Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, who met President Maithripala Sirisena, has said that China would soon take steps to assist Sri Lanka’s strategic capabilities to combat international terrorism. The two leaders met in Beijing, China on Wednesda

A group of MPs, from both the government and the opposition, are planning to urge the government to introduce a series of legislation to de-radicalize Muslims holding extremist views, regulation of Madrasas and the amendment of the Prevention of Terr

A ‘Satyagraha’ organised by an organisation called ‘Api Minissu’ (We are humans) was held in front of the Viharamahadevi Park yesterday demanding the government to establish unity among communities and to put an end to extremism and violence

Some 762 prisoners are to be released on presidential pardon in view of Vesak Poya which falls on Saturday, the Justice and Prison Reforms Ministry said yesterday. It said the national ceremony would be held under the aegis of President Maithripala

Sri Lanka can hold discussions with countries from where the extreme form of Wahabism emanates and which is adopted by certain sects in Islam, Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake told a media briefing held yesterday. “I am not aware i

While three cabinet papers were produced on the acquisition of Neville Fernando Hospital (NFH) in Malabe to the Government, it has been reported that the owner of the hospital has taken measures to sell it to a private entity, it was revealed at the

A group of monks who are members of various organizations yesterday handed over a letter to Acting IGP C. D. Wickramasinghe calling the Police to arrest Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and Governor Eastern Prov

Advanced Level (A/L) students in ‘1AB’ schools will be provided with tablet PCs (tabs) within one and a half months, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said yesterday while addressing a ceremony held at the Temple Trees to handover appoin

A minister attached to the United National Front (UNF) will quit the government and prepare the general public for a national force, MP Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said yesterday. “This minister says governm

Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said the Education Ministry has taken all steps possible to ensure personal security of students and teachers at the school and school premises with a comprehensive security plan placed in and around all gov

​A man, his wife and the daughter died and another six injured when the van they were travelling, had collided with a lorry in Madatugama in Kekirawa last afternoon, police said. The van which was travelling from Dambulla to Kekirawa had crashed

On the orders of the Excise Department, countrywide sale of liquor has been banned for four days commencing from tomorrow to mark the Vesak festival. Excise Commissioner General H.G. Punchihewa has ordered all bars, wine stores, restaurants and tave

Public Administration and Disaster Management Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara said politically-backed incidents took place on May 13 at a time when things were returning to normalcy following the attacks on April 21.

UNP backbenchers have told Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that it would have been possible to convince people on the security situation of the country if the government had taken effective measures such as creating a full-time law and order mini

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), the most vital and largest state owned commercial ventures in the country incurred a combined loss of a massive Rs. 132.9 bi

Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday said terrorists who struck on Easter Sunday would be the ultimate winners if this attack is transformed into a racial conflict.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has appointed a new Solicitor General, a Senior Additional Solicitor General and two Additional Solicitor General of the Attorney’s General Department. Senior Additional Solicitor General

Tourist arrivals in the south has shown a sharp decline following security situation in the country much to the anxiety of the hotel owners and thousands of local businesses that depend on supplying services. A senior offic

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R. Sampanthan said on Sunday that it was left to the Army Commander to decide on the security in the North and East if something untoward happens there and as such there was no point in him (Sampanthan) commenting

Referring to Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s statement that Sri Lanka was not a Sinhala Buddhist country, National Integration, Official Languages, Social Progress and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister Mano Ganesan said yesterday that Sri Lanka was a

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader and Minister Rauff Hakeem yesterday called on the Prime Minister and tri-forces commanders to control the violent incidents in the country in the absence of the President. In a statement, the minister reques

By Sandun A. Jayasekera Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will act in the same way he acted on April 21st, to bring the country back to normalcy if there was any untoward incident at a time when the country is without a political authority to give

By Kelum Bandara The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said yesterday the government should stop politically influencing security authorities in dealing with suspects of National Tawheed Jamaat (NTJ) who were arrested in connection with the serial

By Yohan Perera Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday people should follow the instructions given by the Venerable Mahanayake Theras on the celebration of Vesak. Earlier, the Mahanayake Theras requested Buddhists to confine the celebra

By Augustine Fernando A trader who was arrested for publishing a social media post arousing communal hatred was remanded till May 24 by Chilaw Magistrate Manjula Ratnayake yesterday. The suspect had been identified as Abdul Hameed Mohammed Azwer, a

Milinda Moragoda has been invited to serve on the Advisory Network of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (HLP). The advisory network is comprised of leaders from non-governmental and inter-governmental organisations, and global comp

By Sandun A. Jayasekera Kandy Development Minister Lakshman Kiriella yesterday threw an open challenge to opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa to tell the country at next week’s parliamentary debate on the state of emergency as to why he was opposed

If Sri Lanka is to wipe out Muslim fundamentalism from Sri Lanka, we must not only annihilate Muslim extremist terrorists but also the Jihad ideology once and for all because jihadists keep the Muslim spiritual struggle alive and assist to destroy al

The progress review meeting on the renovation of the churches which were damaged due to the terror attacks, was held between the Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Malcom Ranjith and Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa at th

President Maithripala Sirisena said that he was not affected by terrorism and that he would fulfill the responsibility of building a peaceful country after eradicating terrorism. The President said that the law will be enforced against anyone who