Politics not involved in Champika’s arrest

While saying that the law will take its course and there is no politics involved in the arrest and detention of former minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, State Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said Attorney General Dappula De Livera was an extremely strict public officer who does not listen even to the President.

No law violated in arresting Patali: Gammanpila

While saying there is no political motive behind the arrest of MP Patali Champika Ranwaka, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila today pointed out that there was no violation of the law in the process of arresting him.

Anticipatory Bail - Rajitha files fresh application

MP Rajitha Senaratne today filed a fresh anticipatory bail application 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.

MP’s arrest illegal: UNP

To a question asked by journalists whether it was wrong to investigate a road accident involving former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka on a request made by the victim’s parents, the United National Party (UNP) said today there was no issue in doing so if done legally.

Will do our best to get Champika released legally: Sajith

United National Party (UNP) MP Sajith Premadasa said today the party would do its best to get former Minister Champika Ranawaka released in a legal, democratic and constitutional manner.

Rajitha’s anticipatory bail application rejected

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today rejected the anticipatory bail application filed by former minister Rajitha Senaratne on the basis that it could not be granted in relation to uncertain charges.

Maradana train derailment: All trains on mainline delayed

All train services including office trains operating on the mainline were delayed this morning due to the yesterday’s train derailment between the Maradana and Dematagoda railway stations, The Railway Control Room said.

No politics involved in ex-Minister’s arrest: Bandula

There is no politics involved in the arrest and detention of former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and legal action against him is based purely on hard evidence available to the law enforcement authorities, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardana said yesterday.

UNP MPs allege arrest was political victimisation

While alleging that the arrest of MP Patali Champika Ranawaka was illegal and an act of political victimisation, the UNP today said the Party is currently having discussions on the steps to be taken with regard to the arrest.

Lanka managed Swiss embassy issue diplomatically: Govt.

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Ramesh Pathirana said today Sri Lanka has managed the incident involving the Swiss embassy employee diplomatically and was careful not to make it an international issue.

MCC deal suspended; 4-member committee appointed to review agreement: Govt.

The government has suspended the proposed Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement while a four-member committee was appointed to review the MCC and submit recommendations to the Cabinet, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardana said.

20-year, 12-year RI for Fmr. President’s Chief of Staff, ex-STC Chairman respectively

Former President Maithripala Sirisena’s chief of staff I.H.K. Mahanama and State Timber Corporation (STC) former chairman P. Dissanayaka, were sentenced to 20 and 12 rigorous imprisonment respectively after they were found guilty of accepting a bribe of Rs.20 million by the Special High Court today.

Manjula Perera arrested for assaulting journalist

UNP Kelaniya organiser Bewan Perera’s son Manjula was today arrested on charges of assaulting Lake House photo journalist Gayan Pushpakumara.

Patali re-remanded until Dec. 24

Former minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, who was arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) in connection with the road accident in 2016, has been re-remanded until December 24 by the Colombo Additional Magistrate today.

Swiss Embassy staffer taken to Mental Health Institute

Swiss Embassy local staffer, Garnier Banister Francis, who is in the remand custody, was taken to the National Institute of Mental Health, Angoda this morning.

THE KOREAN DREAM

A coffin was rolled out of the arrival area of the Bandaranaike International Airport. Inside was the remains of twenty-four-year-old Ganushka Madumal who drowned in South Korea in a boat accident. Madumal, who had never swum in Sri Lankan seas, was working in a fishing vessel in Korea. He was not even wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident.

UNP constitution should be amended to elect new leader: MP Harsha

UNP MP Harsha De Silva yesterday proposed an amendment to his party’s constitution in order to make provisions to elect a new leader through a vote.

Boris Johnson’s speech: SL must pull out of C’wealth in protest

Sri Lanka should withdraw from the Commonwealth and from the United Nations in protest over a speech made by British Premier Boris Johnson over reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka, Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera said.

Can’t accept PM post without party leadership: Sajith

New Democratic Front (NDF) candidate who made his first public appearance today after the presidential election said he would not accept the prime ministerial candidature if he was not appointed as the new leader of UNP.

I can’t be the UNP leader forever: Ranil

United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said today his immediate task was to introduce a new leadership to the party.

Woman stabbed to death near Kegalle HC

A woman was stabbed to death by her husband when she came to the Kegalle High Court today over a maintenance case, police said.

Death row prisoner shot at when trying to escape

A prisoner on death row identified as Kusitha Namal was injured after prison officers opened fire at him when he was trying to escape from the premises of the Homagama Court today. The injured prisoner was rushed to the Homagama Hospital.

Pujith, Hemasiri further remanded

Former IGP Pujith Jayasundera and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando were further remanded until December 23 by Colombo Chief Magistrate today.

Leadership agitators creating unnecessary problems

The Bhikkhu wing of the UNP, Eksath Jathika Bhikkhu Peramuna (EJBP), said yesterday 24 MPs who agitated for a leadership change attempted to create unnecessary problems within the party in the context of MP Sajith Premadasa refusing to accept any post.

UNP should’ve taken a leaf out of Conservative Party’s book

The United National Party (UNP) should have taken a leaf out of the book of the UK’s Conservative Party which corrected its mistakes and emerged victorious at the end, its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told his party’s Pradeshiya Sabha members at Sirikotha yesterday.

Govt. adopting double standards on MCC: JVP

While claiming that the government was adopting double standards on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today the government should abolish not only the MCC pact but also other agreements such as Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) as promised before the presidential election.

Abduction of Swiss embassy employee had not happened: President

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said today it was evident that the incident in which a local employee of the Switzerland Embassy in Colombo was allegedly abducted and threatened had not happened.

MR regime hell-bent on political vendetta: UNP

United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today there was no legal provision to have abducted the family members of the former driver of MP Champika Ranawaka.

Swiss Embassy local staffer remanded

Colombo Chief Magistrate today ordered the remand of the suspect, Swiss Embassy local staffer- Garnier Banister Francis till December 30 for providing fabricated statements to the CID.

No intention to harm SL, need to remove any misunderstanding: Swiss Envoy

Ambassador of Switzerland in Sri Lanka, Hanspeter Mock, who called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today commented on the Embassy staffer incident and said Switzerland harboured no intention to do any harm to Sri Lanka.