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.

Former Chief JMO Samarasekara indicted

Former Chief Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of Colombo, Dr. Ananda Samarasekara, was indicted by the Attorney General in the Colombo High Court for concealing evidence on the murder case of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen, the Attorney General’s Department said today.

Entire Govt. responsible for mistakes and lapses: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said that the entire government and cabinet of ministers are responsible for the mistakes and lapses which led the terror group to launch successful attacks on Easter Sunday.

Presidential Election: Still not decided to contest - President

President Maithripala Sirisena said he has not yet decided whether to contest or not at the next presidential election although there are many requests for him to contest.

A team of volunteers to provide security for Gota

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has decided to create a separate volunteer team for the security of former secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Gotabaya Rajapaksa who is tipped to be its presidential candidate at the upcoming election.

Two members of banned JMI arrested

Eastern Province military wing leader of the banned Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), Nauzad Umar, and a 25-year-old student of the Oluvil Campus who allegedly promoted JMI propaganda at the campus were arrested today, police said.

Dr. Shafi granted bail

Dr. Mohamed Shafi Shihabdeen of the Kurunegala Hospital was granted bail by the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court this evening.

SC stops special HC hearing on Rajapaksa case until Oct.1

The Supreme Court directed today the Special High Court to stop hearing further evidence over the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case till the Supreme Court decided on the appeal made by the Defence over the Jurisdiction of the Special High Court to hear it.

UK launches probe into exporting ‘human remains’ to SL

The British Government has launched an investigation after Sri Lankan authorities said they would send back more than a hundred shipping containers because they appeared to contain human remains disguised as recyclable metals, the Telegraph reported yesterday.

Request of Rs.364 million to shift Ministry of Power turned down

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has yesterday vehemently protested against the Cabinet paper presented by Minister Ravi Karunanayake requesting for Rs 364 million from the Treasury to shift the Ministry of Power, Energy and Business Development to another location.

Safe houses - Rs.5 mn reward to person who gave info

Acting IGP C.D. Wickramaratna has decided to pay a reward of Rs.5 million to the person who provided information which led to the recovery of explosives from two safe houses at Samanthurai and Nintavur in Ampara, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Malinga informs SLC of decision to retire from ODIs

Veteran cricketer Lasith Malinga today said he officially informed Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) that he would retire from One Day Internationals after the first ODI against Bangladesh at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on July 26.

Easter Sunday attacks: We don’t have faith in probes - Cardinal

Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said yesterday that he did not have faith in any of the probes carried out on the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.

Govt. taking steps to bring down Arjuna Mahendran: DSG

Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Priyantha Nawana today informed the High Court Special Trial–at- bar that the Government was taking steps to bring down Central Bank’s former governor Arjuna Mahendran from Singapore under extradition laws.

I only referred to a ‘handful of monks’: Ranjan

State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday said there was no need for him to seek an apology from the Maha Sangha as he had not made any statement insulting the Maha Sangha and said he only spoke about a ‘handful of monks’.

India monitoring SL protests against SOFA

India is keeping a close watch as protests grow in Sri Lanka over the proposed Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the US, which could enable the setting up of an American military base in Sri Lanka, the Economic Times reported today.

Visa on arrival programme likely to make comeback

The government plans to revive the recently suspended free visa and visa on arrival programme from August 1 this year for 39 countries.

Police bust plot to assassinate Prez: Dayasiri

SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara said yesterday police intelligence has busted a plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena by convicted drug kingpins now on death row.

Will not allow to sign any agreement harmful to SL-Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena today said that he will not allow to sign any foreign agreement which is a challenge to the country’s independence and sovereignty with any world power during his tenure.

SC issues stay order on death sentence

The Supreme Court today issued an interim order staying the implementation of death sentence for convicted drug offenders until October 30.

Ready to fulfil pledges made to the people-Gota tells MPs

Former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has told a group of MPs who visited him at a Singapore hospital yesterday that he is ready to fulfil the pledges given to the people and promised to dedicate his time and energy to make sure that this was done after he arrives in the country.

Hemasiri Fernando arrested

Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando was arrested by the CID at the Colombo National Hospital a short while ago, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

AG instructs Act. IG to name Pujith and Hemasiri as suspects

In a letter dated June 27, the Attorney General (AG) has instructed the Acting IGP to take necessary steps under the criminal procedure code by naming former IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando as suspects and to produce them in the relevant Magistrate’s Court after recording statements over the alleged criminal negligence and failure to prevent or minimise the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.

Religious leaders file FR petitions against death penalty

Several religious denominations, professionals and public interest activists are looking to initiate litigation on the much-debated decision to implement the death penalty.

I left ’’Pohottuwa’’ because I’m against Gota: Welgama

Kalutara District United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Parliamentarian Kumara Welgama said that he would leave all nominal posts of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) as he is opposed to Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa being put forward as the party’s presidential candidate.

CPC stops supply of diesel and furnace oil to CEB

The Joint Trade Union Collective of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) had taken a decision not to supply diesel and furnace oil from today to private power houses that operate under the purview of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Power and Energy Ministry.

SL in the headlines for wrong reasons: German envoy

German Ambassador Joern Rohde said Sri Lanka was unfortunately again in the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Welgama says will not support Gota for Prez

UPFA MP Kumara Welgama said that he will not support Gotabhaya Rajapaksa if he contests the next presidential election.

No evidence against Dr.Shafi : CID informs Court

The investigations carried out so far had not proven that Dr. Mohammed Shafi had blocked the fallopian tubes of mothers, amassed wealth in illegal manner or had maintained links with a terrorist organisation, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court today.

CID seizes large stocks of gelignite sticks, detonators, live ammunition

The CID today recovered over 300 gelignite sticks, 1,000 detonators, 485 T56 live ammunition and several other explosive material at Ollikulam in Kattankudy following information given by one of the suspects arrested in Jeddah, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.