Former CB Deputy Governor, PTL Chairman, 3 directors remanded

Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank P. Samarasiri, and Directors of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd Geoffrey Aloysius, Pushyamithra Gunawardena, R. Hulugalle and M. Surendran were ordered to be remanded till April 5 by

Rajapaksas close ranks behind Gota as presidential candidate

‘Is Mahinda playing fair by Gota in the presidential candidacy issue?’ was the title of an article by this writer that was published a fortnight ago in Daily Mirror. Let me begin this week’s article by excerpting five relevant paragraphs from the D.B.S. Jeyaraj column of March 9, 2019. Here are the first four paragraphs from the beginning of the article –

SLFP, SLPP play hide and seek

Politics is such an interesting subject in that President Maithripala Sirisena, who in 2015 dashed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s hopes to stay life-long in power and hand over the baton to his son Namal, seems to be hoping to come to power as President...

House at sea over Oman oil refinery project

Questions were raised in parliament today on the proposed oil refinery project in Hambantota which was supposed to be a joint venture with Oman, according to Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment (BoI). The claim was later denied by Oman’s Ministry of Oil and Gas.

The de Mel theory on World Cup

Ministers using cocaine: Ranjan undertook a govt. contract - Gammanpila

While claiming that State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake’s recent remarks on cocaine being used by several ministers, were baseless, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila said it was a contract given by the Government to the State Minister.

Expedient Politics Toy with Executive Presidency

When politicians do something to advance themselves politically, something that offers an easy way to attain a goal or result, but not necessarily an ethical solution, it is called expedient Politics. We use expedient when we want to hint....

Color code for all sweets, biscuits from April 2

A Colour Code System (CCS) indicating sugar and salt levels in packaged food would become mandatory on labels of all sweets including biscuits with effect from April 2, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said today.

Online sexism perpetuates with impunity

The forward journey of a woman is often hampered by culture, stereotypes and the everyday sexism of men as well as women. The recent celebration of International Women’s Day, which saw our national carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines, fly to Singapore in an all female crew flight, was sadly subjected to sexist remarks by certain men on social media.

Karannagoda arrives at CID

Former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID a short while ago to give a statement over the abduction and killing of 11 youths in 2008-2009.

25 UNP backbenchers to defeat President’s expenditure head

UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra said yesterday more than 25 UNP backbenchers were prepared to defeat the President’s expenditure head.

UL has no manual on obtaining foreign, financial loans

SriLankan Airlines does not have an instruction manual or guidebook when it comes to obtaining foreign loans and other financial services, Company Head of Finance Yasantha Dissanyake informed the PCoI into irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka yesterday.

New luxury tax on vehicle imports if manufacture cost exceeds Rs.3.5mn: importers

The Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) yesterday said, for the first time in the vehicle import history, a new luxury tax has been imposed apart from the Customs duty, if manufacturing cost of a vehicle exceeds Rs.3.5 million.

Namal alleges govt. incurred loss of Rs. 1,000 bn

UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa said today the government had incurred a loss of Rs. 1000 billion due to its poor economic management while the previous government spent only Rs. 300 billion to construct Hambantota port and Mattala Airport.

I don’t have a single white van: Gota

Former Defence Secretary and Eliya Organisation head Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that he doesn’t own a single white van as claimed by opposing factions.

Alcohol: How much is too much?

“ I take a glass of arrack every day” “I take a 1/4 a bottle of arrack once in a month” “Taking a glass of wine at the end of the day relaxes me”

Budget 2019 to promote open market policies, liberalisation: Mangala

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said yesterday that the government’s maiden budget for 2019 is to be presented in parliament tomorrow (5) and will further open market policies and liberalisation

17 youths arrested at Facebook party in Matara

Seventeen youths, including an actress, were arrested early morning yesterday while they were using cocaine and unidentified drug tablets in two hotel rooms in Polhena, Matara after a Facebook party at another hotel in Mirissa.

Sri Lanka regains ICC Status

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) regained its ICC Status, after nine months of being relegated to observer status, SLC President Shammi Silva tweeted.

Prosecution wants to find master mind behind Thajudeen’s murder

Deputy Solicitor General Dilan Ratnayake yesterday said that a broad investigation is being conducted to find the master-mind behind Thajudeen’s murder and the connection of the three suspects with the main culprit.

India vows to fight terrorism

Indian External affairs Ministry says India is firmly and resolutely committed to taking all necessary measures to fight the menace of terrorism. Issuing a statement, the Indian M

THE TRAGIC TALE OF IMPORTED DAIRY COWS

Sometime ago people had the habit of leveling allegations against certain authorities that they were involved in doing ‘ Harak weda’ (things unbecoming of them). This story is about such an act which is unbecoming of humans. Their modus operandi has brought ill fate not only for the Government, but to local investors and a large number of dairy farmers.

SriLankan flights to Karachi and Lahore cancelled

SriLankan Airlines cancelled its flights to the Pakistani cities of Karachi and Lahore scheduled for Thursday (28) following the temporary closure of Pakistani airspace by the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan.

Sanath Jayasuriya banned from all cricket for 2 years

Former Sri Lanka Cricket Chair of Selectors, Sanath Jayasuriya has been banned from all cricket for two years after admitting breaching two counts of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code, the ICC said in a statement today.

Prez extends gratitude to PNB, STF for seizing largest ever heroin haul

President Maithripala Sirisena today extended his gratitude to the officials of the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) and the Special Task Force (STF) for seizing the largest ever heroin haul in Sri Lanka.

Largest ever heroin haul worth Rs. 3.5 billion seized

A mammoth heroin haul weighing 294.4 kilogrammes valued at more than Rs. 3,533 million, the largest heroin detection ever made in Sri Lanka, was seized by the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) and the Special Task Force (STF) officials this morning.

CC not independent with political representatives in it: MR

The much vaunted Constitutional Council (CC) cannot be called independent as long as there are political party representatives in it, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday. Responding to a question posed by a journalist at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Head Office, Mr. Rajapaksa said it was his view that personnel within the CC should be changed.

Politician Involved in Acquiring Property

A Minister’s name is associated with the activities of an alleged fraudster to retain a highly residential property in Colombo 7 in a fraudulent manner. It has been revealed as to how this alleged fraudster has executed a falsified deed of transfer and a fraudulent vacant possession agreement which is worth Rs.1500 million.

Resolving issues of apartment owners CMA offers special treatment to influential parties

The double standards followed by the Condominium Management Authority (CMA) has now come to light following the demolition of a flower trough at Trillium Residencies recently.

Madush likely to receive pardon in Aug. ’20: Ranjan

Makandure Madush is likely to receive a pardon in August 2020, a Sri Lankan intelligence officer assisting in the investigations in Dubai said on Monday.