Arjuna wants probe on bookies

World Cup winning Captain and Minister Arjuna Ranatunga yesterday said that he would soon formally request Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera to examine profits made by bookies on days the national cricket team lost international matches under controversial and arguable circumstances.



How China got Sri Lanka to cough up Hambantota Port – Report

China’s acquisition of the strategic Hambantota port from Sri Lanka has given it “control of a territory” just a few 100 miles off the shores of India, highlighting its “debt trap” and ambitious use of loans to gain influence around the world, a media report has said.



Postal strike suspended

The Joint Postal Trade Unions Front (JPTUF) yesterday announced that it would together with 24 of its unions, suspend the postal strike which has lasted for the past 16 days.



Bribery case: Bail rejected for Mahanama and Dissanayaka

Colombo Chief Magistrate rejects bail application filed by President’s former Chief of Staff and former Chairman of the State Timber Corporation (STC) over the Rs 20 million bribe case.



Kusal Janith Perera injured

Sri Lankan cricketer Kusal Janith Perera was injured during the third test match against West Indies. He sustained the injury when fielding.



SriLankan hoping to reduce excess staff

The government is considering retrenching the excess staff of SriLankan airlines by measures such as Voluntary Retirement Schemes, a report says.



Acid rain in NCP – Dr. Senanayake

Environmentalists claimed that the acidic gases, which are being released from the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant, can lead to acid rain and deforestation in the North Central Province.



President vows to protect country’s cultural heritage

President Maithripala Sirisena said as we are a proud nation with an ancient history, the government is duty bound to protect and safeguard our cultural heritage and bequeath it to the future generations, President Maithripala Sirisena said.



Postal workers protest hampers traffic in Colombo, Fort

The D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha in Colombo Fort is reportedly hampered with traffic owing to the ongoing protest launched by the Postal Workers at the Central Mail Exchange.



Army Corporal shot at by unidentified gunmen

An army corporal was hospitalised after being shot at by a group of men arrived in a three-wheeler and a motorcycle at Chakindarama Road in Ratmalana this morning, police said.



BUDDHA NEVER PREACHED DICTATORIAL RULE – PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the Buddha had never preached a dictatorial rule such as Hitler, Polpot or Idi Amin, but preached to rule the country based on the Dasaraja Dharmaya.



Sri Lankan court remands villagers in custody over beating to death of leopard

A Sri Lankan court on Sunday ordered two suspects to be remanded in custody after their arrest over the beating to death of a leopard – animals which are endangered in the country.



Rule of law must prevail even for criminals: Mangala

The rule of law must prevail even when dealing with criminals, tweeted the Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera.



‘Hitler’ comparison hurts Sri Lanka presidential hopeful

A senior Buddhist monk counselling former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to emulate Hitler and establish a military dictatorship may have seriously hurt his bid for the presidency, according to close associates.



President rejects proposal to pay compensation to former LTTE cadres and their families

President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday rejected outright a proposal by a United National Party (UNP) Cabinet Minister to pay “compensation” to Tiger guerrilla “ex combatants” and their “next of kin.”



Main suspect in Matara jewellery theft shot dead by police

Chamara Indrajith, who was arrested in connection with yesterday’s jewellery shop robbery and shootout in Matara, has been shot and killed by police officers when he allegedly attempted to hurl a grenade at them.