Since April 21 attack, Vesak, Poson, Esala Perahera and Madhu festival smoothly held

Since the tragic Easter Sunday attacks, the country celebrated Vesak, Poson, Esala Perahera, and Madhu festivals without any terrorist or anti-social incident, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe pointed out yesterday after inaugurating a major new irrigation and water resources project in the lower Malvathu Oya region, near Tantirimalai.



Poverty, income gap are biggest challenge – Sajith

How many families living in this country have become debtors now? Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa queried at a public event yesterday adding that this situation would change once he is elected President by December this year.



Karu ready to contest Presidency to abolish it

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had informed the United National Party (UNP) that he will contest the upcoming Presidential Election with the aim of abolishing the Executive Presidency, if the Presidential candidacy is given to him with the unanimous agreement of the UNP.



Media barred from covering event held in support of GR

Joint Opposition lawmaker MP Shehan Semasinghe, yesterday, apologised for preventing the media from covering SLPP Youth Convention held at the Nelum Pokuna theatre, on Saturday (24), in support of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidential candidature.



Five detained after terror warning in Tamil Nadu, Kerala

Chennai: Five persons, including a woman, have been detained for questioning as the police in Tamil Nadu and Kerala continued their close screening of people and places in the hope of securing clues relating to the reported infiltration of six Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists through the sea route from Sri Lanka.



DNF formation at final stage; Sajith group hands over amendments

United National Party Chairman Kabir Hashim on Friday handed over amendments to the proposed Democratic National Front (DNF) from the Sajith Premadasa faction, as party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that the formation of the alliance was now at its “final stage.”



Will ensure democratic governance – Gota

Presidential Candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Gotabaya Rajapaksa says if elected he will revitalise all intelligence units to avoid another terror attack on Sri Lanka soil.



Government prevented economy from collapsing despite Easter terror attacks – Ranil

The government didn’t allow the economy to suffer although the country had to face many obstacles, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.



Tri-Forces deployed Island-wide for security

President Maithripala Sirisena has ordered Tri-Forces personnel to be deployed and stationed island-wide to maintain public security, despite the decision to no longer extend the State of Emergency.



Sri Lanka withdraws emergency law imposed after Easter attacks

Sri Lanka on Friday withdrew an emergency law imposed after Easter Sunday attacks, a military spokesman said, signifying the return of calm to the island nation which is set to vote in a new head of state later this year.



Tamil Nadu on high alert following entry of six terrorists via Sri Lanka

Tamil Nadu police have circulated among the force a photo of a potential suspect in connection with intelligence inputs from a Central agency that six Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists have intruded into the State and camped in Coimbatore, The Hindu reported yesterday.



Two Muslim state ministers reappointed

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Parliamentarians Faizal Cassim and Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana, who resigned from their State Ministerial portfolios two months ago, were sworn in to their previous posts again before President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat, today (23).



‘Kanjipani Imran’ given 6 year rigorous jail term

The Colombo High Court today sentenced notorious drug kingpin Mohamed Najim Mohamed Imran alias ‘Kanjipani Imran’ to 6 years in prison for the possession and trafficking of 5.3 kg of cannabis.



Sri Lanka central bank cuts rates by 50 bps

Sri Lanka’s central bank cut its key interest rates on Friday, in a surprise move to boost sluggish growth after the country’s tourism sector and investments plummeted following the Easter day attacks.



Rs.160 million paid for 85 NWSDB employees-Hakeem coordinators: COPE

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) revealed yesterday that a staggering Rs.160 million had been paid as salaries to 85 employees of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) who were recruited as ministerial coordinating officers of Subject Minister Rauff Hakeem since 2015.



“Will re-organise military intelligence” – Army Commander

The new Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lt. General Shavendra Silva, in his message to his troops and to the public as the 23rd Commander of the Army, has vowed to protect the country from all threats whilst adding that he would re-organise military intelligence units and raise them to an elevated level in keeping with strategies of international armies.