Category: Local News

The latest wave of anti-Muslim riots that triggered curfews and a nation-wide state of emergency has damaged Sri Lanka’s international image and was a major blow to the economy, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

In the aftermath of communal clashes, the government is hoping to introduce fresh legislation to ensure a code of conduct for the operation of social media websites in line with international best practices, Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara said yesterday.

JVP yesterday (09) in parliament called on Muslim leaders to raise their voices against extremists in the their community.

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka exceeded 200,000 in February, a 19.3 percent growth compared to the same period last year, mainly due to a strong rise from China, statistics from the Sri Lanka Tourism Ministry showed here Friday.

A curfew will be imposed in the Kandy administrative district, excluding the Kandy Municipal Council area, from 8.00pm today until 5.00am tomorrow (10), the Police Spokesman said.

As normalcy was returning fast, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army went to trouble-torn Kandy yesterday morning (8) and took stock of developments taking place in the aftermath of violence that sparked off in the general areas of Digana, Galaha, Katugastota, Menikhinna, Ambetenna, Akurana, Poojapitiya and a few other affected areas.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said action will be taken to pay compensation to the victims affected by the unrest in several areas in the Kandy district.

Sri Lanka’s Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital belonging to the country’s only private medical school is up for sale valued at 3.55 billion rupees.

One person died while another two were wounded following a shooting incident at Kotahena in Colombo.

The main suspect accused of instigating the incidents in Kandy has been arrested this morning along with 9 other suspects.

The statement released by the speaker of Sri Lanka, Karu Jayasuriya on Kandy incident.

The Canadian government said it was deeply concerned by the recent inter-communal violence in Sri Lanka and urged all sides to engage in inclusive dialogue and exercise restraint to ensure peace and stability.

In accordance with the people’s request to remove the curfew for a short period to attend their essential activities including purchasing of food and other items, President Maithripala Sirisena has decided to remove the curfew from 10 a.m. and re-impose at 6 p.m. in the Kandy District, the Department of Government Information announced today.

Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara was sworn in as the Minister of Law and Order before President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat a short while ago.

President Maithripala Sirisena held a special meeting at President’s House in Kandy to discuss the current situation in the Kandy district.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe delivering a special statement on the situation in Kandy yesterday said the Security Forces Chiefs and the Police have been instructed to take prompt action against acts of sabotage and be prepared to control any kind of unrest.