Govt. will be spineless if scared of protests – Nimal Siripala

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva advised officials to carry out waste management projects in the places approved by the Central Environmental Authority, without fearing protests.

He gave these instructions heading the Badulla District Correspondents meeting held today (30) at the Badulla District

AG submits draft of rule against Ramanayake

Attorney General has submitted the draft of rule document to Supreme Court, today (30), to show cause on Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake over the contempt of Court charges against him.

The Supreme Court had directed the Attorney General to draft a

JVP political principles will be launched next January – Anura

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) expects to launch its future political principles by next January, says its leader, MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

He pointed out that during an administration period of JVP, steps

Ingiriya OIC, Policemen suspended over assault

The Officer In-Charge of the Ingiriya Police, Inspector Ananda Piyadasa had been suspended with immediate effect over the alleged assault on two civilians by the three Police officers of the Ingiriya Police.

The IGP has suspended the OIC on covering approval of the National Police Commission (NPC).

Rathana Thera to forego Presidential Advisor title

Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said that he will not act as a Presidential Advisor from now on as there has been no advice sought from him so far and claimed he feels ashamed about holding the title.

“I have a title before my name which reads President’s Advisor

Many religions leaders face political victimization – Namal

The youth conference of the Maskeliya electorate was held yesterday (29), at the Ginigathhena Cooperative Hall in Hambantota headed by MP Namal Rajapaksa.

Several SLFP MPs including MP Namal Rajapaksa were welcomed at the center of Ginigathhena midst a procession.

Speaking at the occasion, MP Rajapaksa said that after

State Minister’s driver remanded till August 10

The driver of State Minister of Education V. S. Radhakrishnan, who was arrested for trespassing into MP Arundika Fernando’s official residence at Madiwela has been remanded till August 10 by Nugegoda Magistrate, police said.

The suspect was arrested by the Mirihana Police yesterday morning

More expected crossovers from govt to JO - Welgama

MP Kumara Welgama claims that more members of the government will crossover and join with the Joint Opposition (JO) due to displeasure over coalition government of the President and the Prime Minister.

Responding to questions from media following a religious event in

MR asks envoys appointed by him to plan for future

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had held talks with envoys appointed during his Presidency to serve in Sri Lankan missions abroad and requested them to come up with suggestions on Sri Lankan’s foreign policy to be adopted under a future government.

Former External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris told the Daily Mirror

No proposal to take controlling stake in Mattala Airport: India

The Civil Aviation Ministry of India on Thursday said that there is no proposal under consideration for the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to buy a controlling stake in Sri Lanka's Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, the Economic Times reported.

In the Lok Sabha, BJP member Poonam Mahajan has asked

Danushka suspended from six int'l matches

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) today announced that it has suspended Danushka Gunathilake from six international cricket matches for breaching the ‘player code of conduct and contractual obligation’.

In a statement, the SLC said of the six matches, the ban on three matches have been handed over for the recent violation of the 'Player Code of

SL tops at ICAO audit in civil aviation safety

An audit conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in the Sri Lanka Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had revealed that Sri Lanka ranked first in civil aviation safety, Civil Aviation and Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said yesterday.

He said a team of six ICAO auditors had conducted the audit in Sri

PC polls under old system or new mixed system: Parliament should decide

The Chairman of the Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya said that unless a system is decided upon by the Parliament, the Provincial Council Elections cannot be held in whatever manner.

In reply to a query made by our sister paper Lankadeepa, Deshapriya said that it is the Parliament that should decide whether

Mattala deal will embroil Sri Lanka in India-China ‘regional power games’ - MR

Sri Lanka’s proposed deal with India over the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport will “unnecessarily” embroil the island national in India-China “regional power games”, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

The Sri Lankan government earlier this month had announced that

Welikada prisons Intelligence unit disbanded

The Welikada Prison Intelligence Unit was disbanded with immediate effect by Justice and Prison Reforms Minister Thalata Atukorala yeterday.

The ministry said the decision was taken following the findings of an investigation conducted into several corruption and irregularities

Trace Expert City should remain: Dr. De Silva

National Policies and Economic Affairs State Minister Dr. Harsha De Silva yesterday said the sudden strike by railway employees over the Trace Expert City land issue was unwarranted and that the Tech-City should not be destroyed.

The State Minister said the government has already assured the

Vijayakala will never be arrested – Gammanpila

Former State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran will never be arrested, says MP Udaya Gammanpila.

