Keselwatta Police files B report against lawyers who organised a protest

The Keselwatta Police has filed a B report before Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court against a group of lawyers who organised a protes on 18th of January, condemning the Attorney General’s alleged interference with the judiciary.

Rift in PUCSL likely to pave way for proposed electricity tariff increase

Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Ratnayake yesterday alleged that the country’s political authorities have influenced three commission members to revise the earlier unanimous decision to reject the interim and retrospective electricity tariff hike proposed by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Maximum retail price for eggs gazetted

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has issued a gazette notification imposing maximum retail price for eggs with effect from today.

UPDATE - Seven dead, several people injured in Thurstan College bus accident

An accident has been reported on the Nanuoya road in Nuwera Eliya between a bus, three wheeler and a van and seven bodies have been recovered while several people have been reported injured. The bus had been carrying students from Thurstan College in Colombo who had been on an educational tour.

COPF wants Port City to comply with existing laws when setting up offshore casinos

The Committee on Public Finance (COPF) has moved towards preventing Colombo Port City to prepare new legislation pertaining to the casinos within the offshore city which is being set up on reclaimed land from the sea.

CEB asks PUCSL to give quick decision on electricity tariff hike

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said that the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) should quickly give a decision on the proposal to increase electricity charges brought in by the CEB along with the approval of the Cabinet.

UK PM Rishi Sunak apologizes for not wearing seatbelt

Lancashire Police are ’’looking into’’ Rishi Sunak after he was filmed not wearing a seat belt while a passenger in a moving car.

Select Committee appointed to probe actions of media institution

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana today announced the appointment of a special select committee to probe actions of a media institution which is the first of its kind during recent times.

Mujibur Rahman resigns as MP

SJB MP Mujibur Rahman informed Parliament that he was resigning today as an MP to contest for the Local Government election.

Murder of Uni student: MP wants probe over releasing suspect’s statement to media

An investigation should be held to ascertain as to how the statement given by the university student, who killed another fellow female student of the Colombo university recently, was released to media, SJB MP Rohana Bandara said today.

Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill passed in Parliament

The Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill was passed in Parliament with a majority of 61 votes.

Dayasiri questions Suren Raghavan’s attire in Parliament

SLFP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara raised objections to the attire of State Minister Suren Raghavan, who had worn a bow-tie suit to Parliamentary sessions today.

Serious repercussions inevitable if LG polls put off: AKD

If the government attempts to postpone the Local Government election, it would stir serious repercussions just as what happened in the past, National People’s Power (NPP) MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

If LG polls postponed, it’ll be a contempt of Court: GL

Claiming that the main purpose of the Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill is not to cut down on election expenditure, but to postpone the Local Government election, Parliamentarian Prof. G.L Peiris said it was not an easy task to postpone the LG polls.

Wijeyadasa to inform JSC to launch probe over a judge

Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa has requested the Judicial Service Commission to investigate the action of Colombo Additional Magistrate Tharanga Mahawatte who had offered food to a suspect.

Parliament mourns the death of Sumithra Peiris

Veteran filmmaker and spouse of late Lester James Peries Kala Keerthi Sumithra Peries passed away this morning.

Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill only to rehabilitate drug addicts not Aragalaya members: Minister

Refuting allegations that the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill was brought in to suppress Aragalaya members, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe today said drafting of the Bill commenced in 2004 even before some of the Aragalaya people were born.

Debate on Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill to be taken up tomorrow

The Business Committee of Parliament has decided to take up the Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill for debate tomorrow.

SF clashes with Maithripala in Parliament

Samagi Jana Balawegya (SJB) MP Sarath Fonseka and Former President Maithripala Sirisena were engaged in a verbal battle in Parliament today on defence issues and the latter’s appointment as Field Marshal.

Govt. justifies Independence Day celebrations amidst economic crisis

Justifying the spending on the Independence Day celebrations amidst the crisis situation, the government including the President and the Prime Minister said it is an investment for the future and an event to showcase the traditional values of the country rather than an excessive spending.

400 foreign dignitaries invited for Independence Day Celebrations: State Minister

Some 400 foriegn dignitaries, including the Commonwealth Secretary General have been invited to attend the 75th Independence Day Celebrations, State Minister Ashoka Priyantha said today.

President tries to supress power of legislature: Opposition

President Ranil Wickremesighe’s decision to summon a meeting of party leaders today to discuss the Election Expenditure Bill in Parliament which came under fire from the opposition with Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) alleging that President is trying to supress the power of the legislature.

Debate on Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill postponed by one month

The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms has decided to postpone the second reading debate of the Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill by one months’ time on a request made by Members of Parliament, the Communications Department of Parliament said.

I have to pay Rs. 100 mn over no fault of mine: Maithripala

Former President Maithripala Sirisena said today he has had to pay a compensation of Rs. 100 million to victims of Easter Sunday attacks not because of his fault but because the officials appointed by him had not carried out their responsibility properly.

SL has outstanding bill of Rs.50 bn for pharmaceuticals: RW

Sri Lanka is facing a daunting task of settling an outstanding bill of Rs. 50 billion for pharmaceuticals this year, President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament today.

Cabinet never decided to halt accepting deposits: PM contradicts Hapuhinne

Contradicting Public Administration Ministry Secretary Neil Bandara Hapuhinne, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said Cabinet never took a decision to halt accepting deposits from candidates for the Local Government election.

IMF staff level approval likely within first quarter of this year: Semasinghe

State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe expressed hope that Sri Lanka woud be able to get the staff level approval of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the first quarter of this year.

Regulations of Election Expenditure Bill consistent with Constitution: Speaker announces SC determination

The Supreme Court determined that Regulations of Election Expenditure Bill is consistent with the Constitution and can be passed with a simple majority in Parliament, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene announced today.

Parliament to take up Bill with provisions to rehabilitate Aragalaya members

Parliament is to take up the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill, which provides provisions to rehabilitate Aragalaya members, this week.

SL will be divided if 13A fully implemented as promised by RW: Wimal

The country would be divided within a short period of time once the pledge, which was given by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to the northern people that the government would fully implement the 13A, was made, National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa said today.