Madrasas to come under Education Ministry: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday Madrasas would be placed under the purview of the Education Ministry.

Hansard officer in parliament arrested for aiding and abetting Zahran

A senior indexing officer attached to the Hansard Department of Parliament who had aided and abetted suicide bomber Zahran Hashim as a leading activist of the National Thawheed Jamaath (NTJ) was arrested by a special police team in Kurunegala on Saturday.

Our intelligence services are capable of tackling religious extremism: Prez

The separatist terrorism, waged for 26 years by the LTTE could not be defeated even by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) comprising 100,000 soldiers but was defeated by our own heroic soldiers and as such, our intelligence services, soldiers and the police have the capability and resolve to wipe out religious extremist terrorism in the same manner, President Maithripala Sirisena said today.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa confirms presidential run

Former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, accused by rights groups of war crimes during the final months of Sri Lanka’s long-running civil war a decade ago, has confirmed he plans to run for the presidency in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks that have shattered the country’s uneasy peace.

Dayasiri gives statement over incidents in NW Province

UPFA MP Dayasiri Jayasekara arrived at the Office of Deputy Inspector General (Colombo Division) to give a statement over the recent violent incidents in the North Western Province.

Soldier in Nattanidiya video not at fault: Army Commander

Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake said yesterday the soldier who was seen in a CCTV video as having made a hand gesture to a mob during a violent incident that occurred in Nattanidiya in Thummodara last Monday, and was found to be not at fault.

Muslim leaders call for Sri Lankan identity

While expressing solidarity with the victims of the Easter Sunday terror attacks and those affected by the recent spate of violence, prominent Sri Lankan Muslim leaders today called for one united Sri Lankan identity.

Probe underway on Rs.4mn remitted by three ISIS members

The Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) informed Colombo Additional Magistrate Thanuja Jayatunga yesterday that investigations were ongoing into the Rs.4 million remitted to Sri Lanka by three Sri Lankans allegedly involved in training with ISIS terrorists in Syria.

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.