He stated this attending an event held in the auditorium of the National Library and Documentation Services Board.

Gammanpila stated that he will take action to issue a writ against

Gotabaya assassination attempt: suspect acquitted after 13 years

The Hindu priest, who had been charged of aiding and abetting the assassination attempt on former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a suicide bombing at Piththala Junction in Kollupitiya in 2006, has been acquitted and released by the Colombo High Court.

Colombo High Court Judge Sampath Abeykoon said that it has

London-bound Dhammaloka Thera asked to disembark flight

Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera, who was to leave for the UK, had been asked to disembark the flight this morning over an issue in the travel ban date on the court order.

Immigration and Emigration official said even though the travel ban on the Thera had been temporarily lifted between August 26 and

Sudden rise in gold imports: Bandula asks Prez to intervene

The joint opposition said yesterday gold worth of USD 1,087 million had been imported in the recent past and that this was strange because the jewellery industry had not been developed in line with the colossal amount of gold imports.

JO MP Bandula Gunawardana said USD 650 million worth of gold

Govt. is trying to legalize a fraudulent document – Mahindananda

The Joint Opposition claims that the current government is attempting to legalize a fraudulent document under the pretext of the proposed new constitution.

Joint Opposition MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage stated this

UNP WC to decide on action against Vijayakala next month

The United National Party (UNP) Working Committee (WC) is to make the final decision on former State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran when it meets next month, UNP Chairman Kabir Hashim said yesterday.

Speaking to journalists, Mr Hashim said the WC was informed that

Ms Maheswaran would be summoned for questioning by the party

Police records Danuska’s statements over rape allegation

The Kollupitiya Police has recorded a statement from Sri Lankan batsman Danushka Gunathilaka in connection with the incident, where a Norwegian woman was allegedly raped by one of his friends at a star class hotel in Kollupitiya.

The Kollupitya Police arrested a 26-year-old Sri Lankan holding a

Galle Stadium: Minister to discuss with UNESCO before making decision

Sports Minister Faiszer Musthapha is to discuss the fate of the Galle Cricket Stadium with UNESCO officials before taking a final decision on the matter this week, a spokesman from the Ministry said yesterday.

In all probability the Galle Cricket Stadium will remain as it is after

Dairy farmers complain of not receiving their payments

Local dairy farmers say that they are severely inconvenienced as they have not received the correct payments for the milk bought from them.

The issue has not been resolved even if they had informed

New Constitution only a dream: Ganeshan

Introducing a new Constitution is only a dream because the government has run out of time already, National Integration Minister Mano Ganesan said.

He said this at the National Inter-religious Symposium held yesterday at the BMICH. The event was organised by the National

Govt. writes off micro finance loans up to Rs. 100,000

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has announced that the government would write off the non-consumption loans granted to women by all registered finance companies up to Rs. 100,000.

He said the government had also decided to introduce an interest

Court issues summons on President, PM for the fourth time

The Colombo High Court today for the fourth time issued summons on the President and the Prime Minister to appear in court for the trial against former General Secretary of UNP Tissa Attanayake. 
The court also postponed the trial against Mr Attanayake for October 9.

The trial is over the display of an allegedly fraudulent document to

Bandula has distorted my statement – Malik

Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, Malik Samarawickrama, stated that, he did not say that Sri Lanka has made direct investments worth USD 16 billion in the last two months because of the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA).

He points out that MP Bandula Gunawardane had distorted a

India will own 70% of Mattala Airport forever – Wimal

MP Wimal Weerawansa says that there is a plan to remove the Navy camp in Galle from its current location.

According to him, the relevant land will too be given to India, once the camp is removed from there.

India isn’t buying the Mattala International Airport based on

Actor Indika Ginige passes away

Popular actor and singer Indika Ginige passed away at the age of 37 at his residence this morning due to a sudden illness.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka Singers Association (SLASA) President Keerthi Pasquel said Ginige died on the

Govt. doesn’t want to change Constitution: Namal

Joint Opposition MP Namal Rajapaksa today said the government was not interested in changing the Constitution and that was why the 20th Amendment had been presented in Parliament as a private member’s bill.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) presented the 20th

Gunathilaka ‘innocent’ of rape charges: Police

Sri Lankan batsman Danushka Gunathilaka, who has been suspended by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), has been declared ‘innocent’ of any allegations of rape.

This was revealed by the Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of the

Tamil Nadu irrelevant in SL issue - Wigneswaran

Northern Province Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran said it was difficult for him to gauge the role of India in resolving the ‘Tamil National Question’ in Sri Lanka because that country seemed to be adopting a non-interference attitude.

