Category: Local News

The Government had already decided on the action that was to be taken against State Minister Vijeyakala Maheswaran, who had called for the resurgence of LTTE, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday.

Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday agreed to complete the Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investment (APPI) as early as possible in order to expand investment and trade cooperation between the two countries.

The Sri Lankan rupee edged lower for a third straight session on Wednesday in dull trade, as importer dollar demand outpaced inflows from inward remittances, dealers said.

The Appeal Court today issued an interim order staying the proceeding of the Avant-Garde case at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, against former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and 8 other defendants until October 3, 2018.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) began investigations on the New York Times article which revealed that former President has traded the Hambantota port to obtain funds for Presidential election campaign in 2015 following a complaint lodged by Deputy Minister of Social Empowerment Ranjan Ramanayake.

A Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesperson Tuesday rejected some media reports that China harbours military intentions by constructing Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has summoned State Minister of Child Affairs Vijayakala Maheswaran to Colombo effective immediately, to inquire into her statements made in Jaffna in Monday (2).

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has met with key legislators last week to present the legislative brief on the National Audit Bill detailing key amendments to be made in committee stage, ahead of the debate on the Bill which will commence in Parliament on Thursday (5).

Wartime Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, now widely believed to be the JO’s choice as its presidential candidate will visit Neluma Mawatha, Battaramulla Office of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today (July 4).

The New York Times says that politicians allied with former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa are engaged in an intimidation campaign against Sri Lankan journalists who had provided assistance to its investigation into the Hambantota port.

Surveys done on the public sector by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) have revealed that 25 percent of public sector officials are corrupt.

The United National Party (UNP) said that the Chinese Embassy statement, on the New York Times report, about the Hambantota Port, implies that there was money exchanged between the Government of Sri Lanka and China Harbour Company close to the 2015 Presidential Election.

The LTTE had to be revived if the Tamils in the North and East were to live without fear, State Minister of Child Affairs, Vijayakala Maheswaran said, yesterday at the 8th Presidential Public Service programme held at the Weerasingham Hall, Jaffna.

Sri Lanka is shifting a naval base to a port built and controlled by China, it said on Monday, a move that will strengthen security at a harbour that foreign powers fear China could use for military purposes.

Cash and jewellery worth of some Rs. 80 million were robbed from a state bank in Thalawa, Anuradhapura over the weakened, police said.

The vehicle in which the gang who robbed a jewelry shop in Matara rode was taken into custody by the Kalutara Police, this morning.