Can’t accept PM post without party leadership: Sajith

New Democratic Front (NDF) candidate who made his first public appearance today after the presidential election said he would not accept the prime ministerial candidature if he was not appointed as the new leader of UNP.

I can’t be the UNP leader forever: Ranil

United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said today his immediate task was to introduce a new leadership to the party.

Woman stabbed to death near Kegalle HC

A woman was stabbed to death by her husband when she came to the Kegalle High Court today over a maintenance case, police said.

Death row prisoner shot at when trying to escape

A prisoner on death row identified as Kusitha Namal was injured after prison officers opened fire at him when he was trying to escape from the premises of the Homagama Court today. The injured prisoner was rushed to the Homagama Hospital.

Pujith, Hemasiri further remanded

Former IGP Pujith Jayasundera and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando were further remanded until December 23 by Colombo Chief Magistrate today.

Leadership agitators creating unnecessary problems

The Bhikkhu wing of the UNP, Eksath Jathika Bhikkhu Peramuna (EJBP), said yesterday 24 MPs who agitated for a leadership change attempted to create unnecessary problems within the party in the context of MP Sajith Premadasa refusing to accept any post.

UNP should’ve taken a leaf out of Conservative Party’s book

The United National Party (UNP) should have taken a leaf out of the book of the UK’s Conservative Party which corrected its mistakes and emerged victorious at the end, its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told his party’s Pradeshiya Sabha members at Sirikotha yesterday.

Govt. adopting double standards on MCC: JVP

While claiming that the government was adopting double standards on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today the government should abolish not only the MCC pact but also other agreements such as Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) as promised before the presidential election.

Abduction of Swiss embassy employee had not happened: President

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said today it was evident that the incident in which a local employee of the Switzerland Embassy in Colombo was allegedly abducted and threatened had not happened.

MR regime hell-bent on political vendetta: UNP

United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today there was no legal provision to have abducted the family members of the former driver of MP Champika Ranawaka.

Swiss Embassy local staffer remanded

Colombo Chief Magistrate today ordered the remand of the suspect, Swiss Embassy local staffer- Garnier Banister Francis till December 30 for providing fabricated statements to the CID.

No intention to harm SL, need to remove any misunderstanding: Swiss Envoy

Ambassador of Switzerland in Sri Lanka, Hanspeter Mock, who called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today commented on the Embassy staffer incident and said Switzerland harboured no intention to do any harm to Sri Lanka.

Swiss Embassy local staffer arrested

Swiss Embassy local staffer, Garnier Banister Francis, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on the instructions of the Attorney General a short while ago.

Two arrested over ‘white van’ press briefing remanded

The two men who were arrested over the ‘white van’ press conference organised by Dr Rajith Senaratne, were remanded till December 27 by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today.

Swiss Embassy employee arrived at CID taken to Mental Health Institute

Swiss Embassy local staffer, Garnier Banister Francis, who arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this morning to give a statement, was taken to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Fight Cancer Team rejects Apeksha Hospital Director’s allegations

While categorically rejecting the allegations levelled by Maharagama Apeksha Hospital Director Dr. Wasantha Disanayake, Fight Cancer Team Founder M.S.M. Mohammed said the control and management of the fund, which the Hospital Director referred to as having been misused was in fact vested with the Health Ministry.

Leadership changes will occur at right time: Mayantha

Those eyeing the United National Party (UNP) leadership should be patient because they will be able to secure it at the appropriate time, MP Mayantha Dissanayake said today.

New terror threat has to be contained by any means: PM

The new terrorist threat faced by Sri Lanka has to be contained by whatever means necessary with the fullest cooperation of other countries, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

Govt. to review MCC: AG informs SC

Attorney General Dappula de Livera has informed the Supreme Court that the government has decided not to sign Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) as they are to be revisited and reviewed.

Cabinet to review decision after expert committee report

The suspension of the law to obtain a licence for the transportation of sand, stones and soil, by the cabinet on Tuesday would be effective only for a week and an expert committee report is expected on the matter at the next cabinet meeting, Cabinet spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardana said yesterday.

Environmentalists critical of abolishing permits to transport sand, granite, soil

Environmentalists are of the opinion that the recent Cabinet decision to allow the transportation of sand, granite and soil without permits will have some negative impact on environment in the short and long term. Environment, Wildlife Resources, Land and Land Development Minister S.M. Chandrasena said the decision was made to facilitate those engaged in the construction industry. Lawyer and e

Water tariffs for usage above 15 units to be increased

State Minister of Water Supply Vasudeva Nanayakkara today said they planned to increase tariffs for domestic water bills exceeding usage of 15 units.

Several parties have invited me: Ranjan

Gampaha District parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake said today several minor parties had offered to give him nomination to contest the next general election and that he was ready to join them if he was denied the ticket to contest under the UNP.

Parties want EC Chairman to continue in office

Representatives of several political parties who attended a meeting with officials attached to the Elections Commission (EC) yesterday had requested its Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya not to step down from chairmanship, Daily Mirror learns.

UNF to take crucial decisions on future way forward: Navin

UNF Parliamentary Group will meet at party headquarters Sirikotha today for a healthy discussion on the party’s future, UNP National Organiser Navin Dissanayake said yesterday.

UNP condemns UK’s manifesto on two-state solution

UNP today criticised the manifesto of UK’s Conservative party which had called for a two-state solution for the national issue in Sri Lanka and urged the party to scrap it.

EC raises concerns to party officials

The Election Commission (EC) has raised its concerns over the change in the election system and discussed the several issues pertaining to the election system with the party secretaries today.

I will contest independent or give up politics: Ranjan

Gampaha District MP Ranjan Ramanayake said he was contemplating whether to contest the general election in the Gampaha District from an independent list or to give up politics and become a full-time artiste if he was denied the ticket to contest the next general election.

Permits no longer required to transport sand, granite, soil: Minister

The Cabinet has decided that permits to transport sand, granite and soil were no longer necessary, Environment, Wildlife Resources, Land and Land Development Minister S.M. Chandrasena said.

Calling armed forces for civil matters shows signs of military rule: NPP

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s move to call on the three forces to maintain law and order in the country at a time when there was no emergency situation was a bad sign that the country was heading towards as a military rule, National People’s Power (NPP) said today.