The Cabinet of Ministers yesterday unanimously decided to carry out the death sentence on those who are convicted on drug charges, Buddhasasana Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said. The Minister said further that President Maithripala Sirisena instructed Justice and Prison Reforms Minister Thalatha Athukorale to take all relevant measures in that regard.

Two state banks – the Bank of Ceylon and the People’s Bank – will extend financial assistance of Rs.13.5 billion to bail out the cash-strapped SriLankan Airlines, it is learnt.

A decision has been taken to increase fuel prices of CEYPETCO outlets from tonight, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.

An Inspector of Police (IP) in-charge of Kalkudah Police administrative unit was arrested by officers of the Bribery Commission while accepting a bribe of Rs. 300,000 from a businessman today.

Electricity would be generated from garbage from June next year, bringing a solution to the garbage menace, said Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.

A special programme titled Gamperaliya would be launched in 2019, through which sums of Rs. 200 million would be provided to each Divisional Secretariat countrywide for development and maintenance purposes, Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said last Sunday.

A female body has been discovered, this morning (09, in a canal which directs water to Keselgamu Oya connected to the Castlereigh Reservoir, states Norwood Police.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said our country has a wealth of human resources and emphasised the need for utilising this human resource effectively and meaningfully. The Prime Minister made these comments at a meeting held in Moneragala Mahanama National School after opening a new aesthetic building on Saturday.

Colombo Municipal Councillor Krishna Pillai Girubanandan was shot dead in Sea Street, Colombo 13, this morning.

Two persons, a husband and wife died while two others were seriously injured in a shooting that occurred at Jampettah Street in Colombo last evening.

Singer Priyani Jayasinghe has been hacked to death at her residence in Alubomulla, Panadura a short while ago, Police said.

Two suspects were arrested by the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) with 103.9 kg 950 mg of heroin valued Rs. 1,248 million in Kalubowila and Battaramulla last night.

The Cabinet has approved the extension of expensive power purchase agreements (PPAs) with three independent power producers (IPPs) amidst reports that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has recorded a 240 percent increase in losses last year when compared with 2016.

Police investigations into whether the China Merchant Engineering Company (CMEC) had funded political parties during the 2015 Presidential Elections were halted after detectives found that both major candidates had received donations

A travel ban has been issued on four Directors of the Edirisinghe Trust Investment. The ban was issued by Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayarathne, considering the representations made by the Attorney General.