Category: Local News

Mahanayakes, Cardinal oppose signing agreements detrimental to country

The Asgiriya, Malwatte Chapters and Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith told the government that public opinion should be sought before signing agreements with foreign countries which could impact on the independence and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.



Elections Commission chairman talks about presidential poll

A presidential election will be held between the 9th of November to 9th of December, says the Chairman of the Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya.



Dress code introduced for state employees & visitors

A special circular has been issued pertaining to the uniform of state employees and a dress code for those visiting state offices for various services.



Veteran actress Chitra Wakishta passes away

Veteran actress Chitra Wakishta has passed away at the age of 83 while receiving treatment at the Colombo National hospital.



Laws to curb emergence of terror groups needed – PM

New laws including regulations to control hate speech should be introduced soon to prevent the emergence of new terror groups in the future, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.



Athuraliye Rathana Thero goes on hunger strike

Venerable Athuraliye Rathana Thero has commenced a protest fast in front of Sri Dalada Maligawa this morning (31).



Patali calls on Bathiudeen to resign

Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka says Minister Rishad Bathiudeen should resign from his post until investigations into alleged charges are completed.



Number of complaints soars to 377

The number of complaints received by the Kurunegala and Dambulla Hospitals against Dr. Siyabdeen Mohamed Safi who is alleged to have engaged in sterilisation surgeries has reached 377 as at yesterday, the spokespersons of both hospitals revealed.



Over 1,800 phone numbers being checked – Police

More than 1,800 telephone numbers, including those used by the Easter Sunday suicide bombers and others who were occasionally connected to them, are being analysed by the CID at the moment, Police Spokesman, Superintendent of Police Ruwan Gunasekara said yesterday (30).



Ravi will be prosecuted – AG’s Department

Senior State Counsel Lakshmi Girahagama yesterday informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne that Minister Ravi Karunanayake would be prosecuted for giving false evidence before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on bond scams, once the investigations were complete.



The man who might have stopped Sri Lanka’s Easter bombings

When bombs planted in churches and hotels killed more than 200 people in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, few had realised that the nation had a problem with Islamist militancy. One man who did, reports the BBC’s Secunder Kermani, was Mohammad Razak Taslim.



Sarath Wijeysuriya’s fiery rebuke of PM Wickremesinghe

An event to mark the 77th birth anniversary of late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha thero was held in Colombo yesterday. The event was attended by members of the maha sanga as well as the Speaker, and other political representatives.



Kelaniya university temporarily closed

All faculties of the Kelaniya University excluding the Medical Faculty, have been closed until further notice.



Relaxing of travel advisories, boost to tourism – PM

Relaxing the travel restrictions imposed on Sri Lanka by countries such as Germany, Switzerland, India and China will put new life into the country’s tourism industry that was severely affected by the Easter Sunday terror attacks, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.



Finance Ministry Media Director released

The senior Finance Ministry official arrested yesterday with 93 rounds of ammunition for 12 bore guns has been released following questioning.



National Security Council didn’t meet till April 21 attacks

Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) DIG Sisira Mendis yesterday told the Special Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), probing the Easter Sunday carnage, that though he briefed the then Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando on the impending terrorist attack, the National Security Council (NSC) had not met till the coordinated suicide bombings took place on April 21.