Former Lieutenant Commander, Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi alias ‘Navy Sampath’, who was arrested over the charges of abduction and disappearance of 11 youths from Colombo in 2008 and 2009, was further remanded till December 4th by the Colombo Fo

The government will develop the Mattala airport as a cargo hub and a training facility for aeronautical engineering in partnership with the private sector, a Minister said yesterday. Industrial Export, Investment Promotion and Civil Aviation Minis

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed secretaries to 20 ministries and handed over the letters of appointment yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat.

The Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya has requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to support in legislating guidelines for media in parliament so as to ensure free and fair elections.

Action is being taken to lift the ban on the farming of sea leeches in Kilinochchi and Iranathivu, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Douglas Devananda revealed. At a discussion held last Monday, he said the farming of sea leec

Sri Lanka has a not so appealing tag as the ‘Country with the Biggest Electricity Bill’ in the region and as such, the priority of the Power and Energy Ministry under the new government would be given, to bring down the power generation cost and

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday requested the people of the Tamil and Muslim communities to join the party at the upcoming parliamentary election. Addressing a news briefing held at the SLPP head office, MP Lakshman Yapa Abeywarden

The Education Minister Dullas Alahapperuma yesterday assured that school uniforms will be provided instead of distributing vouchers, from the beginning of the first term, next year. The minister said it was regrettable that steps had not been taken

New Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa offered flowers in veneration and received the blessing of the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in keeping with the traditions of the ancient kings. He also pledged to lead the country towards prosper

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the Police on restructuring the activities related to the safety and the beautification of the environment, followed by a massive operation to protect the environment that is to be initiated soon.

An organised group of racketeers selling heroin and ganja to school children was arrested by Nuwara Eliya Excise. OIC Nuwara Eliya Excise station T.M.G.Tilakaratne said he carried out the raid on information on the ongoing racket in Hanguranketha,

A decision has been taken to file action against two officers of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation for the loss of Rs.358 million to the Corporation due to the sale of tar. According to Audit

A motorcar transporting a group of passengers on their way back from a wedding had veered off the road hit a parked motorcycle and auto rickshaw and turned turtle at Mihiripenna in Talpe on Galle- Matara highway on the 21st Thursday night. Three f

Train services on the upcountry line had been restricted only up to Bandarawela following a derailment of the Badulla - Kandy train at the Heeloya Railway

People’s Action for Free and Fair Election Organisation (PAFFREL) said that 28 cases of individual harassment and hospitalisation of 20 people had been reported on November 17, 18 and 19 after the Presidential election held on the 16th. Execut

Essential Food Commodities Importers and Traders’ Association (EFCITA) requested the government to reduce the tax by Rs.10 which is levied in the import of one kilogram of wheat flour and to grant approval for the import of wheat flour. At prese

The All Island United Teachers’ Union has made a written request to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the new Minister of Education to expel Chairman of the National Salaries and Cadre Commission- Sudath Ranukge. Chairman of the All Island

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met the visiting Indian Foreign Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at Temple Trees yesterday. Prime Minister’s office said both leaders discussed current political situation. Mr. Jaishankar also took a glimpse of the

Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne yesterday assumed duties as the new Defence Secretary in the Ministry of Defence amid military honours and greetings. Chief of Defence Staff, the three armed Service Commanders, acting Inspector General of Polic

Shemara Wikramanayake, who is of Sri Lankan descent, has become the highest paid CEO in Australia, Daily Mail reported. It said Macquarie Group Chief Executive Shemara Wikramanayake became the first female to take the spot as Australia’s highest

Combating ideological terrorism requires a balance between militaristic safeguards and staggered ideological counter-initiatives, former Defence Secretary General (Rtd.) Shantha Kottegoda said. He said in his farewell statement as the Secretary to th

Fairly heavy rainfall can be expected in most areas of the country today evening, the Meteorology Department said. They said heavy showers could be expected in Northern, North-Central and Eastern provinces. Moreover, slightly heavier showwry condi

The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) is not bad but the intention of the government and the procedure it adopted was bad, Opposition MP Udaya Gammanpila said yesterday. Responding to a question asked at

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has today convened a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business in Parliament, Parliament sources said. The Speaker has instructed Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake to convene the meeting today. The

Navy Commander Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva yesterday urged naval officers to be competent in terms of mindfulness, comprehension, knowledge and concentration in the context of naval warfare,while respecting the principles of warfare. He also urged

The Navy in collaboration with the STF, arrested four persons with 1620kg of beedi leaves, during a special operation carried out in the sea area off Negombo. The Western Naval Command in coordination with the STF had carried out a special operatio

While congratulating President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, British Baron Lord Naseby PC said, he knows Gotabaya to be a man who will act fairly and try hard to look after all the minorities particularly the Muslims and Tamils. Issuing a statement over th

The United National Party (UNP) would take the responsibility of protecting its supporters and their rights as they stood by the party during the past five years, UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said yesterday. He said the presidenti

Whilst congratulating President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his assumption of duties, Chinese President Xi Jinping sought to start a new chapter of China-Sri Lanka Strategic Co-operative Partnership and to bring more tangible benefits to the peoples of bot

The new pinnacle (Chuda Manikkyaya) to be affixed in place of the old pinnacle of the Ruwanweliseya Maha Chaithya was exposed to the public for th e paying of homage, at the BMICH yesterday and it would be displayed till November 20. Atamasthanadh