Colombo air quality to be unhealthy in morning hours

Colombo city is to experience unhealthy air quality in the morning hours which would gradually decline after mid-noon, Senior Scientist H.D.S. Premasiri said.

John Amaratunga ready to resign

UNP MP John Amaratunga had said he was ready to resign as the party organiser for Wattala and hand over the reins to a young party member.

Yal Devi derailment: Trains operating up to Maho and Galgamuwa

The railway service which had been suspended due to derailment of the Colombo-bound Yal Devi express train between Galgamuwa and Ambanpola stations had resumed from this morning, the Railway Operations Superintendent Gamini Seneviratne said.

Revamping mission; Ranil to meet UNP groups: Akila

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is to meet the party MPs in small groups to review the presidential election results and to decide on revamping the party, UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today.

300-year-old skeletal remains returns to Lanka from University of Edinburgh

The Chief of the Veddha Community Uruwarige Vanniyala Eththo mentioned the importance of having a secure place to deposit the human skulls and bones

Bandula, Ramesh appointed new Cabinet spokesmen

Ministers Bandula Gunawardane and Ramesh Pathirana were appointed as Cabinet spokesmen by the new government, sources said.

Portfolios are responsibilities not privileges: President

The ministers should execute duties bearing in mind that ministry portfolios were not privileges but responsibilities, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today said speaking after the new State and deputy ministers were sworn in at the Presidential Secretariat.

Selection board to make appointments to Govt. institutions: Prez

The appointments of heads to State corporations, boards and other institutions would be made through a selection board to ensure only the qualified and professionals would be appointed as chairpersons and directors, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said today.

New Cabinet sworn-in

Fifteen ministers were sworn in before President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa this morning at the Presidential Secretariat.

Ranil resigns as Prime Minister

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has tendered his resignation to President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa this morning, UNP media said.

Will sue disturbers of peace: Defence Secy.

Regardless of title or position, stringent legal action will be taken against any individual who attempts to disturb national peace, newly-appointed Defence Secretary Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said yesterday.

President on reformist path: Wimal

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is on a reformist path and has already taken a number of measures to change the system, Opposition MP Wimal Weerwansa today said.

Sajith loyalists contemplate forming new party: Harin

New Democratic Front (NDF) candidate Sajith Premadasa’s loyalists are contemplating forming a new political party under his leadership if effective revamp of the UNP does not take place, former Minister Harin Fernando said today.

An individual in pursuit of a porcupine found dead in a burrow

Ganemulla police said that the body of an individual who got stuck in a burrow while in pursuit of a porcupine at Kossinna in Ganemulla was taken out with much effort.

PM should step down immediately: Ven. Dhammananda Thera

Chief Lekakadikari of the Asgiri Chapter, Ven. Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera, said today it was most suited for Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to step down immediately giving the opportunity to President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to govern the country according to his policies.

President assumes duties

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa assumed duties at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo a short while ago. The President assumed duties following religious observances and the event was attended by former President Maithripala Sirisena as well.

Harin welcomes Gota’s move

Former Minister Harin Fernando yesterday said he would welcome the recent comment made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who requested not to display his photographs in public institutions.

Will march forward and contest general elections: Mahesh Senanayake

While saying that the presidential election was not the end of their political journey but the beginning, presidential candidate and former Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake said they as a group of intellectuals and professionals with the National People’s Party would contest any election in time to come including the general elections.

Ravi,Daya, Arjuna, John booed at by public

Ministers Ravi Karunanayake, Arjuna Ranatunga, Daya Gamage and John Amaratunga were booed by the public when they attended President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s swearing in ceremony on Monday.

I will form govt. to implement my policies: Gota

President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa today said he would form a government that can implement his policies to create a prosperous country.

Gotabaya sworn-in as 7th Executive President

President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa was sworn in as the 7th Executive President of Sri Lanka at the Maha Maluwa of the Ruwanweliseya in Anuradhapura a short while ago.

Gotabhaya declared as president

Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya declared Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa as the seventh executive president of Sri Lanka.

Gota victorious in sixteen districts

Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Monaragala, Ratnapura, Badulla, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Gampaha, Kandy, Matale, Polonnaruwa Colombo, Kegalle and Anuradhapura districts at the presidential polls.

Country ready to hold first free and fair presidential election: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe issued a statement yesterday saying the country is ready to hold the first free and fair presidential election under the conducive environment created in terms of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution and said the government had established a just and law-abiding society.

EC has no documents on Gota relinquishing US citizenship: Milroy

Former MP Milroy Fernando said yesterday the Election Commission (EC) Chairman had informed them that there were no documents submitted to the EC to verify whether SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa had relinquished his US citizenship.

JVP denounces release of Royal Park murder convict

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today condemned the release of Royal Park murder convict Jude Shramantha Jayamaha by President Maithripala Sirisena claiming it was a disgrace to the country.

I have never engaged in mudslinging politics: Harsha

Referring to the incident where an individual, who is reportedly a coordinating secretary of Non-Cabinet Minister Harsha de Silva, was alleged to have engaged in distributing derogatory leaflets against Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Mirihana, Non-Cabinet Minister Harsha de Silva said the incident had happened without his knowledge and he would never have approved it had he known.

Fire at PSD building destroys 47 motorbikes, three-wheeler

At least 47 motorcycles and a three-wheeler parked at the Presidential Security Division building premises in Colombo Port were destroyed by a fire which had erupted last night, police said.

Gota not a US citizen, says his attorney

The presidential candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Gotabaya Rajapaksa handed over all the documents related to the renunciation of his US citizenship to the Elections Commission a few months ago, his Attorney Ali Sabri said today.

Demanding Gota’s US citizenship renunciation: Monk begins fast

Ven. Dr. Inguruwatte Sumangala Thera commenced a fast at the Independence Square in Colombo demanding to produce the proof whether Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa has annulled his US citizenship.