Pastor Jerome lands in hot soup over insulting Buddha

In the wake of Pastor Jerome Fernando making derogatory remarks on Buddhism and the Buddha, Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake said no room would be left for anyone to insult any religion and stern action would be taken against such individuals.

Hambantota Port with China can’t be used for war - Min. Nimal Siripala de Silva

Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva speaking to WION on Hambantota and Colombo ports, said that Sri Lanka’s agreement with the Chinese is very clear that Hambantota port cannot be used for any war or security purposes but only for trade.

Sources say security beefed in Colombo to prevent IUSF threat

Highly placed security sources told Daily Mirror that security has been beefed up in Colombo and its surrounding areas following an intelligence report that IUSF students were planning to march into the city in their hundreds over the weekend to take over key government institutions and launch a fresh ’Aragalaya’ against the government.

Sri Lanka’s airline posts US $ 525mn annual loss

Cash-strapped Sri Lanka’s national airline announced a staggering US $ 525 million annual loss yesterday

Victims demand compensation

Several patients who developed complications due to the use of ‘Prednisolone’, an eye drop used after cataract surgeries at three government hospitals, demand financial compensation for the damage caused to their eyes and possible threats to their lives.

Political interference: ICC visits Sri Lanka

Mr. Imran Khwaja, the Deputy Chairman of the International Cricket Council, who is a member of the 3-member committee appointed by the International Cricket Council to look into the political interference in administering the game of cricket in Sri Lanka, arrived in the country early this morning.

Suspect first saw 16-year-old victim on Tik Tok

The 29-year-old main suspect who had brought the 16-year old school girl to a hotel in Kalutara and whose naked body was later found near the railway line, has been detained for further questioning following his arrest in Hikkaduwa early last morning.

13 eye patients detected from three hospitals

The Health Ministry has so far detected 13 eye patients who developed complications due to the use of ‘Prednisolone’, an eye drop imported from India used after cataract surgeries.

RW attends Commonwealth Leaders’ meeting

President Ranil Wickremesinghe who is in London yesterday attended the Commonwealth Leaders’ meeting.

Basil eyes SLPP leadership; senior MPs shoot it down

A tussle has erupted in the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) camp after BasilRajapaksa was given a notable welcome at the May Day rally and his picture was shown on the main SLPP banner on stage alongside party leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Daily Mirror learns.

Geetha’s identity crisis leaves Ambassador scratching his head!

State Minister of Women and Child Affairs Geetha Kumarasinghe appeared to have trouble in establishing her identity as a Minister when she recently telephoned the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Kuwait Kandeepan Balasubramaniam to inquire into the suspicious death of a Sri Lankan female.

Committe recommends temporary suspension of organ transplants at a Borella private hospital

The committee appointed to look into the alleged kidney racket has recommended temporarily suspending the organ transplantation surgeries at the Western Infirmary Hospital, until the conclusion of the investigations, the Attorney General informed Court.

Karannagoda challenges Julie Chung

In a strongly-worded letter to US Ambassador Julie Chung, North Western Province Governor Wasantha Karannagoda yesterday accused the envoy of infringing upon his human rights with the recent decision to designate him and his family.

UGC asked to draft laws against improper use of doctorate, professor titles

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has informed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to present the legal changes required to take action against the improper usage of titles like doctors and professors, the Parliament Media Unit said.

Kalutara Big Match ends with hospitalisation of vice-captain

Vice-captain of the Kalutara Tissa College’s cricket team was injured and admitted to the hospital with serious head injuries following a clash between students at the end of the cricket match between Kalutara Tissa College and Kalutara Maha Vidyalaya at the Maggona Surrey sports grounds, yesterday, police said.

Fake drama with a Fake account holder?

Almost a week after Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s controversial statement in Parliament indicating a bribe of a massive US dollar 250 million, deposited at a UK bank over the X-Press Pearl disaster, investigators and parties interested in justice who probed and examined the claim have been directed to nowhere but the conclusion that the so-called account holder is a fake and the whole drama is a distractor.

Evacuated Lankans from Sudan arrive in Sri Lanka

The 14 Sri Lankans residing in the Sudan who were evacuated due to the prevailing crisis arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport today, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

Karannagoda says former military official, US ambassador behind his ban

While expressing surprise on the US decision to black list him and his family from entering US, North Western Province Governor Wasantha Karannagoda yesterday said that there is ‘something else’ behind the move.

Designating Karannagoda; Russia hits back at US

Russia has expressed its displeasure over the US decision to designate former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda.

SL rejects US decision to designate Wasantha Karannagoda

Sri Lanka has rejected the U.S. decision to designate Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda and also expressed its ‘grave concern’ about the decision, the foreign ministry said.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa was controlled by Julie Chung

When former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country, both India and the United States requested him to remove Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, MP Wimal Weerawansa said.

Those in SJB will walk towards common journey with me before long: President

In response to a request made by the Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa to walk the talk and thereby put into practice what he had talked of, President Ranil Wickremeinge yesterday told Parliament those in Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will walk towards a common journey with him soon.

Chamara Gunasekera sinks in mystery!

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa’s revelation in Parliament yesterday over one Chamara Gunasekera being the recipient of a US 250 million dollar bribe to bury the X Press Pearl compensation claim sent shockwaves amongst politicians and journalists who were hurrying to find who the name was connected to locally.

SDIGs' transfers: Minister siding particular person, alleges Ajith Rohana

Senior DIG Ajith Rohana who is among the seven SDIGs who were transferred, writes to National Police Commission Chairman Chandra Fernando requesting not to approve the malicious, unreasonable and unjustifiable transfers by Public Security Minister Tiran Alles.

Inquiry launched over alleged sexual harassment of State TV presenter

Chairman of the Independent Television Network Sudarshana Gunawardana today said he had instructed the General Manager of ITN to immediately start an inquiry on the alleged sexual harassment case of a former employee at the News and Current Affairs Division at ITN.

Experts smell a rat as Lankan authorities place hopes on Singapore

Two years after the MV X-Press Pearl container ship caught fire in Sri Lankan waters, local authorities continue to take a snail-paced approach to file a compensation claim. The inferno is reported as the single worst incident of chemical and plastic pollution at sea.

Sri Lanka risks loss of GSP+ unless Anti-terrorism Bill changed

Sri Lanka risks the loss of GSP + trade concessions due to the provisions of the proposed Anti-terrorism Bill as the European Union (EU), the United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (UK) have expressed their concerns over it through multiple diplomatic channels, Daily Mirror learns.

Ex-Parliament Secy. Gen responds to Sajith over RW

With reference to the comments by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on the legitimacy of the mandate of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to hold that office and the demand for a Presidential election to seek a fresh mandate, Former Parliament Secretary General Priyanee Wijesekera has responded with the following facts.

Who is the Sri Lankan who was paid $250mn bribe to derail litigation against X-Press Pearl?

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said he got hold of details regarding the transfer of US $ 250 million to the foreign account of a Sri Lankan as a bribe to obstruct the legal process related to X-Press Pearl disaster and directed the police to initiate investigations into it.

Filling maximum volume of fuel won’t cause explosions: LIOC

While refuting reports on social media, the Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) said there need not be any fears of explosions due to petrol being kept filled to full tank capacity in vehicles due to the rise in atmospheric temperature in the coming days.