NO CDs given by Ranjan, says Deputy Speaker

Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri today informed Parliament that MP Ranjan Ramanayake had not submitted any CDs containing voice clips as reported in some media.

Forensic Audit on bond scam to be tabled in parliament

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today announced that the Forensic Audit Report on the Central Bank bond cam would be tabled in parliament.

Karu will settle UNP issue this week: Mujibur

Stating that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya would resolve the UNP crisis within this week, a UNP MP today said that prominent members of the party should be prepared to make sacrifices to safeguard the party’s future.

Gazette notice restricts monthly allowance

A gazette notice was issued by Presidential Secretary P.B. Jayasundere restricting to Rs.100,000 the monthly allowance of Chairmen of Corporations and Boards and the provision of only one official vehicle.

No decision to sing the National Anthem only in Sinhala: PM

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse said yesterday that no decision has been taken to sing the National Anthem only in Sinhala.

Power crisis envisaged: Minister

The Power crisis could aggravate by March as a result of the current use of hydropower at its maximum level, it is learnt.

BASL asks CJ to take action regarding Ranjan’s phone clip controversy

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) called upon Chief Justice to look into the grave situation of several audio clips of MP Ranjan Ramanayake, who had telephoned several individuals including members of the judiciary and take strong remedial steps to arrest situations of this nature taking place again.

Ranjan confused how the copies of CD reached 3rd parties

UNP Member of Parliament Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday said it is questionable as to how the copies of CDs seized from him went into the hands of third parties.

Ranjan’s audio clips rock social media

Several controversial audio clips of former state minister and film actor Ranjan Ramanyake communicating with various persons are now going viral on social media platforms.

Police search Ranjan’s house

A special Police team is currently conducting a search operation at UNP Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayaka’s residence at Madiwela.

Constitution should be changed: President

Changes should be made to the Constitution in order to safeguard security, sovereignty, stability, and integrity of Sri Lanka, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said today.

Modi greets SL leaders

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended New Year greeting to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, a statement said.

Prez underscores need to form a centralised data platform

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has paid attention to see the possibility of collecting personal data such as national identity cards, driving licences, immigration and emigration documents, registration of births and deaths under one entity.

Move to transfer Rajitha to Prison Hospital suspended

Transfer of former Minister Rajitha Senaratne from Lanka Hospital to the Prisons Hospital has been suspended, sources said.

Rajitha missing: CID

A senior officer attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) said yesterday former Minister Rajitha Senaratne, against whom an arrest warrant had been issued over controversial statements made during a ‘white van’ media briefing, had not been present in both of his residences located in Colombo 7 and Beruwala.

Rajitha files third anticipatory bail application

MP Rajitha Senaratne today filed an anticipatory bail application for the third time in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court seeking an order to prevent his arrest in connection with the ‘white van news conference’ held on November 10.

Ex-Pakistani President Musharraf sentenced to death for treason

Pakistan’s former president General Pervez Musharraf has been sentenced to death at a special court hearing in Islamabad for high treason, the BBC reported a short while ago.

Swiss govt criticises lack of due process

Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has criticised lack of due process in the case against a local employee of the Swiss Embassy in Sri Lanka. “The FDFA expects the Sri Lankan law enforcement authorities to comply with national law and international judicial standards and to ensure that the employee’s rights are now better protected,” the FDFA said in a statement today.

Ashok Pathirage appointed SriLankan Airlines Chairman

Softlogic Group Chairman Ashok Pathirage has been appointed as the Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, sources said.

Swiss Embassy employee arrived at CID taken to Mental Health Institute

Swiss Embassy local staffer, Garnier Banister Francis, who arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this morning to give a statement, was taken to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Will uncover truth behind “white van” drama – Defence Secretary

The actual truth behind the incident of “white van” drama, as acted out by two men of the former Health Minister during a news briefing will be revealed in near future, Defence Secretary, Major General Kamal Gunaratne said.

Govt. to abolish Z-score system for Uni entrance: Dulles

In a range of drastic reforms in national education, the government would abolish the Z score system for university entrance and increase the number of national schools to 1,000 from the current 374 - giving at least one national school to each Divisional Secretariat where not a single national school exists right now, Education Minister Dulles Alahapperuma said.

31 key institutions including police gazetted under Defence Ministry

An extraordinary gazette was issued by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday midnight detailing the duties and functions of ministries by scientifically assigning institutes to each of them. Sri Lanka Police, which was under the Law and Order Ministry during the previous government, has been brought under the Defence Ministry.

Semi luxury bus service to be prohibited : Minister

Semi luxury bus operation will be prohibited shortly as it has become an annoyance rather than a service, Power, Energy and Commuter Transport Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said today.

Toll on Colombo bound traffic on the cards

The government is in the process of levying a toll from all private vehicles entering Colombo and its suburbs as a solution to the mounting traffic congestion in 2020, a senior source of the Commuter Transport Management Ministry said yesterday.

UNP condemns UK’s manifesto on two-state solution

UNP today criticised the manifesto of UK’s Conservative party which had called for a two-state solution for the national issue in Sri Lanka and urged the party to scrap it.

UNP should change, says Harsha

Former State Minister Harsha De Silva said that he would not contribute to the United National Party (UNP) at the forthcoming general election unless the party took action to face the election with fresh, intelligent and capable people who could win at the polls.

Will be frank with New Delhi to avoid misunderstandings: Gotabaya

Promising to be “frank” and “upfront” to avoid the misunderstandings of the past between New Delhi and Colombo, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says India and other countries in the region must invest more in Sri Lanka if they want to provide an alternative to Chinese investment.

Swiss embassy incident; CID denies its involvement

While stating that an investigation has been initiated by the CID over the alleged detention and questioning of a local employee of the Swiss embassy, Police Headquarters yesterday denied allegations claiming its involvement in the said incident.

Entire UNP leadership at fault for recent defeat : Mano

The entire UNP leadership is at fault for the defeat in the presidential elections as the party did not have a strategy and plan to attract more Buddhist votes at the election, a former minister said yesterday.