Ex-employee alleges SL women ’harassed’ at US Embassy

A former employee of the US Embassy today alleged that there were incidents of Sri Lankan women being harassed by some American diplomats at the US Embassy.

176 children lost their parents in dastardly Easter Sunday attacks

One hundred and seventy-six children have lost either both or one of their parents in the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith told the foreign media during his recent visit to Rome.

18A, 19A should be abolished, says President

President Maithripala Sirisena today said that both 18th and 19th Amendments to the Constitution should be abolished.

IS was initially unaware of Easter attacks-top official

The Islamic State (IS) may have claimed responsibility for the Easter terror attacks in Sri Lanka, but its chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was initially not aware of the horrific serial bombings, according to a top official familiar with the probe, the Hindu reported today.

NTJ, JMI and WAS banned under PTA

The Parliament today approved the regulations under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act to ban three Muslim organisations -- National Thawheed Jama’at (NTJ), Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem (JMI) and Wilayat As Seylani (WAS).

SLFP will take honourable decision at Presidential polls: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena today promised that an honourable decision which will not cause injustice or embarrassment to the party or its supporters would be taken by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) at the next presidential election.

Govt. to cut capital expenditure by 15 percent

The Finance Ministry is reported to have instructed all ministries to curtail their capital expenditure announced in the budget by 15 per cent because of financial constraints faced by the government.

Esala Perahara will be held on a grand scale

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday assured that the annual Esala Perahara will be held on a grand scale this year.

SLPP slams idea of referendum

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) today pooh-poohed the idea of seeking the approval of people by a referendum to conduct a snap parliamentary election.

Calling intelligence officials: PSC to meet Speaker

The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, is said to be in a dilemma after President Maithripala Sirisena vowed not to send intelligence officers presently in service to testify before it.

Sri Lanka snub media duties after World Cup defeat

Sri Lanka are likely to be hit with an International Cricket Council sanction after failing to fulfil their media duties following Saturday’s damaging World Cup defeat against Australia.

It’s time to change UNP leadership: Ajith P Perera

The United National Party (UNP) leadership should be changed before the next presidential election, Non-Cabinet Minister Ajith P. Perera said yesterday.

Zahran supported MS, I supported MR: Hizbullah

Former Eastern Province Governor M. L. A. M. Hizbullah yesterday said National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) Leader Zahran Hashim supported President Maithripala Sirisena at the last Presidential Election in 2015 while he had supported former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Doubtful whether political leadership can stabilise country: Cardinal

People have doubts about whether our political leaders can bring stability to the country and save us from the unfortunate situation we are in, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said yesterday.

Hizbullah began Arabization in Kattankudy: Muslim Org.

Arabization was started and fostered in Kattankudy during the tenure of former Eastern province Governor M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, member of the federation of Kattankudy mosques and institutions Aboosali Uvais yesterday told the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe Easter Sunday attack.

PM condemns Hisbullah’s remarks

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has condemned the remarks made by former Eastern Province governor M.L.M. Hisbullah.

Proposal passed to remove Mangala’s name from a street in Puhulwella

A proposal presented by the Kirinda-Puhulwella Pradeshiya Sabha to remove the name of ‘Mangala Samaraweera Pedasa’ and replace it as ‘Lindagawa Watta Mawatha’ in Puhulwella, Matara, was passed today with a majority of three votes.

US Secretary of State Pompeo to visit SL

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is to make a brief visit to Sri Lanka end of this month, US State Department said.

CPC ups Petrol 92 by Rs. 3, LIOC by Rs. 7

The price of petrol (Octane 92) was increased by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) by Rs. 3 a litre from midnight today while the Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) increased it by Rs. 7 in addition to increasing Petrol Euro 3 also by Rs. 7.

Spirit of Sri Lanka cannot be defeated by acts of terrorism: Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is visiting Sri Lanka on Sunday said that Sri Lanka is not going to bow down in face of terrorism and the spirit of the island nation cannot be defeated by acts of terrorism.

Intelligence Chief Sisira Mendis resigns

Chief of the State Intelligence Service, former DIG Sisira Mendis, who testified before the Parliamentary Select committee on the Easter Sunday attacks, has resigned citing health reasons, a senior defence official confirmed.

Summoning intelligence officers before PSC can’t be approved: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena said summoning intelligence officers before a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) and revealing intelligence information before it cannot be approved.

SriLankan Airlines world’s most punctual airline

The SriLankan Airlines has been named as the world’s most punctual airline with 90.75 per cent of its flights in May 2019 being ‘on-time’ throughout its route network, SriLankan Airlines said.

Prez told me not to attend NSC meeting convened by PM - Hemasiri Fernando

Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando said yesterday that he did not inform the President on the intelligence information on the imminent suicide attack on Easter Sunday because he assumed that the Firector of the State Intelligence Services (SIS) must have informed the President on the matter, as it has been the practice

No politician, priest or social media can decide who is guilty: Mangala

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera today said the Constitution does not give power to any politicians, priests or social media platforms to decide who is guilty or innocent of any crime, including terrorism.

MS agrees to appoint UNP MP as State Minister of Law and Order

Sounding what appears to be a conciliatory note, President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have agreed to appoint two members of the United National Party (UNP) one of them as the Minister of Media and the other as the State Minister of Law and Order.

Colombo Archdiocese condemns Mangala’s tweet

The Archdiocese of Colombo today condemned the tweet posted by Minister Mangala Samaraweera saying, ‘Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith had fanned the flames of hatred and communalism by visiting Athuraliye Rathana Thera who was fasting in Kandy’.

Country belongs to people, not to its rulers: Cardinal

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith who visited MP Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thera during his fast unto death said the problem would not have blown out of proportion today if President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had acted against those who discreetly aided and abetted the terrorist attacks.

Police chief blames president for failing to prevent SL attacks

Sri Lanka’s suspended police chief has petitioned the Supreme Court, accusing President Maithripala Sirisena of failing to prevent the Easter bombings that killed 258 people, the AFP reported today.

Akkaraipattu man impersonating as SLA major, arrested in Moratuwa

A suspect who had been impersonating a major of the Sri Lankan Army Intelligence, has been arrested by the STF at Soysapura in Moratuwa yesterday.