A T-56 rifle has been recovered from Dalupotha area in Negombo when the notorious underworld figure and drug kingpin “Makandure Madush” was escorted to find hidden weapons.

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday he had always been against the implementation of the death penalty and had refused to sign any of the death warrants during his term as President.

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday disclosed that he had spoken with the UN Secretary-General António Guterres over the telephone on Thursday night and explained the reasons for implementing the death sentence in Sri Lanka.

Former Minister of Industry Rishad Bathiudeen told Parliamentary Select Committee probing the Easter Sunday carnage yesterday that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, former Minister of Industry Piyasena Gamage and former Minister Prof GL Peiris had known Yusuf Mohamed Ibrahim, the father of two suicide bombers who carried out attacks.

The Department of Railways has lodged a complaint against the trade unions for resorting to a token strike despite Sri Lanka Railways being declared an Essential Service, says the General Manager of Railways Dilantha Fernando.

UPFA MP Kumara Welgama said that he will not support Gotabhaya Rajapaksa if he contests the next Presidential Election.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) told the Kurunegala Magistrate’s court yesterday that so far no evidence was available to prove that Dr.Mohammed Shafi had performed illegal sterilisation on women who had undergone caesarean child birth or that he had links with any terrorist organisation.

Sri Lankan torture victims have filed 10 new claims for damages in a U.S. court against wartime defense chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa, lawyers for the plaintiffs and a rights group said, possibly jeopardizing his plan to run for president.

Canada, yesterday, condemned President Maithripala Sirisena’s announcement that he would resume judicial executions after a lapse of several decades.

The Criminal Investigations Department today recovered 300 sticks of gelignite and 1,000 detonators hidden in Ollikulam, Kattankudy.

The Sri Lanka Railways has been declared an Essential Public Service, stated the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.

The Colombo High Court has served indictments on the former DIG Anura Senanayake for allegedly fabricating and concealing evidence on the murder of Sri Lankan rugby player Waseem Thajudeen.

The United Kingdom (UK) yesterday said the implementation of the death penalty in Sri Lanka would inevitably makes it more difficult for the UK to cooperate on law enforcement issues, including counter-terrorism.

Amnesty International says it is shocked by President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to sign the death warrants of four prisoners jailed on drug-related offenses.