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.

President released from D.A. Rajapaksa Memorial case

The Western Province based Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar today released President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from all indictments filled against him over alleged misappropriation of Rs. 33.9 million public funds for the construction of D.A. Rajapaksa Memorial and Museum.

Prime Minister to resign today

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will step down today making the way for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to appoint a new Cabinet, Daily Mirror learns.

I opted to remain neutral paving way for free and fair poll: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said today a free and fair election was being held in the country for the first time in its history because he had decided to remain neutral.

Last Cabinet meeting as president

President Maithripala Sirisena will chair his last Cabinet meeting as president today before retirement.

Sajith challenges MR

New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa in a letter to Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said today he condemned in the strongest possible terms Mr. Rajapaksa’s desperate attempt to drag the Venerable Mahanayake Theras of the Three Nikayas into his fear-mongering election campaign.

Five candidates spent Rs.1,257mn: CMEV

A total of Rs.1, 257 million has been spent from October 14 till November 4 by five candidates contesting for the presidential election on their election campaign, the Centre For Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) said.

Corroborate testimony before 16th: Mangala challenges Gota

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera openly challenged SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa to produce the certificate of loss of nationality or renunciation of his US citizenship prior to the presidential poll.

ITAK’s support implies Sajith’s decision to accept pre-conditions: SLPP

The SLPP today said the ITAK’s decision to support New Democratic Front presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, indicated that the latter has accepted the conditions put forward by the TNA.

Sajith writes to Gota on debate

New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa said he had written to Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa challenging to a presidential debate.

Police deny media report

Police Headquarters denied media reports that the election commission had asked the police to consider summoning the wife and son of former Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) Director Ravi Vidyalankara after the presidential election.

IMF approves disbursement of US$164M for SL

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Sixth Review of Sri Lanka’s economic performance under the programme supported by an extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and approved a disbursement of SDR 118.5 million (about US$164 million).

I will decide who becomes PM: Sajith

New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa said yesterday that it was he who would decide who the prime minister would be after he assumes office as the president next month.

Parliament have time to review MCC pact once it’s signed: US

The parliament will have ample opportunity to review the MCC grant assistance agreement once it is signed, the US Embassy today said.

EC says final results could be announced by Nov. 17 morning

The Elections Commission (EC) would be able to announce the winner of the presidential poll 2019 in the morning of November 17 and if the top two candidates fail to obtain 50%+ votes for an absolute majority, the releasing of the final results would be delayed till the dinner time of the same day, Chairman of the EC, Mahinda Deshapriya said today.