source

The explosives used by the suicide bombers for the Easter Sunday attacks had been improvised by the terrorists which neither the military nor the LTTE had used before, sources said.

Will not hesitate to use maximum force: Army Commander

In the wake of violence being reported in some areas, Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake in a hard-hitting statement said yesterday that the armed forces would not hesitate to use minimum or maximum force to stem any violence.

Police curfew imposed in Chilaw

Police curfew was imposed within the Chilaw Police Division with immediate effect until 4 a.m. tomorrow following a tense situation.

Virtusa employee arrested over suspected links to attacks

Sri Lankan police on Friday said they had arrested an employee of information technology services company Virtusa Corp in Colombo in connection with Easter Sunday bombings that killed more than 250 people.

Zoysa, Gunawardene charged for breaching ECB Anti-Corruption Code

The International Cricket Council (ICC), on behalf of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), has charged Nuwan Zoysa and Avishka Gunawardene for breaching the ECB Anti-Corruption Code for participants in the T10 League.

Will urge President to arrest Rishad: SB

Former minister and joint opposition stalwart, S.B.Dissanayaka continued his verbal battle with Commerce and Industries Minister Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday saying the government had ample evidence to arrest Minister Bathiudeeen.

SIU probes to ascertain Wellampitiya police erred

Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of Police launched a probe to determine whether that the nine individuals who were workers of the copper factory at Wellampitiya were released on bail due to an error of Wellampitiya Police officers, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Don’t try to create a ‘Bogeyman’ out of CTA: PM

While stating there was no need to create a bogeyman (Goni Billa) out of the Counter-Terrorism Act, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today said that the need of the hour was to keep aside narrow political divisions and come together to strengthen the existing legal framework and face the terrorism threat.

Ban on social media lifted

Temporary ban on social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber, YouTube and Instagram has been lifted, the Government Information Department said.

Social media temporarily blocked

Social media platforms including Whatsapp, facebook and youtube have been temporarily blocked in Sri Lanka, official sources said.

Makandure Madush deported from Dubai

Notorious underworld drug kingpin Makandure Madush who was arrested in Dubai, was deported to Sri Lanka this morning, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Extremists planning attacks on bridges in Colombo: police

Islamist extremists in Sri Lanka are believed to be planning attacks on bridges in Colombo, the authorities said, as they warned that several conspirators in the Easter Sunday bombings which killed 257 people were still at large.

Law and Order Minister - 59 UNF MPs to request Prez to appoint SF

Fifty nine United National Front MPs including some senior ministers are expected to hand over a written request to President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday requesting him to appoint Filed Marshall Sarath Fonseka as the Minister of Law and Order.

600 letters found at CME had nothing defamatory: Kiriella

Referring to the arrest of three suspects attached to the Public Enterprise Development Ministry with 600 letters at the Central Mail Exchange (CME) in Pettah on Thursday, Minister Lakshman Kiriella said as far as he was aware the letters did not contain any racist ideologies or defamatory remarks against anyone or anti-government propaganda.

Central Province NTJ financial controller arrested

A 40-year-old man, who is alleged to have been in charge of the finances of the National Thawheed Jamaath (NTJ) organisation in the Central Province, was arrested by police in the early hours of yesterday in Gampola.

All visa-violating foreigners ordered to be deported

Internal and Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardana yesterday instructed the Controller of Emigration and Immigration to take steps to deport all foreigners remaining in the country without visas and those overstaying their visas, under the prevailing security situation.

Swords may have been used to clear shrubs: Haleem

The caches of swords found from several mosques may have been used to clear shrubs surrounding those mosques, Muslim Religious Affairs Minister M. H. A. Haleem said.

Unreservedly committed to the fight against terrorism: UK

The British Government has consistently made clear its unreserved determination to fight the scourge of terrorism, the British High Commission (BHC) in Colombo said today.

US believes terrorists may be plotting more attacks in SL

The US believes members of the militant group blamed for Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday attacks may be at large and planning more assaults, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina Teplitz has told Reuters on Tuesday.

Attacks would have been prevented if new Counter Terrorism Bill was passed -PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said the Easter Sunday attacks would have been prevented if the new Counter Terrorism Bill which provides for territorial jurisdiction was passed in Parliament without delay.

Elder brother of hotel bombers arrested at Mahawila

Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Ifran Ahmed, the elder brother of two suicide bombers, who blew themselves up at two hotels had been arrested by the STF during a raid in Dematagoda this morning, the Police said.

President bans National Thawheed Jammath

President Maithripala Sirisena, as per the powers vested in him under the emergency regulations no 1 of 2019, has taken steps to ban National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ) and Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem (JMI) in Sri Lanka, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

Gun battle in Kalmunai: 15 including suicide bomber killed

At least 15 persons including suicide bomber were killed following the explosion that took place in a house in Kalmunai where a gun battle also occurred last night.

Zahran, one of the Shangri-La suicide bombers: DMI

Head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), Brigadier Chula Kodituwakku said today the suspected mastermind behind the Easter Sunday suicide attacks, Zahran Hashim, was one of the two suicide bombers who exploded themselves at the Shangri-La hotel.

Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando resigns

Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando has tendered his resignation to President Maithripala Sirisena today, sources said. Earlier, the President called for the resignation of the defence secretary and IGP Pujith Jayasundara.

Public advised not to panic as operations underway

The police advise the general public not to panic as the security forces are conducting search operations across the country.

Prez tells Defence Secretary, IGP to resign

President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have informed Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and IGP Pujith Jayasundara to resign from their offices, sources said.