November 22, 2024 6:43 am
Results: 139
13th Amendment back in the limelight in Sri Lanka
Even as Sri Lanka is preparing to come up with a new Constitution with devolution as one of the key issues, the 13th Amendment, which created provincial councils in the country, is again in the limelight. MORE...
PM to leave for Switzerland tomorrow
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is due to leave Sri Lanka tomorrow for the World Economic Forum that will be held in Davos-klosters, Switzerland from January 20 to 23. MORE...
PM vows to continue development projects
UPDATE: The new government has taken every possible effort to resolve issues with respect to allegations of human rights violations, the Prime Minister says. MORE...
No foreign naval bases on SL soil: PM
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that Lanka will not allow other countries to set up naval bases in its territory. MORE...
Sri Lanka to usher in a capital oriented budget: Ravi
Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake said that the Yahapalana Government’s new budget on November 20 will be capital oriented while aiming at higher revenue than recurrent expenditure. MORE...
Deepavali signifies a moment of light overcoming darkness: PM
Deepavali renews hope in our hearts towards the engagement of the human spirit in overcoming evil with the goodness that exist among mankind, the Prime Minister said in his Deepavali Message. MORE...
Marapana explains reasons behind his resignation
Explaining his stance on the decision to resign from his post as the Minister of Law and Order, Tilak Marapana asserts the conduct of the operations at the Avant Garde Security Service were legal. MORE...
Parliamentary programme for the Budget 2016 amended
The parliamentary programme for the Budget 2016 which was approved at the Cabinet of Ministers has been amended according to a proposal made by Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance. MORE...
Dilan admires JVP for its stance on US-sponsored resolution
State Minister Dilan Perera on Thursday (22) admired Sri Lanka’s leftist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) for maintaining a clear stance on the US-sponsored resolution that was adopted at the recently concluded UN Human Rights Council Sessions in Geneva. MORE...
Sri Lanka to allow Chinese submarines to visit, inform neighbours
Sri Lanka will allow future submarine visits by China provided they are not too frequent, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said underlining that the mistrust with India in the past could have been avoided if it had been kept in the picture about the dockings. MORE...
Prime Minister to visit Singapore today
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will leave for Singapore today (15) on a two day official tour, the Government Information Department announced. MORE...
CID gets detention order to question Pillayan
The Colombo Chief Magistrate today (14) allowed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to detain former Chief Minister of the Eastern Province Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan for questioning till November 04. MORE...
Rajapaksa govt. turned a blind eye to corruption: Patali
Majority of the people sought a regime change in a bid to put a full stop to corruption of the previous government, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka says. MORE...
CID detains Pillayan for further questioning
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is interrogating former Chief Minister of the Eastern Province Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan under a detention order, the police say. MORE...
Talks on with Tamil parties: Ranil
The Sri Lankan government has begun “informal discussions” with the Tamil National Alliance and other parties on a political solution to the ethnic conflict, according to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. MORE...
Sri Lanka to use foreign missions to promote trade, investment
The new government on Wednesday said it will use its diplomatic missions overseas to promote the country’s trade, investment and businesses. MORE...
Sri Lanka again asks NTPC to shift power plant location: Report
Sri Lanka has reportedly asked India to change the location of a stalled US$500 million power project to be built by NTPC Ltd, the India Info Line news agency reported today. This is the second time that Sri Lanka has made the request for change of location for this project. The first was in 2007. MORE...
Japan promises PM infrastructure, maritime aid
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged aid to Sri Lanka on Tuesday in a meeting with his counterpart, Ranil Wickremsinghe, and reiterated a promise to help Sri Lanka bolster its maritime security and to provide patrol ships. MORE...
Finance Minister leaves for Peru to attend IMF annual meeting
Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake left the Island to attend the 2015 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund which will take place in Lima, Peru, from October 9-11. MORE...
Vigneswaran says he has faith on President Sirisena
Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Vigneswaran says he has hope and confident that President Maithripala Sirisena will achieve peace and prosperity.
Place your money in Sri Lanka - Ravi
Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has invited Sri Lankans and Indians who had to take back their deposits from banks in Switzerland to place their funds in Sri Lanka. MORE...
Prime Minister to address the Japanese Parliament tomorrow
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasingh who is on an official visit to Japan was received by Sri Lanka Ambassador in Japan Professor Dhammika Ganganath Dissanayake at the Kansai Airport. MORE...
Akila vows 6% of GDP for education
The Education Minister vowed a gradual allocation of 6% of GDP for Education. The observation was made at a press conference held in Colombo on Monday (28). MORE...
India refloats plan for lanka port
With a friendlier government now at the helm in Colombo, India has revived its plan to develop a port in Sri Lanka, hoping to catch up with the Chinese, the New India Express news agency reported today. MORE...
Aust co-sponsors Sri Lanka resolution
Australia has co-sponsored a reconciliation resolution to the United Nations with the Sri Lankan government. MORE...
War crimes in Sri Lanka: Jaya urged to convene all-party meeting
Indian PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss on Thursday urged Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa to convene an all-party meeting to exert pressure on the Centre to bring out a resolution in the UNHRC, seeking international probe into the alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka, the Times of India news agency reported. MORE...
Wigneswaran welcomes UN proposal to set up hybrid court
The Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Tamil-dominated Northern Province has welcomed the UNHRC’s proposal to set up a hybrid court to probe the alleged war crimes during the last phase of the conflict with the LTTE, saying it is a dramatic step towards achieving reconciliation. MORE...
UN war crimes report soft pedals LTTE’s using human shield: G.L.
Former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Prof.G.L.Peiris has said that the report of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights on “war crimes” in Lanka has soft pedaled the LTTE’s using civilians as a human shield, when it is a war crime under international humanitarian law. MORE...
Lankan High Commissioner calls on Bangladesh Foreign Minister
Newly appointed Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Bangladesh Yasoja Gunasekera has paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali. They discussed issues of mutual interest, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry has said. MORE...
$5.19 billion road project to begin by October
Keen on fostering ties with neighbours, India is set to engage in high-level talks with Sri Lanka by October for an ambitious $5.19 billion road project to connect both the nations through a sea-bridge and an underwater tunnel, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. MORE...
No discussions on CEPA: says PM, President
The President and the Prime Minister have yet again assured that discussions on a trade agreement entitled Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was not held during PM’s visit to India earlier this week. MORE..
Tamils reject govt’s wartime truth commission, demand international inquiry?
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Sri Lanka’s minority Tamils has rejected government plans for a truth commission to promote reconciliation after decades of ethnic war, insisting on an international inquiry, the AFP news agency reported. MORE...
Government holds a double standard: Gammanpila
The government holds a double standard in dealing with the international community and the public with respect to the probe on alleged war crimes investigation, leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Udaya Gammanpila says. MORE...
Looking at power sharing and devolution within a unity state: PM
“We are looking at how power sharing and devolution take place within the Constitution, with in a unity state,” Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe says. MORE...
Modi must press for international probe: Ramadoss
Indian MP and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stress on his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe for an international judicial probe into the alleged war crimes in the island nation during the final stages of the civil war. MORE...
PM begins three-day visit to India
On the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe left for an official visit to India from September 14 to 16. MORE...
Australian prime minister ousted after party vote
Australia’s beleaguered prime minister has been ousted from his position by an internal government challenge, and the party’s former leader has been elected to replace him. MORE...
New constitution, amendments to penal code; steps to create a new Sri Lanka: Mangala
“The best guarantee for non-recurrence is of course a political settlement that addresses the grievances of the Tamil people. We hope that we can achieve this through the adoption of a new Constitution,” Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said. MORE...
Mangala holds talks with UN rights chief
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakse have held discussions with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. MORE...
Two more Deputy Ministers appointed
Two more Deputy Ministers have been sworn in before President Maithripala Sirisena on Thursday. MORE..
New State and Deputy Ministers sworn in
(UPDATED) The swearing in ceremony of State and Deputy Ministers of the National Government commenced a short while ago at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. MORE..
Three new Cabinet Ministers sworn in
Three new Cabinet Ministers were sworn in before President Maithripala Sirisena short while ago, the Presidential Media Division said. MORE..
44 Ministerial Secretaries appointed
The appointing of 44 Secretaries for the new Ministries took place today at the Presidential Secretariat with the participation of Secretary to the President P.B. Abeykoon. MORE..
Dayasiri vows to implement National Sports Policy
The National Sports Policy of Sri Lanka will be implemented within the next two years in a bid to strengthen and develop the sports industry, Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara says. MORE...
No place for racism anymore: Mano
There will be no place for racism in our country anymore, Minister of National Dialog Mano Ganesan asserts. MORE...
UAE Foreign Minister calls on President Sirisena
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nayhan has called on President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. MORE...
UNP celebrates 69th anniversary today
The 69th anniversary of the United National Party (UNP) is currently being held under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe at the party headquarters in Sirikotha. MORE...
(UPDATED) The swearing in ceremony of the new Cabinet of the National Government commenced at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo, a short while ago. MORE..
Don’t act like monkeys, says PM
The decision on the opposition leader post sparked uproar in parliament when Colombo district MP Wimal Weerawansa this morning (3) questioned the government on the validity of the new appointment. MORE...
New Parliament convenes tomorrow
The first sitting of the Eighth Parliament will be held tomorrow (1) from 9.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. with the participation of President Maithripala Sirisena. MORE...
New Government will work closely with all partners, says Mangala
The new Government will work closely with all its partners to ensure a stable and secure atmosphere for sustainable economic prosperity for all people, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has said. MORE...
EPDP backs National Government
Since we have a faith that the National Government would address the issues faced by the Tamil community, the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) will back the coalition government, former Minister Douglas Devananda said. MORE... (Audio)
Biswal meets President Sirisena
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal called on Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday (25) evening. She was accompanied by the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski. MORE...
Blair assures to appear on behalf of Sri Lanka
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has assured to appear on behalf of Sri Lanka in eliminating misconceptions in the world. He gave this assurance during a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena. MORE...
Nisha Biswal arrives in Sri Lanka
The United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal arrived in Sri Lanka this morning (25). MORE...
Sarana remanded for assaulting a person
Former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena and three others have been arrested and remanded till 26 August for alleged assault on a person during the General Election 2015. MORE...
Three Cabinet Ministers take oath
Three Cabinet Ministers took oath before the President a short while ago. Mangala Samaraweera took oath as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe as Minister of Justice and D. M. Swaminathan as Minister of Rehabilitation. MORE...
No legal basis for international investigation within Sri Lanka; it has to be domestic - PM
There is no legal basis for international investigation within Sri Lanka; it has to be domestic, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe said in an interview to the Hindu. The reason some of the people have been calling for international investigation is the loss of confidence in the judiciary, he added. MORE...
Nisha Biswal to arrive here next week
The United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal is due to arrive in Sri Lanka next week, the Government sources said. MORE....
Chinese premier congratulates new PM
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has sent a congratulatory message to Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was sworn in as prime minister of Sri Lanka, the Xinhua news agency reproted.
Ranil to hold discussions to establish a national plan
Discussions will be held with the party leaders and the President to reach an agreement on current matters and future party leadership matters in a bid to create a national plan, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe said. MORE...
PM Modi congratulates Ranil Wickremesinghe on poll win
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called up Ranil Wickremesinghe to congratulate him on his party’s victory in Sri Lankan parliamentary polls, and expressed confidence that the relations between the two countries will get better under his leadership. MORE...
UPFA will modernise the FCID: Susil
Measures will be taken to modernise the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID), if the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) wins the forthcoming election, former Minister Susil Premajayantha asserted. MORE...
EXCLUSIVE: UNP leadership not my personal property - Ranil
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says that accusations of dividing the country and imposing taxes on water are last-ditch efforts by the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) to sling mud at the UNP and assured that the people will not be deceived by them. MORE...
Government to make several SOEs self financed: Ravi
The new government’s plan to restructure the loss making State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to be self financed without depending on the General treasury will be a reality soon, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said. MORE...
Ranil vows to probe CB bond issue
The Government says that another select committee will be appointed to probe the controversial Central Bank bond issue when the new Parliament convenes. MORE...
Rs. 50 billion fraud in Kandy- Colombo expressway project, says Dilan
The Prime Minister has siphoned off over Rs. 50 billion though a new cabinet paper put forward by him with respect to the Kandy- Colombo expressway project, former Minister Dilan Perera charged. MORE...
Iran to further boost ties with Sri Lanka
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at a meeting with Sri Lankan delegation to Iran, has voiced Tehran’s willingness to further boost ties with Sri Lanka, Iranian media reported. MORE...
Bloemendal shooting: Another succumbs to injuries
Another person injured during the shooting incident at Bloemendal Road last Friday has succumbed to his injuries. The injured person was receiving treatment at the National hospital at the time of his demise. MORE...
Fraud and corruption led to economic downturn, says Ravi
Finance minister Ravi karunanayke said that the wrong economic policies by the previous government embedded with corruption and frauds resulted in the continuous deterioration of the government revenue and the agro based economy as well. MORE...
Litro Gas denies Bandula’s allegations
The Litro Gas Lanka Ltd on Wednesday (29) denied allegations that the government has signed a MoU with Shell Gas Ltd to purchase Gas at US D 105 per MT, contrary to international tender procedures. MORE...
Ranjan Ramanayake to be charged of contempt of court?
Kotte Deputy Mayor Madura Vithanage on Monday (27) handed over a letter to the Supreme Court seeking contempt of court charges against Deputy Minister, Ranjan Ramanayake, for allegedly making defamatory remarks on the judiciary and lawyers. MORE...
Ravi to send letter of demand to MR
“A letter of demand will be sent to the former President seeking Rs 5000 million in damage over several defamatory remarks made against me to a newspaper,” Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said. MORE...
Prasanna Ranatunga, wife arrives at FCID
Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and his wife arrived at the FCID a short while ago to give a statement over an alleged financial malpractice connected to a land deal. MORE...
Fuel price reduction if world oil prices drop: Ravi
The government will consider a further reduction in the fuel price if oil prices in the world drop, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said. “We won’t do this as an election bribe. When the gas prices dropped in the world market we reduced the price accordingly,” he added. MORE...
I was against giving nominations to MR, says the President
I was of the view that nominations should not be given to the former President to contest under the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) ticket at the forthcoming General Election, President Maithripala Sirisena said today (14). MORE...
Court grants bail to Prasanna and wife
The Fort Magistrate on Tuesday (14) granted bail to the Chief Minister of the Western Province, Prasanna Ranatunga, and his wife in connection with a case filed against them over an irregular land deal. MORE...
Ranil wants Maithri to stay away from election?
President and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) chairperson Maithripala Sirisena, who has received flak recently from certain sections for reportedly clearing the nomination of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the parliamentary elections, is going to stay away from the polls, the Hindu Newspaper reported. MORE...
Kalutara town and Calido beach to be developed
The Government has taken steps to develop the Kalutara Town and Calido Beach, the Government Information Department said in a statement. MORE...
Ranil promises devolution of power to provinces
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has promised power devolution to the island’s provinces as part of the reconciliation process with the minority Tamils ahead of the August 17 parliamentary election, the PTI reproted. MORE...
Gayantha says UNP confident in election win
As the United National Party (UNP) is about to contest separately at the General Election, it does not matter to whom the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) grant nominations to, Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka asserted. MORE...
JHU to contest under a new front
Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said that the Jathika Hela Urumaya will depart from the the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and will contest under a new front at the forthcoming general election. MORE...
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who undertook a visit to Japan on the invitation of his Japanese counterpart, Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida, concluded his tour successfully, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. MORE...
Sri Lanka to dilute dependence on China - Mangala
Sri Lanka’s foreign minister says the country will review its China-dependent foreign policy and boost ties with other nations. MORE...
Govt does not have will to help Tamils - Wigneswaran
Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, C.V. Wigneswaran, has accused the country’s Central government of not “having the will” to help Tamils or minorities. MORE..
SLFP Parliamentarians Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Chandrasiri Sooriyaarachchi, Hemal Gunasekara and Pandu Bandaranayake have received ministerial portfolios. MORE..
New SLFP Ministers to be sworn in
A group of SLFP Parliamentarians are to be sworn in as Ministers today filling the vacant portfolios following the recent resignation of several SLFP Ministers. MORE..
Government recognizes the importance of engaging with the diaspora: Mangala
The Government recognizes the importance of engaging with the diaspora, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs intends to take the lead in organizing a diapora festival where persons of Sri Lankan origin from around the world in all possible fields...MORE
Fonseka’s Democratic Party to back UPFA at the election- Dayasiri
The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) will form a coalition government after the forthcoming election, thus several political parties are expected to join hands with the party in near future, North Western Province Chief Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said. MORE...
TN CM Panneerselvam resign; Jayalalithaa invited to form Govt soon
Accepting the resignation of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O.Panneerselvam and his council of ministers on Friday Governor K. Rosaiah invited AIADMK general secretary J.Jayalaltihaa to form the ministry at the earliest, a Raj Bhavan statement said. MORE...
Several Ministers to resign today
Several ministers of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) are set to resign from their respective portfolios today. MORE..
PM’s remark is a major blow to the independence of the judiciary: Silva
Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe’s recent remark, concerning the order of the Supreme Court on the former Defence Secretary’s fundamental rights petition, is a major blow to the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law, Opposition Leader and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MP Nimal Siripala de Silva said today (17). MORE...
SLC election in January 2016 - Sports Minister
The elections for the Sri Lanka Cricket Board will be held prior to January 2016, says Sports Minister Navin Dissanayake. MORE..
Dy Minister Neranjan Wickramasinghe passes away
The Deputy Minister of Public Order, MP Neranjan Wickramasinghe, has passed away at the Panadura Hospital following a brief illness, hospital sources confirmed. MORE..
PM ensures the independence of FCID
Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe on Monday (11) said that the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), which came to effect in February through an extraordinary gazette notification, is only a functional division of the Police Department, which was established in response to the emerging trend of serious financial frauds. MORE...
President Sirisena congratulates British Premier Cameron
President Maithripala Sirisena has sent a congratulatory message to British Prime Minister David Cameron upon his re-election. MORE...
Kerry’s Sri Lanka visit to ‘show US support’
Top US diplomat John Kerry left early Friday on a landmark trip to Sri Lanka, the first such visit in a decade to the Indian Ocean island as it returns to the diplomatic fold. MORE..
Wigneswaran defends raising convicts’ issue with Modi
Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran on Friday strongly defended his action of forwarding to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a representation, seeking the release of four convicts of a case of rape and murder, popularly called the Premananda case. MORE..
SC ruling on 19A: Parliamentary debate on 21,22 April
All parties agreed to debate on Supreme Court approved sections of the 19th Amendment in Parliament on 21 and 22 April, General Secretary of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), Minister Susil Premajayantha said. MORE...
Sri Lanka neither pro-India nor pro-China: Ranil
Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe has said Sri Lanka is neither pro-India nor pro-China. MORE...
Bhutan Premier to meet President tomorrow
The Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay has arrived in Sri Lanka for a visit from 9 to 12 April on an invitation extended by President Maithripala Sirisena. MORE...
New gov’t satisfied with progress achieved
The new Sri Lankan government said on Tuesday that it is happy with the progress achieved so far since it came to power following the Jan. 8 presidential elections. MORE...
PM, CBK take crucial decisions now: Gammanpila
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) General Secretary and Western Provincial Councillor Udaya Gammanpila on Tuesday (7) charged that those who assisted to form the new government take crucial decisions about the island nation, but not the President. MORE...
Health Minister to attend fifth SAARC health meet
India is all set to host fifth meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Health Ministers at New Delhi on Wednesday where Health Ministers of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Pakistan will attend the meeting. MORE...
Bhutan PM to visit SL on April 09
The Prime Minister of Bhutan Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay will visit Sri Lanka on Thursday (09) on a three-day visit, the Government Information Department said. MORE...
Government to assist thousands of war widows
Government is to set up a welfare center in the former war-torn north to assist thousands of women widowed by the country’s three-decade war, a statement from the prime minister’s office said on Monday. MORE...
Send firm message to Sri Lanka, OPS tells Indian PM
Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the arrest of 37 fisherman from Nagapattinam at the highest diplomatic-level and secure their release and 18 boats now in the custody of Sri Lankan Navy. MORE...
Deputy Minister Tissa Karaliyadda resigns
UPFA Parliamentarian Tissa Karaliyadda has decided to resign from his deputy ministerial portfolio. He stated that steps were taken to inform the Parliament regarding the decision. MORE..
Clash between uni students, police regrettable: PMO
The Prime Minister’s Office says the clash between protesting university students and police personnel was “regrettable” and that protesters refusing to allow their representatives to hand over the memorandum had resulted in yesterday’s unfortunate incident. MORE..
Court bans foreign travel by Bogollagama
The Colombo Chief Magistrate on Wednesday (1) granted bail to former Minister Rohitha Bogollagama in a financial fraud case. MORE...
One thousand acres for Jaffna resettlement
An extent of 1,000 acres is to be released for the resettlement of the people in the Jaffna District by April and the Security Forces are exploring possibilities of releasing more land for resettlement in the district, the President Media Unit said on Monday (30). MORE...
Political settlement with Tamils must for stability: PM
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said a “political settlement” with the minority Tamil community is a prerequisite for a “stable and secure” country. MORE...
Lanka for India’s inclusion in regional cooperation with China
Sri Lanka has backed China’s surprise initiative to make India an important component of a regional cooperation to address New Delhi’s concerns over Chinese involvement in large-scale projects in the country, a senior Sri Lankan minister has said. MORE...
Special agent to monitor NP projects
A special agent will be appointed in order to supervise the activities and monitor the progress of projects in the Northern Province, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe said on Sunday (29). MORE...
General amnesty offered to army absentees
Following the approval of the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Minister of Defence, President Maithripala Sirisena, has offered a general amnesty period for Army absentees, enabling them to receive their legal discharge from the Army within a day or two. MORE...
Sri Lanka has many lessons to share: UN
“The findings in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) country report make a strong case for Sri Lanka to be a leading and credible actor in the global deliberations around the development agenda for post-2015,” UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Subinay Nandy said. MORE...
Port city issue should not hinder bilateral ties: China
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao says that the temporarily suspended port city development should not hinder the strengthening the friendly relationship between Sri Lanka and China. MORE...
President Maithripala Sirisena today appointed eleven new Cabinet Ministers, five State Ministers and ten Deputy Ministers at a ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo, a short while ago. MORE..
Sri Lanka plans to lift ‘terrorist’ ban on Tamil groups
Sri Lanka’s new government has announced plans to remove 16 groups and hundreds of Tamils from a list of “foreign terrorists” as part of reconciliation with its largest ethnic minority. MORE...
Select Committee to probe corrupt deals at the Stock Exchange
Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe on Wednesday (18) informed the Parliament that a Select Committee will be appointed to probe corrupt deals said to have taken place at the Colombo Stock Exchange since 2010. MORE...
Livelihood programme for ex-LTTE cadres
Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinhge has emphasized the necessity of introducing a livelihood programme to ensure permanent source of income for ex LTTE cadres. MORE...
Supreme Court issues notice to PM
The Supreme Court on Thursday (12) issued a notice to Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe with respect to a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by former Health Minister and former General Secretary of the United National Party (UNP) Tissa Attanayake. MORE...
Government releases Tamil activists, but conspiring to arrest war heroes: NFF
Leader of New Left Front Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne said that former President’s brother and ex-Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa should be arrested if enough evidence exists in the floating armoury case. MORE...
Kariyawasam not mature enough, says Dayasiri
Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam is not mature enough to handle and execute his duties, Chief Minister of the North Western Province, Dayasiri Jayasekera, charged on Wednesday (11). MORE...
Chinese firm confirms suspension of Colombo Port City project
China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC), the ultimate investor in the Colombo Port City Project, says that it will fully cooperate with the Government of Sri Lanka and continue to adhere to the procedures and conditions stipulated in the agreement entered into with the government. MORE..
Govt. seeks foreign help in corruption probe
The government said that it has sought assistance from India, the US and Britain to help investigate financial fraud allegations against the former government. MORE...
Public opinion survey is underway on 100-day programme: PM
The Government has launched a special survey to find out the opinion of the general public and to analyze the progress of the 100 days programme, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe said in a statement today (1). MORE...
VIDEO: No intention of staying as Opposition Leader for long – Nimal
Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala De Silva says that it is not important who will be appointed as the Prime Minister and that what is important is that a Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) government is formed. MORE..
Minister to order probe into match-fixing incident
Sports minister Navin Dissanayake has been urged to order a probe into a match-fixing incident involving an Indian player during the Asia Cup tournament held in the country in June 2010. MORE...
Another call to re-call Mahinda
A group of opposition members are expected to meet former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and urge him to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections in the island country, an opposition member has told the Xinhua news agency. MORE...
Minister Dissanayake vows actions against absent officials
Minister of Tourism and Sports Navin Dissanayake has said that stern action will be taken against some key officials who did not attend a meeting between the Minister of Sports and the Heads of the National Sports Associations which was held this afternoon (25) at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Auditorium. MORE...
Goverment to set up an Anti-Corruption Secretariat
The government today decided to set up a special Secretariat to investigate into large corruption and malpractices of the previous government, the official Government news portal said in a statement. MORE...
Sri Lanka says seeking delay in UN war-crimes report
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said on Wednesday his country was seeking a delay of several months in the release of a U.N. report on alleged war crimes during his country’s civil war until the government had time to establish a mechanism to deal with the issue. MORE...
State Minister Faizer Mustapha resigns
Parliamentarian Faizer Mustapha has tendered his resignation as State Minister of Aviation, this morning. Mustapha told Ada Derana, however, he will continue to support the President Maithripala Sirisena though he resigned from the ministerial portfolio. MORE...
Ahamed Nazeer sworn in as Eastern Province CM
SLMC Deputy Leader and Provincial Councilor, Ahamed Nazeer Zainulabdeen, took oaths as the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province before the Governor Austin Fernando this evening. MORE..
Tissa Attanayake gets relief from court
The Fort Magistrate’s Court today allowed Tissa Attanayake MP to attend Parliament sessions on 5, 6, and 7, February. MORE...
Former United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Tissa Attanayake has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), this afternoon, Police Spokesperson SSP Ajith Rohana said. MORE...
State Minister Faizer Mustapha resigns?
Parliamentarian Faizer Mustapha has tendered his resignation as State Minister of Aviation and has flown overseas, this afternoon, a source close to the Government said.
Mahindananda’s passport to be impounded
The Bribery Commission has instructed immigration authorities to impound the passport of former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage for a period of 3 months, pending an investigation into a complaint against him. MORE..