In an interview with the Daily Mirror, the Chief Minister said Sri

Prove Ministers links with underworld: Champika

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranwaka yesterday requested to prove links between the Government Ministers’ and underworld or drug smugglers if there are any.

He made this remark while attending the ceremony to launch

Executioners to get a raise & a house!

The Department of Prisons is mulling over a providing a host of additional benefits to the post of executioner, reports say.

Officials are reportedly considering whether it is possible to increase the salary of from the present 35,000 (inclusive of all benefits) to Rs. 50,000.

Won't change decision to implement death penalty: President

President Maithripala Sirisena today assured that he would not change the decision taken to implement the death penalty, despite the objections raised by some factions against the move.

He expressed these views while addressing a ceremony held in Polonnaruwa to commence the

Buddhist Temporalities, Theravadi Bhikkhu Kathikawath Bills presented

Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said yesterday the government had presented the Buddhist Temporalities (Amendment) Bill and Theravadi Bhikkhu Kathikawath (Registration) Bill in Parliament on a request made by the Maha Sanga since 1956 to maintain discipline among Buddhist monks.

However, he said Ven. Medagoda Abayatissa Thera had requested

"PC polls on Jan. 5 if final decision taken by October end"

Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya and Delimitation Commission Chairman K. Thavalingam have informed party leaders that Provincial Council elections could be held on January 5 if a final decision on the polls was taken before the end of October.

A statement from the Speaker’s office said the two chairmen had come up with this notion at meeting held between them and leaders of

No constructive engagement between Govt. officials: Aluthgamage

We have never witnessed President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and MPs sitting together and taking decisions in support of the government, UNP backbench MP Ananda Aluthgamage said yesterday.

Mr. Aluthgamage said this during the parliamentary debate on the

Feeding alcohol to toddler: Father, three others remanded

Four persons, including the 40-year-old father of a toddler, who fed an alcoholic beverage to the toddler, had been remanded till August 1 by the Galgamuwa Magistrate today.

The Meegalawa Police yesterday arrested the suspect after video

Gnanasara Thera’s case: CA verdict on August 8

The verdict on the case filed against Ven.Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera on defamation charges would be announced on August 8 by the Court of Appeal (CA).

The then Homagama Magistrate Ranga Dassanayake filed the case in the Appeal Court over the alleged violent behaviour of the monk

Gota refutes social media claims

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa today refuted reports circulating in the social media purported to be from the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, claiming to have appointed him as the Presidential Candidate for 2020.

“I wish to inform that a fake media release circulating in social

Satisfied with party re-organization: Range Bandara

State Minister of Disaster Management Palitha Range Bandara yesterday said that he was satisfied with the re-organization taking place within the United National Party (UNP) as it gears itself for the 2020 Presidential Election.

Speaking to the media at the Disaster Management Centre he said

Appointing Dinesh Opposition Leader: 70 MPs led by JO to meet Speaker today

A joint opposition-led coalition of 70 parliamentarians are due to meet Speaker Karu Jayasuriya this afternoon to request the appointment of MP Dinesh Gunawardane as the Opposition Leader in Parliament, an MP said yesterday.

JO National Organiser Dullas Alahapperuma said this was decided

Tug-O-War between two govt. entities threatens supply of power in South

As a result of a Tug-O-War taking place between the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) over the purchase of power from a private power supplier, Ace Power that is based in Embilipitiya, a crisis situation

Our media not seeing positive aspects: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe has charged that the local media does not give publicity to positive stories but give space for negative ones.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe expressed these sentiments at a

Death sentence: Woman tops the list

Justice and Prison Reforms Minister Thalata Athukorala said yesterday that a woman prisoner headed the list of the death row criminals, submitted to be hanged.

At an event held in Kahawatta, the Minister said the country had

Reparations Bill to be presented to Parliament today

The 'Office of Reparations' Bill which is aimed at providing legal provisions for the establishment of the Office for Reparations, to identify war affected people eligible for reparations, has been placed on the Order Paper of Parliament meant for today

Like the Office of Missing Persons, the establishment of this new

MRIA: Proposal before cabinet soon

The proposal to develop the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) into a Public-Private partnership (PPP) with India would be presented to Cabinet shortly, Deputy Minister of Aviation Ashok Abeysinghe said yesterday.

He told a media briefing that Sri Lanka would get a 30 per cent