Latest Sri Lanka News and Top Stories

Shocks from deadly suicide bombings on Easter Day in Sri Lanka are reverberating throughout its economy in the worst crisis since the South Asian island nation’s civil war ended in 2009.

The Colombo Crimes Division has arrested the brother-in-law of the National Thowheed Jamath organisation’s leader Zahran Hashim in Katupotha.

One suspect, who was involved in stealing a van from Mattegoda and shot at by Army personnel at Pinwatte checkpoint last night (29), has died in hospital, the Police Media stated.

The Auditor General’s Department, in a special audit report, highlighted that the continuous construction delay of Colombo Lotus Tower had resulted in a revenue loss of over Rs.5,475 million for the Government.

Joint Opposition MP Udaya Gammanpila yesterday told media in Colombo that a proper investigation had not been conducted into the very serious allegations levelled against Rishad Bathiudeen.

Muslim ministers, who had resigned from their posts, have sworn in before President Maithripala Sirisena to their previous ministerial portfolios today (29).

Bodies of twin female infants had been found murdered at a house in Ninthavur, Sammanthurai this morning, the Police said.

The group of Muslim Parliamentarians, who resigned from their respective Ministerial portfolios following the Easter Sunday attacks, are expected to be sworn-in as Ministers once again at 7 tonight.

Army Commander Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake has been summoned to testify for a second time before the Parliament Select Committee probing the Easter bombings when it next meets on Wednesday, July 31 morning. Former Defence Ministry Secretary Kapila Waidyaratne is also scheduled to appear before the Select Committee on the same day.

Three persons died and 5 others were injured following a collision between a bus and a lorry at Wahamalugollewa along Anuradhapura-Medawachchiya road.

One person has died as two unidentified gunmen opened fire at him early this morning (28), says the police.

The Presidential election campaign is likely to be hit by adverse weather conditions between September and November.

President Maithripala Sirisena was expected to meet Opposition Leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa, for a crucial discussion to work out the modalities on forming a new alliance between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP), General Secretary of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), Mahinda Amaraweera said.

A United Nation expert said on Friday some Sri Lankan laws are “frequently applied” in a discriminatory manner and urged the government to address the root causes of public protests by treating everyone equally.