Attacks would have been prevented if new Counter Terrorism Bill was passed -PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said the Easter Sunday attacks would have been prevented if the new Counter Terrorism Bill which provides for territorial jurisdiction was passed in Parliament without delay.

Elder brother of hotel bombers arrested at Mahawila

Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Ifran Ahmed, the elder brother of two suicide bombers, who blew themselves up at two hotels had been arrested by the STF during a raid in Dematagoda this morning, the Police said.

President bans National Thawheed Jammath

President Maithripala Sirisena, as per the powers vested in him under the emergency regulations no 1 of 2019, has taken steps to ban National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ) and Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem (JMI) in Sri Lanka, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

Gun battle in Kalmunai: 15 including suicide bomber killed

At least 15 persons including suicide bomber were killed following the explosion that took place in a house in Kalmunai where a gun battle also occurred last night.

Zahran, one of the Shangri-La suicide bombers: DMI

Head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), Brigadier Chula Kodituwakku said today the suspected mastermind behind the Easter Sunday suicide attacks, Zahran Hashim, was one of the two suicide bombers who exploded themselves at the Shangri-La hotel.

Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando resigns

Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando has tendered his resignation to President Maithripala Sirisena today, sources said. Earlier, the President called for the resignation of the defence secretary and IGP Pujith Jayasundara.

Public advised not to panic as operations underway

The police advise the general public not to panic as the security forces are conducting search operations across the country.

Prez tells Defence Secretary, IGP to resign

President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have informed Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and IGP Pujith Jayasundara to resign from their offices, sources said.

Will eradicate terrorism with int’l assistance: PM

Making a special statement in parliament, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe a short while ago said the government would eradicate terrorism with the assistance offered by the international community.

Death toll rises to 207, 450 injured

The death toll for the Easter Sunday terror attacks has risen to 207 with 450 reported to have been injured, police said.

A ’coup’ emerged and died within the UNP: MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said today a political coup was about to happen but it died within the United National Party (UNP) itself.

Sri Lankan World Cup squad announced

The Sri Lanka ODI squad for ICC World Cup 2019 was announced a short while ago by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Raavana 1 launched to ISS

The ’Raavana 1’ cube satellite designed and developed by two Sri Lankan engineers was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) in the 400km orbit by the Cygnus spacecraft of NASA today at 2.16 am Sri Lanka time, Director Communication Engineering (Project Manager Nano satellite projects) at Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies, Kavindra Jayawardena told Daily Mirror.

Dimuth to lead SL cricket team in World Cup

Sri Lanka’s national selectors put to an end days of speculation by appointing batsman Dimuth Karunaratne as captain of the Sri Lankan ODI team. This means the left-hander will lead the national side in the upcoming World Cup in England, Cricbuzz reported.

Education Ministry misuses Govt funds: Wijeyadasa tells PCoI

Former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa has provided a statement to the Police Unit attached to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) to investigate allegations of large scale corruption between January 15, 2015 and December 31, 2018, last week.

Lawyer among three arrested with ’ice’ in Kollupitiya

A lawyer and two others have been arrested for possession of drug, known as crystal methamphetamine (ice), during a raid in Kollupitiya early this morning, police said.

Ten killed in head-on collision in Mahiyanganaya

Ten people were killed and two others injured when a van they were travelling in collided head-on with a bus, near the Mahiyanganaya National College early this morning.

Lasantha’s murder: Civil lawsuit unsealed in US against Gota

A civil lawsuit has been unsealed by a US federal judge on Monday against former defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa seeking damages for his alleged involvement in the killing of Lasantha Wickramatunga, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported on Monday.

President leaves for India on private visit

President Maithripala Sirisena has left for India this morning for a private visit. President Sirisena is scheduled to visit and offer prayers to the Lord Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala tomorrow.

Four Lankans arrested by UK counter-terror police, released

Four Sri Lankan men who were arrested by counter-terrorism police hours after flying into the country have been released under investigation.

Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral is on fire

The spire atop the iconic Notre Dame cathedral collapsed amid a devastating fire at the Paris cathedral on Monday, just days before Easter Sunday.

Four Lankans arrested by UK counter-terror police

Four Sri Lankan men have been arrested at Luton Airport, London, by British counter-terror police on suspicion of being members of a banned organisation, UK’s The Independent news agency reported.

Printing Dept. gazetted under Ministry of Lands

The Department of Government Printing which was under the purview of the Ministry of Defence, has been gazetted under the Ministry of Lands and Parliamentary Reforms today.

Procedure to renounce US citizenship successfully concluded: Gota

Former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said today that all steps needed to renounce his US citizenship were successfully concluded while he was in the US.

Mangala betrayed the country: SB

Former minister and SLFP stalwart S.B.Dissanayaka charged today that Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has betrayed the country and war heroes to secure a position in the UNO and added the joint opposition would do its utmost to thwart it.

My successor will not tolerate character assassination: Prez

I am the most harangued and insulted Head of State by the media among all six presidents since J.R. Jayewardene, but the one to assume presidency after me will not tolerate mudslinging and character assassination like how I do, President Maithripala Sirisena said.

Governor signs gazette dissolving SPC

Southern Province Governor Keerthi Thennakoon today signed the gazette notification dissolving the Southern Provincial Council (SPC) with effect from midnight today.

Madush will be brought to SL in two weeks: DSG

Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Dileepa Peiris informed court today that steps had been taken to bring down Makandure Madush to Sri Lanka within the next two weeks.

Sri Lankan gets 30-year RI in Chennai over heroin seizure

Ten years after 1.14kg heroin was seized from his bank locker, a Sri Lankan national was on Monday sentenced to 30 years in jail for the offence, the Times of India reported.

Vehicles with unauthorised lights and horns banned from July 1

Tough action will be taken against the use of unauthorised lights and horns in vehicles causing noise pollution from July 1, police said.