Conduct UNP campaign in a disciplined manner: Ranil

In the wake of MP Hesha Vithnage’s statement that the SLPP’s presidential candidate will have to wear a jumper if UNP candidate Sajith Premadasa is elected president of this country, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today instructed UNP seniors to make sure that the UNP campaign was carried out in a decent and disciplined manner.

UNP to nominate Sajith as candidate on conditions

There was general agreement among the seniors of the United National Party (UNP) to nominate Minister Sajith Premadasa as the presidential candidate but on certain conditions to be stipulated in writing, Daily Mirror learns. The UNP seniors backing both Party Leader Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mr.Premadasa met on Tuesday (24) to work out some arrangement to agree on candidacy.

Sirikotha ready to make announcement on Thursday

UNP headquarters Sirikotha is being prepared for the working committee meeting on Thursday, September 26 to select its presidential candidate.

SL Ambassador to China clarifies on Lotus Tower Project

Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku today issued a clarification regarding the Lotus Tower project allegations.

Sajith faction says no to abolishing executive presidency

The UNP group led by Minister Sajith Premadasa has informed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that they are against any move to abolish the executive presidency before the presidential election is held.

Former DG of TRC Anusha Pelpita rejects President’s claim

Rejecting as baseless the claim made by President Maithripala Sirisena that the government had incurred a loss of Rs. 2 billion due to a Chinese company that had received the amount as advance payment being nonexistent by 2016, former Director-General of Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Anusha Pelpita said yesterday that no amount of money had been paid to ALIT, the Company that was mentioned by the President in his speech.

Lotus Tower declared open

The Lotus Tower, South Asia’s largest tower, was declared open by President Maithripala Sirisena a short while ago. USD 104 million has been spent for construction of the tower and eighty per cent of the cost has been funded by the EXIM Bank of China.

Sajith and UNF decide not to drag the issue

UNF leaders and UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa had decided to end the present deadlock on the nominee issue for the candidacy for the upcoming presidential election this week, Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader Mano Ganesan said today.

UNP disciplinary committee recommends to suspend Ajith, Sujeewa

The UNP disciplinary committee headed by Minister Tilak Marapana has recommended the suspension of party membership of ministers Sujeewa Senasinghe and Ajith P. Perera, Daily Mirror learns.

UNF to name Prez candidate next week

The UNF will announce its presidential candidate next week, Public Administration and Management Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara said today.

Meeting between PM and Sajith tomorrow?

A meeting scheduled for tomorrow between Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister Sajith Premadasa hangs in the balance due to tension between the two factions of their party.

I will contest no matter what : Sajith

“I will contest for the presidential elections no matter what. I will not take a step back even by a millimeter in this regard,” said UNP deputy leader Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa.

Picking up the right team essential to speed up development: Gota

Development and investment can be fast-tracked by picking the right team to deliver the promises of a new government, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate nominee Gotabaya Rajapaksa said yesterday.

UNP Govt. will devolve more powers to PCs: PM

The United National Party (UNP) led alliance will seek a fresh mandate at the next parliamentary elections to devolve more powers to provincial councils, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

Two killed, many fall sick in healing meeting

A 39-year-old woman and a 78-year-old man had died and 18 others were hospitalised due to illness during a spiritual healing program in Horowpathana, Anuradhapura, the police said.

I will contest for presidency: Ranil

At a meeting of party seniors, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is known to have expressed his desire to contest the presidential elections.

SL-Maldives to redouble counter-terrorism efforts

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President of the Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih have agreed to redouble efforts to protect people from the threat of terrorism in the region, a joint press statement from the leaders said today.

PM-Sajith meet to iron out differences

In the backdrop of a brewing political crisis, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held talks with Minister Sajith Premadasa for one and half hours at Temple Trees on Thursday evening to find a way out, a party official said.

Bond Scam: Court tells Ravi K to report to CID

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today directed Minister Ravi Karunanayake to report to the CID within the next two weeks to provide further statements regarding the inquiry being conducted in connection with the giving of false evidence at the Bond Commission on August 2, 2015.

Batti campus; Rs. 4.4 bn in account reduced to Rs.36,000 now: FCID

The FCID yesterday informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna that more than Rs. 4 billion had been received from foreign countries and credited to one account of a state bank in Sri Lanka on behalf of the university being constructed in Batticaloa by Batticaloa Campus (Pvt) Company which is said to be owned by ex-governor of Eastern Province, M.L.M.Hizbulla. But, the amount now lying to the credit of that account is said to be Rs. 36,000.

We have a candidate in line with our policies: PM

The National Democratic Alliance (NDF) will be formed soon and a candidate will be named shortly, Prime Minister Rani Wickremesighe said on Saturday.

Lifting Emergency will not impact ban on terrorist outfits : MoD

Lifting the State of Emergency will not have any impact on the ban imposed on terrorist organisations, the National Media Centre of the Ministry of the Defence said yesterday.

Rs.160mn for 85 Hakeem coordinators at NWSDB: COPE

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) revealed yesterday that a staggering Rs.160 million had been paid as salaries to 85 employees of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) who were recruited as ministerial coordinating officers of Subject Minister Rauff Hakeem since 2015.

Split within UNP inevitable: MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa today claimed it is inevitable that the United National Party (UNP) will be split irrespective of who becomes the party’s nominee at the upcoming presidential election.

UNP alleges coup attempt, efforts to appoint new PM

Efforts are being made to create another constitutional coup similar to that of the one on October 26 last year and to appoint a new premier, UNP MPs Ashu Marasinghe and Palitha Range Bandara alleged yesterday.

54 MPs ask Ranil for key party group meetings

UNP Chairman Kabir Hashim has handed over a letter signed by 54 MPs to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe requesting him to convene the party’s working committee and the parliamentary group in order name the presidential candidate within seven days.

Certain persons, who led army making harmful statements: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said he was deeply saddened to hear statements made by certain persons who have led the army, disguised under narrow political agendas with regard to the national security.

Sajith vows to create an era without hardships

UNP Deputy Leader and Housing and Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa today pledged to create an era where the hardships faced by the common man would be no more and that it would begin in November.

Philippines verifying reports of Lankan terrorists in Manila

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it was verifying information on two supposed terrorists from Sri Lanka reported to be training bombers to launch attacks in Luzon, Rappler.com reported.

Hizbullah’s contract with Govt. contravenes Constitution - AG’s Dept.

Attorney General’s Department had informed the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education in Parliament that former Eastern Province Governor M. L. A. M. Hizbullah had engaged in a conflict of interest by getting into a contract with the government to establish the Batticaloa Campus while being an MP, it was revealed yesterday.