Category: Local News

A senior American diplomat will visit Sri Lanka next week for talks on security and counter-terrorism, the US State Department has said.

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.

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

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 has passed away at the age of 83 while receiving treatment at the Colombo National hospital.

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.

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

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

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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