No General Elections on April 25: EC

The Elections Commission (EC) today postponed the Parliamentary polls scheduled to be held on April 25th indefinitely considering the uncertain situation prevalent in the country with the spread of COVID 19, viral infection.

I shared facts obtained from Facebook: SF

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka today said that the information he recently shared over coronavirus situation in Sri Lanka was received via the Facebook and that he was even ready to go to jail if it would help stop the spreading of COVID-19.

SriLankan Airlines officer tested positive

A First Officer of SriLankan Airlines tested positive for Coronavirus and some of the staff members asked to undergo self-quarantine process, SriLankan Airlines said.

Tenth Coronavirus infected patient found in SL

Two more females aged 56-year-old returnee from Italy and 17-year-old girl, a relative of an earlier patient were tested positive for Coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases reported from Sri Lanka to 10.

Eighth Coronavirus infected patient found in SL

A 42-year-old male, who had returned from Italy and was at the quarantine centre at Kandakadu, has been tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total infected patients to 8, Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe said. This patient is currently receiving treatment at Polonnaruwa Hospital.

Coronavirus: Three more Sri Lankans tested positive

Three more suspected coronovirus Sri Lankans have been now tested positive, bringing the total of confirmed patients to five, Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

Two CID teams to arrest Ravi, eight others over bond scam

Two teams of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials are searching to arrest former MP Ravi Karunanayake and eight others over the Central Bank bond scam, Police Spokesman SP Jaliya Senarathna said today.

Coronavirus threat - Induces UAE based billionaire postpone SL visit

Lulu Group International Chairman and Managing Director, UAE based Indian billionaire, Yusuff Ali has postponed this month’s visit to Sri Lanka to discuss millions of dollars worth of investments with the government amid fears of the global coronavirus threat, the Daily Mirror learns.

UNP informs EC that it will contest general elections

UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has informed the Election Commission today that the UNP will contest for all 22 districts at the upcoming General Elections, party sources said.

Arrest warrant issued on Ravi

Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake issued arrest warrants on MP Ravi Karunanayake and nine others over the Central Bank bond scam.

If unsettled, UNP to go it alone

If the rift between the faction led by UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the one led by Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa is not settled by the date of nominations, the Ranil faction is to explore the possibility of contesting the general elections separately under the elephant symbol, a senior UNP official told Daily Mirror yesterday.

Dilshan to contest Galle district under SLPP

Former Sri Lanka Cricket captian Tillekaratne Dilshan said he would contest the forthcoming general election from the Galle District with a new approach and wish the support of all irrespective of any religious and racial differences.

Don’t display President’s photos in public places- PMD

Presidential Media Division today requested all relevant parties not to display President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s photos or portraits in public places.

Foreign Minister meets HR Chief, expresses intention to review PTA

Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, who is in Geneva, met UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet last afternoon and expressed government’s intention to undertake a review of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), the Foreign Relations Ministry said.

UNP working committee meeting ends without decision on symbol

The UNP working committee meeting ended today without a decision on the symbol to be used by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to contest the upcoming general election but unanimously approved the alliance constitution subject to some amendments.

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.