SL-Maldives to redouble counter-terrorism efforts

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President of the Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih have agreed to redouble efforts to protect people from the threat of terrorism in the region, a joint press statement from the leaders said today.

PM-Sajith meet to iron out differences

In the backdrop of a brewing political crisis, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held talks with Minister Sajith Premadasa for one and half hours at Temple Trees on Thursday evening to find a way out, a party official said.

Bond Scam: Court tells Ravi K to report to CID

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today directed Minister Ravi Karunanayake to report to the CID within the next two weeks to provide further statements regarding the inquiry being conducted in connection with the giving of false evidence at the Bond Commission on August 2, 2015.

Batti campus; Rs. 4.4 bn in account reduced to Rs.36,000 now: FCID

The FCID yesterday informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna that more than Rs. 4 billion had been received from foreign countries and credited to one account of a state bank in Sri Lanka on behalf of the university being constructed in Batticaloa by Batticaloa Campus (Pvt) Company which is said to be owned by ex-governor of Eastern Province, M.L.M.Hizbulla. But, the amount now lying to the credit of that account is said to be Rs. 36,000.

We have a candidate in line with our policies: PM

The National Democratic Alliance (NDF) will be formed soon and a candidate will be named shortly, Prime Minister Rani Wickremesighe said on Saturday.

Lifting Emergency will not impact ban on terrorist outfits : MoD

Lifting the State of Emergency will not have any impact on the ban imposed on terrorist organisations, the National Media Centre of the Ministry of the Defence said yesterday.

Rs.160mn for 85 Hakeem coordinators at NWSDB: COPE

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) revealed yesterday that a staggering Rs.160 million had been paid as salaries to 85 employees of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) who were recruited as ministerial coordinating officers of Subject Minister Rauff Hakeem since 2015.

Split within UNP inevitable: MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa today claimed it is inevitable that the United National Party (UNP) will be split irrespective of who becomes the party’s nominee at the upcoming presidential election.

UNP alleges coup attempt, efforts to appoint new PM

Efforts are being made to create another constitutional coup similar to that of the one on October 26 last year and to appoint a new premier, UNP MPs Ashu Marasinghe and Palitha Range Bandara alleged yesterday.

54 MPs ask Ranil for key party group meetings

UNP Chairman Kabir Hashim has handed over a letter signed by 54 MPs to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe requesting him to convene the party’s working committee and the parliamentary group in order name the presidential candidate within seven days.

Certain persons, who led army making harmful statements: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said he was deeply saddened to hear statements made by certain persons who have led the army, disguised under narrow political agendas with regard to the national security.

Sajith vows to create an era without hardships

UNP Deputy Leader and Housing and Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa today pledged to create an era where the hardships faced by the common man would be no more and that it would begin in November.

Philippines verifying reports of Lankan terrorists in Manila

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it was verifying information on two supposed terrorists from Sri Lanka reported to be training bombers to launch attacks in Luzon, Rappler.com reported.

Hizbullah’s contract with Govt. contravenes Constitution - AG’s Dept.

Attorney General’s Department had informed the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education in Parliament that former Eastern Province Governor M. L. A. M. Hizbullah had engaged in a conflict of interest by getting into a contract with the government to establish the Batticaloa Campus while being an MP, it was revealed yesterday.

Former Chief JMO Samarasekara indicted

Former Chief Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of Colombo, Dr. Ananda Samarasekara, was indicted by the Attorney General in the Colombo High Court for concealing evidence on the murder case of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen, the Attorney General’s Department said today.

Entire Govt. responsible for mistakes and lapses: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said that the entire government and cabinet of ministers are responsible for the mistakes and lapses which led the terror group to launch successful attacks on Easter Sunday.

Presidential Election: Still not decided to contest - President

President Maithripala Sirisena said he has not yet decided whether to contest or not at the next presidential election although there are many requests for him to contest.

A team of volunteers to provide security for Gota

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has decided to create a separate volunteer team for the security of former secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Gotabaya Rajapaksa who is tipped to be its presidential candidate at the upcoming election.

Two members of banned JMI arrested

Eastern Province military wing leader of the banned Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), Nauzad Umar, and a 25-year-old student of the Oluvil Campus who allegedly promoted JMI propaganda at the campus were arrested today, police said.

Dr. Shafi granted bail

Dr. Mohamed Shafi Shihabdeen of the Kurunegala Hospital was granted bail by the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court this evening.

SC stops special HC hearing on Rajapaksa case until Oct.1

The Supreme Court directed today the Special High Court to stop hearing further evidence over the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case till the Supreme Court decided on the appeal made by the Defence over the Jurisdiction of the Special High Court to hear it.

UK launches probe into exporting ‘human remains’ to SL

The British Government has launched an investigation after Sri Lankan authorities said they would send back more than a hundred shipping containers because they appeared to contain human remains disguised as recyclable metals, the Telegraph reported yesterday.

Request of Rs.364 million to shift Ministry of Power turned down

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has yesterday vehemently protested against the Cabinet paper presented by Minister Ravi Karunanayake requesting for Rs 364 million from the Treasury to shift the Ministry of Power, Energy and Business Development to another location.

Safe houses - Rs.5 mn reward to person who gave info

Acting IGP C.D. Wickramaratna has decided to pay a reward of Rs.5 million to the person who provided information which led to the recovery of explosives from two safe houses at Samanthurai and Nintavur in Ampara, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Malinga informs SLC of decision to retire from ODIs

Veteran cricketer Lasith Malinga today said he officially informed Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) that he would retire from One Day Internationals after the first ODI against Bangladesh at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on July 26.

Easter Sunday attacks: We don’t have faith in probes - Cardinal

Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said yesterday that he did not have faith in any of the probes carried out on the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.

Govt. taking steps to bring down Arjuna Mahendran: DSG

Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Priyantha Nawana today informed the High Court Special Trial–at- bar that the Government was taking steps to bring down Central Bank’s former governor Arjuna Mahendran from Singapore under extradition laws.

I only referred to a ‘handful of monks’: Ranjan

State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday said there was no need for him to seek an apology from the Maha Sangha as he had not made any statement insulting the Maha Sangha and said he only spoke about a ‘handful of monks’.

India monitoring SL protests against SOFA

India is keeping a close watch as protests grow in Sri Lanka over the proposed Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the US, which could enable the setting up of an American military base in Sri Lanka, the Economic Times reported today.

Visa on arrival programme likely to make comeback

The government plans to revive the recently suspended free visa and visa on arrival programme from August 1 this year for 39 countries.