A total of 648 Sri Lankans stranded in the UK, Australia and the Maldives had landed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by three separate SriLankan Airline flights yesterday and this morning, sources said.

I will take action to put an end to underworld activities and the drug menace which had intensified during the tenure of the previous government, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Leader, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

A 39-year-old three-wheeler driver, who was stopped at a Police road block at Lunawa, Moratuwa, has been shot dead by police following an altercation, police said.

Referring to the government’s decision to slash March, April and May electricity tariffs by 25 per cent, former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said it was he who got this concession for the people.

Some members of the ’Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya’, led by former MP the Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera yesterday complained to the Human Rights Commission (HRC) on the Facebook ban imposed on Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe

A photo-journalist attached to the Ceylon Today newspaper filed a police complaint against former Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) OIC IP Neomal Rangajeewa for threatening and obstructing his duties at the premises of the Colombo High Court.

The remaining stock of drugs at the Police Narcotic Bureau’s (PNB) court items warehouse has been taken to the Government Analyst’s Department for further investigations.

The Colombo High Court today ordered to discharge former MP Tiran Alles and three others from controversial Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA) case.

Three persons including a woman were killed at Warunagama on the Wellawaya-Buttala main road when a lorry collided head-on with a three-wheeler this morning, Police said.

Rohan Pradeep alias ‘Kalu Malli’, an accomplice of underworld figure ’Kosgoda Tharaka, was arrested in Angoda, Police said.

At least 196 more COVID-19 infected patients were reported from the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre increasing total cases at the Centre to 252, Government Information Department said.

Taking into consideration the adverse impact on the health of those who consume the Beedi leaves, the Cabinet of Ministers today decided to destroy stocks of Beedi Leaves that are confiscated in future.

The Cabinet has agreed to provide a 25 per cent reduction on electricity bills for March, April and May for consumers who had used less than 90 units per month, Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardane said today.

Referring to the remark made by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday that the SLPP needs a two thirds majority to replace the saloon door with a metal door in order to establish a stronger government, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe

Kalutara District UNP candidate Palitha Thewarapperuma, who threatened to withdraw his candidature, said today he would resume his election campaign as the Election Commission Chairman informed him that he could not legally do so.

An elephant mother has given birth to twin calves at the Minneriya National Park, Director Wildlife Health at Department of Wildlife Conservation Dr. Tharaka Prasad said.

The former LTTE cadre has succumbed to his injuries today, following an explosion at his house in Iyakkachchi, Kilinochchi. He was undergoing treatment at the Anuradhapura Hospital.

Two male bodies were recovered from the Denawaka river at Ganegama in Pelmadulla this morning.

The five suspects who were arrested for allegedly harassing a Russian girl at Galle Face Green, Colombo, have been remanded until July 10 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate today.

An owner of a hotel in Kesbewa was found murdered inside the hotel early this morning, police said.

IP W.K. Saman Wasantha Kumara attached to the Police Narcotic Bureau, who was wanted by the CID over alleged involvement in drug trafficking, has surrendered to the Kadawatha Police a short while ago, police said.

An inmate at the Welikada prison has tested positive for Covid-19, the government Information Department said quoting Director General of Health Services Anil Jasingha said.

A teenage couple aged 16 and 17 have taken their lives by jumping into the Mahaweli River this morning. Police said the victims had jumped to the river from a bridge near the Wattegama Railway Crossing.

Five suspects were taken into police custody for allegedly harassing a Russian girl at Galle Face Green, Colombo on Sunday night, Fort Police said.

A group of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) candidates will join the UNP after the conclusion of the general elections, UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today.

Supreme Court today resumed oral submissions in the first contempt of court case filed against former State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake for allegedly making insulting remarks on the reputation of the judiciary.

A SriLankan flight carrying 230 Sri Lankan expatriates who were employed in several countries in the African continent returned to the country from Ethiopia this morning.

Yala National Park has opened an information centre on leopards found in Sri Lanka and the 108 leopards living in the national park at present. Park Warde

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Puttalam District candidate and former parliamentarian Ashoka Wadigamangawa (68) has died in a road accident at Padeniya on the Kurunegala-Puttalam road, police said.

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today pledged to grant a package of concessions to people if his party was elected to office at the August Parliamentary Election.