Category: Local News

Gotabaya’s overseas ban temporarily lifted

The overseas travel ban imposed on former Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been temporarily lifted.



Saudi Arabia rejects allegations that it knew Eaters Sunday attack beforehand

The Saudi Embassy in Colombo says that it categorically rejects a media report by a newspaper in Lebanon that Saudi Arabia knew the Easter Sunday terror attacks beforehand.



Avoid mega celebrations this Vesak

The Mahanayake Theras of four chapters said in a joint statement today that people should refrain from conducting mega Vesak celebrations that involved large public gatherings owing to the security situation prevalent in the country.



Saudi Arabia, Qatar should stop financing Muslim extremists in Sri Lanka: Dayasiri

General Secretary of the SLFP, former Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara made an appeal to Saudi Arabia and Qatar yesterday not to let extremist groups in those countries to finance Muslim fundamentalists in Sri Lanka like National Thawheed Jamaath (NTJ) that carried out the Easter Sunday carnage.



President orders search operations without media glare

President Maithripala Sirisena has instructed security forces not to tag along journalists or any other external parties while conducting search operations.



All suspects in Sri Lanka bombings arrested or dead: acting police chief

All suspected plotters and those directly linked to Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombings have either been arrested or are dead, the country’s acting police chief said on Monday.



Over 7.1 billion assets and cash belonging to terrorists identified

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has identified more than Rs.140 million cash and other assets worth over Rs.7 billion belonging to the terrorists involved in the Easter Sunday attacks, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.



Nine arrested at copper factory owned by bombers granted bail

Nine of the ten suspects, who were arrested at the copper factory allegedly used to manufacture the bombs detonated at three churches and three luxury hotels on Easter Sunday, have been released on bail.



PM instructs to reimburse properties damaged in Negombo unrest

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has agreed to compensate the private and public properties that were damaged during the clashes between two groups in Porutota-Kochchikade, Negombo last evening (05).



Restrictions imposed on the use of loudspeakers in Mosques

Restrictions have been imposed on the use of loudspeakers in Mosques during the month of Ramazan Fasting which begins tomorrow.



Low student turnout at schools

The second academic term for school children in grade 6 and above classes, commenced today. The three Armed Forces, Police, Civil Security Officers, Parents and Old boys gathered at their respective schools to provide protection.



Summons to three persons including the IGP to be present in Court

Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundera, former Secretary to the Treasury P. B. Jayasundera and the Director of the Anti-Corruption Committee have been issued with summons ordering them to be present in Court on 13 May.



Sri Lanka police discover suspected training camp for Islamist militants

Sri Lankan police on Sunday discovered a 10-acre camp in the eastern town of Kattankudy, where Islamist militants linked to the deadly Easter attacks are believed to have practiced shooting and bombmaking.



Muslim community abhors violence – Hakeem

Proper investigations should be conducted on any substantial number of fire arms or other items recovered during search operations, irrespective of where they are found, SLMC Leader and City Planning and Water Supply Minister Rauff Hakeem said yesterday.



Mahinda warns of perils hidden in Ranil’s Counter Terrorism Bill

The proposed Counter Terrorism Bill will encourage terrorists as it was meant to stifle political dissent and the freedom of expression while treating terrorists with the utmost leniency, Opposition Leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa said, yesterday, issuing a press release.



Police curfew imposed in Negombo

Police curfew has been imposed within Negombo police division with immediate effect in order to control a tense situation, stated the Police Media Spokesperson.