Sajith’s invitation to Ranil, UNP: Working Committee to meet today

The UNP working committee will meet today to discuss and decide on Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s extension to Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the UNP to join the Samagi Jana Balawegaya to contest the general election.

CID probe on Rs.1,300 Mn purchase of communication equipment

The CID, last week, launched an inquiry into the purchase of a large consignment of communication equipment worth Rs.1,300 million in 2016 and 2017 without following proper procedures, an informed source said.

Malaysian AG faces calls to resign over dropping terrorism charges against men linked to LTTE

Malaysian Attorney General Tommy Thomas faced calls to resign after he dropped terrorism charges against 12 people who were alleged to have links to Sri Lanka’s Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Passengers from South Korea to be checked for Coronavirus at BIA

All passengers arriving from South Korea will be subjected to a medical check-up for infections of the COVID-19 or coronavirus, at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, the Director-General of Health Services announced.

SL’s war effort didn’t result in Hollywood movies: SL envoy

Sri Lanka said its war effort did not result in Hollywood movies, but was proud of its security forces who completed the task assigned to them by a democratically elected administration and freed people from ruthless terrorism.

Two killed, 43 injured in bus accident

A 50-year-old woman and her 11-year-old son were killed while 43 other passengers injured in an accident when two passenger buses collided head on near the Nalanda College in Matale this morning, police said.

Human rights concerns: Sajith blames those in present govt

It is those in the present government who originally internationalised the human rights issues in Sri Lanka by signing a joint agreement with the then UN Chief Ban Ki Moon in May 2009 just after the war, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said today.

Ex-district judge sentenced to 16 RI for soliciting bribe

The Colombo High Court judge Adithya Patabendige today sentenced former Homagama District Judge Sunil Abeysinghe and his Personal Security Officer PC Mahinda Kithsiri to a 16-year rigorous imprisonment (RI) for soliciting a bribe of Rs. 300,000 in 2013.

$800,000 received by Nimal Perera related to Namal’s money laundering case

Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Thusith Mudalige yesterday revealed that the Singapore bank account belonging to former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena’s wife had a record of sending USD 800,000 to an individual by the name of Nimal Hemasiri Perera in November 2014, after the alleged USD 2 million commission was received from the French AIRBUS Company in connection with the 14 Airbuses purchase in 2013.

Notorious gang in South, nabbed

Weligama police said that three males and a female, belonging to an infamous gang in the south, were taken into custody on suspicion for questioning while they were stealing jewellery and money in the possession of women who they abducted in motor vehicles.

Not an offence to earn a living by prostitution: Fort Magistrate

Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake acquitting a woman arrested in a brothel on charges of prostitution said it was not considered an offence in Sri Lanka for a woman to earn a living through prostitution but however it was an offence to operate a brothel.

CID’s behavior questionable when producing Weeratunga in Court: Fort Magistrate

Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake yesterday reprimanded some of the CID officers while emphasising that the manner in which they acted when Udayanga Weeratunga was arrested and produced in Court in connection with the alleged MIG-27 deal was unusual and questionable because they had failed to follow the procedure laid down under the Public Property Act.

’Will convey SL concerns to Washington’: U.S. Ambassador

U.S. Ambassador Alaina B. Teplitz informed Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardane that she would convey to Washington Sri Lanka’s concerns regarding travel restrictions on Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva.

Sri Lankan arrested over fraudulent purchase of 40,000 liters of fuel in Japan

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a male national of Sri Lanka who is suspected in the fraudulent purchase of nearly 40,000 liters of fuel in Ibaraki Prefecture last year, TBS News reported.

Premadasa-faction forms Samagi Jana Balawegaya

The United National Party (UNP) faction led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa legalized its alliance under the name, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), widening the existing split in the UNP ahead of the general elections, informed sources said.

Ranil rebuffs Sajith’s request to reappoint Ajith Perera to WC

United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe reportedly told Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday that he was not ready to reappoint MP Ajith P. Perera to the Working Committee, but had no issue in giving assent to the accommodation of the other three members.

SL economy recovering, projects 3.7% GDP growth in 2020-IMF

The Sri Lanka’s economy is recovering from the terrorist attacks last April, with GDP growth projected at 3.7 percent in 2020, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said after concluding staff visit to Sri Lanka.

Kapila Chandrasena, wife remanded

SriLankan Airlines former CEO Kapila Chandrasena and wife Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayaka were remanded till February 19 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today.

Kapila Chandrasena, wife arrested

Former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena and his wife were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) a short while ago after they surrendered to the CID, police said.

Sajith decides changing name of present alliance?

The UNP faction led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has decided to legally establish the proposed political alliance with the like-minded parties by changing the name of a political party which is functional at the moment, Daily Mirror learns.

Mangala praises Gotabaya’s speech

A twitter message in appreciation of the Independence day message of President Gotabaya Rajapakse yesterday at the Independence day celebrations had been released by MP Mangala Samaraweera.

'I don’t expect interference from legislators, judiciary when fulfilling duties to people'

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his first Independence Day address today, said he was committed to fulfilling the needs of the people and that he did not envisage public officials, lawmakers or the Judiciary to impede him in implementing this commitment.

Streatham attacker Sudesh Amman has family in Sri Lanka

A knife-wielding terrorist who was shot dead by police in London on Sunday during a crazed stabbing spree has been named by police as Sudesh Mamoor Faraz Amman, a convicted Islamist terrorist who has extended family in Sri Lanka, the Times of India reported.

China worried over refusal to entertain Chinese nationals at restaurants, taxis

Chinese ambassador CHENG Xueyuan, in a statement, said yesterday it was worrisome that some taxis, hotels and restaurants were refusing to entertain Chinese citizens, and asserted that true friendship could and must stand the test of difficulties.

Chinese coronavirus patient in SL fully recovered-official

The 43 year-old female Chinese national who was admitted to the IDH, Colombo last week after she tested positive for the new coronavirus, has fully recovered, Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

Coronavirus death toll rises to 170; confirmed cases 7,711

The nationwide death toll from China’’s novel coronavirus epidemic has jumped to 170 with 38 more fatalities reported mainly from the worst-affected central Hubei province, the government said on Thursday, while confirming more than 1,700 new infections.

Chinese woman at IDH tested positive for coronavirus

A 43 year-old female Chinese national who arrived in Sri Lanka from Hubei, China has been tested positive for the new coronavirus yesterday making her the first case of positive coronavirus reported in Sri Lanka.

PCoI informs AG to suspend cases against Karannagoda, Dassanayake

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) appointed to probe into the alleged political victimization of Public Servants, has advised the Attorney General (AG) to suspend the examination of cases involving former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda and former Navy Spokesman D.K.P. Dassanayake.

Four suspicious cases of Corona virus reports negative: MRI

Director of the Medical Research Institute Dr Jayaruwan Bandara said that the test reports of four patients admitted to the IDH in Colombo on suspicion of Corona Virus infection, had confirmed negative.

Speaker confirms no phone recordings were submitted by Ranjan

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today confirmed that UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake had not handed over any CDs containing his phone conversations to Parliament. Responding to a question raised by Government MP Nimal Lansa in Parliament, the Speaker said MP Ramanayake had handed over the CDs to the Secretary General of Parliament but had later reversed his