Mano issues ultimatum to SJB

Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) led by Mano Ganesan which contested the general election under Samagi Jana Balawegaya ( SJB) says 15 MPs from his party, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) led by Rishad Bathiudeen would sit as a separate group in Parliament if they are not given slots from the national list, as promised by the SJB leadership.

SLPP hopeful of establishing new parliament

According to the official election results declared so far, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna has won a landslide victory.

Sri Lankan casualties in Beirut blast rises to ten

The number of Sri Lankan casualties in the massive explosion in Lebanese capital Beirut, on Tuesday, has risen to ten, Sri Lankan Embassy in Lebanon said.

Counting of votes for General Election begins

Counting of votes for the parliamentary election 2020 commenced at a short while ago, officials said.

People show confidence with 71% turnout at polls: President

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today said the voter turnout of 71% at the General Election, reflected the confidence that Sri Lankans have in the government’s efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

General Election voting begins

Voting for the General Election-2020 commenced a short while ago at 12,985 polling stations island-wide with 16,263,885 eligible voters.

No risk of contracting COVID-19 if health guidelines practiced properly: DG

While stressing that there was no risk of social transmission of the COVID-19, Director General of Health Services, Dr. Anil Jasinghe said today even if there was a COVID-19 patient in society, no one would contract the virus if they properly adhere to health guidelines issued by the health ministry.

Coimbatore police confirms Angoda Lokka’s death, Lankan & 2 others arrested: Indian media

Coimbatore police on Sunday confirmed the death, in the city, of Sri Lanka’s underworld kingpin Angoda Lokka, the Indian Express reported.

Infant born to Covid-19 mother tests negative

A baby born to a Covid-19 infected mother tested negative for Covid-19, Director of the Colombo East Hospital Dr Priyantha Karunaratne said.

Cat carrying heroin found in Magazine Prison

A cat that had a heroin packet tied around its neck, was discovered by the prison officers at the Colombo Magazine Prison premises today.

Party will decide on new leader at the right time: Ranil

Leader of the United National Party, Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said that his party will decide on who the next UNP leader will be ’’when the time is right’’, days after a UNP senior has been openly voicing for a leadership change in his election campaigns.

Take action on illegal motorcycle processions: EC informs police

Elections Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said today that the commission has informed police to take stern action on illegal motorcycle processions reported in Puttalam.

No mobile voting for those in quarantine

The previously scheduled mobile postal voting programme for those in quarantine centres would not be carried out as planned, National Elections Commission said.

Sangakkara backs Ganguly for ICC top post

Sri Lanka cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara has backed Sourav Ganguly for the ICC chairman’s post, saying the BCCI president’s “astute cricket brain” and vast experience as an administrator make him a “very suitable” candidate for the role.

Protesters say MR has insulted all women

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), which staged a protest against the recent remark made by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on its Leader Sajith Premadasa and his wife not bearing children, said today this was an insult to all couples unable to bear children.

HC issues summons on Patali, ex-Welikada OIC

The Colombo High Court today issued summons on former minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, ex-Welikada OIC Sudath Asmadala and the then minister Ranawaka’s driver Dilum Thusitha Kumara to appear in court on August 20 over the Rajagiriya accident case.

OICs given one month to process details of 13 wanted underworld activists: SDIG

The Police Department has given a month’s period for all the countrywide station OICs to process details of 13 most wanted underworld activists, who are presently finding refuge in foreign countries and to bring them down in due course by issuing red notices through Interpol.

Pakistan to relocate lonely Sri Lankan elephant Kaavan to Cambodia

A Pakistani court approved the relocation of a lonely and mistreated elephant to Cambodia on Saturday after the pachyderm became the subject of a high-profile rights campaign backed by music star Cher.

School holiday extended

The ongoing interim school holiday has been extended by another week and the schools will be reopened for Grade 11, 12 and 13 students on July 27, the Education Ministry said today.

Rishad files FR petition seeking order not to arrest him

Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen has filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an interim order preventing CID from arresting him in connection with Easter Sunday attack.

PHIs withdraw from COVID-19 duties over Minister’s negative comment

The Public Health Inspectors Union of Sri Lanka (PHIUSL) said its members have withdrawn from Covid-19 prevention duties with effect from 12.30 pm today.

People who visited inmates at Kandakadu test negative for COVID-19

A total of 114 people, who had visited the inmates at the Kandakadu Drug Rehabilitation Centre and their family members, have tested negative for COVID-19, Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva said.

Prez assures people protection from COVID-19 pandemic

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today assured that the people would be protected from the COVID-19 pandemic by mitigating the risk of the virus spreading in the country, until the pandemic is finally wiped out.

Kandakadu cluster: Not a wide-spread scenario- Dr. Jasinghe

While claiming that 428 Covid 19 Positive cases had been reported from Kandakadu and Senapura Rehabilitation Centres, Director General of Health Services Dr Anil Jasinghe today said the spreading of the virus in the respective areas was not a wide-spread scenario.

Amitabh Bachchan tests positive for Covid-19

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan, on Saturday, tested positive for Covid-19. The ’Piku’ actor has been admitted to Mumbai’s Nanavati hospital, Indian media reported.

Army, SIS launch massive tracing operation to identify new COVID associates

The Army and the State Intelligence Service have launched a massive operation to trace down all those who have associated with the inmates at the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Center who were transferred to other prisons in the country in recent weeks and several more people will be taken into quarantine in the coming days to prevent a leak in society which can trigger a second wave of COVID-19.

Govt. to slow down repatriation process

With the detection of fresh COVID-19 cases at the drug-rehabilitation centre in Kandakadu, the government has decided to slow down the process of repatriating Sri Lankans from abroad, an official said today.

Sri Lanka eliminates rubella ahead of 2023 target

Sri Lanka and Maldives were today verified for having eliminated rubella, making them the first two countries in WHO South-East Asia Region to achieve measles and rubella elimination ahead of the 2023 target.

Over 170 inmates undergo PCR tests

At least 174 inmates out of 250 personnel identified as contacts of the COVID-19 patient detected from the Welikada Prison have been subjected to PCR tests, the Prison Department said.

New Parliament must comply with COVID-19 guidelines: Dr. Jasinghe

Parliament heads and Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe today discussed measures to be taken when the Parliament sits post general elections where Dr. Jasinghe highlighted the need to adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines.