Jul 31 (NR) Colombo Fort Magistrate�s Court today re-issued an open warrant for the arrest of the former SL Ambassador to the US Jaliya Wickramasuriya. The order was issued by the Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne. Magistrate also issued arrest warrants for Jaliya Wickramasuriya's wife and a female relative who paid Wickramasuriya's bail. Jaliya Wickramasuriya is charged with the misappropriation of funds amounting to US$ 132,000 obtained for more..

Jul 31 (EN) Sri Lanka's 12-month inflation accelerated to 5.4% in July 2018, up from 4.4% in June, with prices rising 0.3% in the month, data from the state information office showed. Colombo Consumer Price Index rose to 125.8 points with foods rising 0.9% and non-foods rising 0.1%. Consumer prices fell in the first quarter with the index falling absolutely from 122.8 in Dec 2017 to 121.4 in April 2018. more..

Jul 31 (DM) A leading politico has reportedly increased his body weight by record three kilos within three months in his new high office. Accounting for the top team member�s rapid growth in girth, a close aide said that since assuming duties in his new portfolio he had occasion to make official visits to many places where he had to taste multiple delicacies and novel culinary delights. During a recent official visit to a state establishment in the South, this politico had to enjoy, more..

Jul 31 (CT) Colombo High Court granted bail, under strict conditions, to two Navy Intelligence officers, who were in remand on charges of abducting and causing the disappearance of 11 children from Colombo and its suburbs 10 years ago. The bail order was given by High Court Judge Champa Rajaratne, having considered a petition filed by K. Gamini and Thushara Mendis. HC Judge ordered each suspect to be released on cash bail in Rs 100,000 each and two sureties of Rs 500,000 more..

Jul 31 (PMD) The Presidential Task Force appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena to monitor the development projects conducted in Northern and Eastern provinces where the development activities retarded due to the war held its first meeting, chaired by the President at the President�s office today (30). President Sirisena insisted that that people should be provided immediate benefits making that development more..

Jul 31 (DM) The Presidential Secretariat would be surrounded by University students and their parents next week if the authorities fail to reopen the Medical Faculty of Peradeniya University, Parents' Union of Medical Students (PUMS) said. Addressing a press conference, PUMS Spokesman Wasantha Alwis said based on an incident that occurred in the Engineering Faculty, the university was closed for two months and it was an injustice to students of other faculties who were not involved. more..

Jul 31 (DN) An Election Petition filed in the Colombo High Court seeking a declaration that the election of 23 candidates who contested the Maharagama Urban Council under an Independent Group (Motorcycle symbol) is invalid and that they are disqualified was fixed for August 24 by High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga. Senior Counsel Kanishka Vitharana appearing for several respondents who contested the election under the Independent Group No.2 filed objections against the petition. more..

Jul 31 (AD) Monthly income of Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport (MRIA) is Rs 1.2 million while its expenditure estimates to Rs 250 million, claims Minister Champika Ranawaka. �Every citizen of the country had to pay Rs 800 for the Mattala Airport. The income generation of the BIA is being used for the maintenance of Mattala Airport.� said the Minister. The second airport that was supposed to be built at the BIA was taken to more..

Jul 31 (CT) CID officers had, while in Australia to record a statement from Journalist Keith Noyahr, also recorded a statement from the daughter of slain Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickremathunga, Ahinsa Wickremathunga recently, informed sources at the CID said. They said that the CID officers, who are currently in Australia to obtain a statement from Noyahr, in connection with his alleged abduction and assault case, which is currently being heard in the Mount Lavinia Chief Magistrate�s Court, more..

Jul 31 (GDI) UAE is offering a 3-month amnesty period for SL migrant overstaying their visa from next month to leave the country. Amnesty period starts on Aug 1, and will run for three months until Oct 31. During this period Sri Lankans can return home without the payment of a fine. All violators, who leave the country during the Amnesty period can return with a new visa. Sri Lankans in the UAE whose passports have expired, can also apply for new passports at the consulate in Dubai. more..

Jul 31 (AD) A circular has been issued barring recruitment of employees excess to the approved cadre of State Institutions and paying them, stated the Ministry of Finance. The govt has issued a circular preventing recruitment of staff and payment of salaries to state and semi-govt organizations without prior approval from the Treasury�s Management Services Dept. According to the Circular dated. 03, 2018 and more..

Jul 31 (DN) At present, some 100 towns have stopped selling cigarettes and this number should increase to 200 in a year�s time, Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said. He said cigarettes sales in the country have gone down by one billion. Sri Lanka is the only country in the world which took stern action to control tobacco use under the instructions of the WHO. He was speaking at the 83rd Annual Sessions of the SL Public Health Inspectors' Association held recently. more..

Jul 31 (AD) The prices of another 15 varieties of expensive drugs and 10 cancer drugs have been reduced with immediate effect, Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said. Accordingly the prices of lifesaving antibiotics, diabetes medicine and equipment, medicines for prostate diseases, medicines for asthma and breathing difficulties, painkillers, medicine for neurological diseases as well as 10 varieties of expensive cancer drugs will be reduced, he said. more..

Jul 31 (FMT) The LTTE which was involved in decades of bloodshed in Sri Lanka may have been defeated but its ideology still prevails and its sympathisers are still around, said former Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan. Hence, the group�s ideology and supporters still posed a threat in any country, including Malaysia, Musa said. The LTTE, led by V Prabhakaran, started a separatist movement to create the Tamil Eelam more..

Jul 31 (DM) Representatives of SL President, Maithripala Sirisena on Monday visited the Kauvery hospital in TN to meet the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. Wishing speedy recovery to ailing Karunanidhi, the delegation also handed over a letter from President Sirisena to the DMK working president MK Stalin. Karunanidhi was admitted to the hospital following a drop in his blood pressure last week. The DMK chief, who is on intravenous antibiotics, was earlier undergoing more..

Jul 31 (AD) The Colombo High Court has lifted the overseas travel ban imposed on Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thero for 10 days. Reportedly, the ban will stay lifted from today to the 10th of September. Dhammaloka Thero of Alan Mathiniyaramaya Temple in Polhengoda, who was indicted for the alleged illegal possession of an elephant calf without a valid permit, was granted permitted by High Court Judge Sampath Wijeratne to travel to London to attend Dhamma sermon activities. more..

Jul 31 (EN) SL�s World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga and his deputy Aravinda de Silva Tuesday denied fresh allegations that they accepted bribes from an Indian bookmaker to lose the 1994 Lucknow Test against India. �We have never taken bribes and we have never fixed matches,� Ranatunga told reporters in Colombo in the presence of de Silva. Both denied they had ever taken bribes to throw matches. De Silva said more..