Uduwe Dhammaloka Thero acquitted

Venerable Uduwe Dhammaloka thera has been acquitted of all charges related to the case filed against the possession of an elephant calf without a valid license.



Interpol assistance sought to arrest Kosgoda Sujee, 4 others

The Colombo Magistrate directed the Police to request Interpol assistance to arrest the five main suspects involved in the largest heroin haul valued at more than Rs. 3,533 million which was seized last Sunday (24).



IMF agrees to extend Sri Lanka loan program, disburse delayed tranche – sources

The International Monetary Fund has agreed to extend Sri Lanka’s $1.5 billion loan program by one year and has reached staff level agreement to disburse the sixth tranche of the loan, government and diplomatic sources told Reuters on Friday.



Remand period extended for Amal Perera and others arrested in Dubai

The group which includes underworld gang leader Maakandurey Madhush, vocalist Amal Perera and his son Nadeemaal, who were arrested by Dubai police are to be detained for another month.



Maersk to increase container handling in Sri Lanka

President Maithripala Sirisena said that the government would facilitate multi-national companies such as Maersk A/S to expand container transshipment through the Port of Colombo as that would be of immense help to Sri Lankan economy.



Power pays glowing tribute to Mangala

Ambassador Samantha Power, yesterday, said that last year’s political crisis in Sri Lanka had raised alarm bells all around the world.



Five Parliamentarians declare assets

Five Members of Parliament across party lines today published their declarations of assets and liabilities in public.



Water cannons fired to disperse Isurupaya strike

Police fired water cannons to disperse a protest staged by Lanka Teachers Union in front of the Education Ministry in Battaramulla this morning.



Constable commits suicide inside police station

A 29-year-old Police Countable attached to the Maharagama Police Traffic Unit, has committed suicide by shooting himself this morning.



Southern provincial councilor Krishantha Pushpakumara arrested

Southern Provincial Councillor Krishantha Pushpakumara was arrested this morning after he surrendered to the Police through a lawyer.



Crucial talks on new Constitution today

A special discussion has been scheduled to take place between President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa along with other political leaders this afternoon at the Presidential secretariat.



27-year-old arrested while transporting heroin

A 27-year-old person has been arrested in Kuliyapitiya area while transporting 10 kg of heroin valued at Rs.120 million.



Ex-CB head calls for action against mastermind of bond scams

Former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, yesterday, said that besides his successor Arjuna Mahendran several others had to be held responsible for the biggest ever financial crime – the bond scams.



India Demands “Immediate, Safe Return” Of Air Force Pilot Captured By Pakistan

Indian government today said it expects the “immediate and safe return” of an Indian Air Force pilot captured by Pakistan after an air combat between the two sides for the first time since 1971, which marked the worst escalation between the neighbours in decades.



SriLankan cancels Thursday’s flights to Karachi and Lahore

SriLankan Airlines has cancelled flights to the Pakistani cities of Karachi and Lahore scheduled for Thursday (February 28) following the temporary closure of Pakistani airspace by the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan.



Trump and North Korea’s Kim predict success in high-stakes nuclear summit

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump met in Vietnam on Wednesday for a second summit that the United States hopes will persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for promises of peace and development.