Police Inspector Kapila Nishantha who is attached to the Southern Province Special Investigation Unit was arrested by the CID today over the abduction of two businessmen in Rathgama.

‘Raina’, an accomplice of underworld gang member of ‘Keselwatte Dinuka’ was arrested this evening in connection with the shooting incident that occurred in the Keselwaththa Police area on Sunday night, Police said.

The Constitutional Council (CC) had not yet issued a gazette notice on the procedure that would be adopted in making appointments and promotions, the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) said today.

Registration process of all chainsaw machines being used in the country will commence from tomorrow (20), the Ministry of Defence announced.

A petition was filed by the Sathya Gaveshakayo Organisation (Truth Seekers) in the Supreme Court today requesting an order directing the Election Commission to hold the election for Provincial Councils (PC) immediately.

TNA MPs and Minister of Trade and Commerce Rishard Bathiudeen were engaged in a heated argument with regard to resettlement and providing housing during the district development progress review meeting in Mullathivu District over the weekend. 

Four people were killed and nineteen others were injured when a Colombo bound bus from Vavuniya, skidded off the road and crashed into a transformer at Mahawewa Junction in Marawila early this morning.

The government will obtain a US$ 48 million credit line from India for the development of Kankesanthurai Port, an official said yesterday. 

The body of a woman, age approximately 50 years, has been recovered from Diyawanna Oya this morning.

Export of grapes from India to Russia and Sri Lanka has halted midway in the season over stronger pest control requirements from the destination countries, the Indian Express reported.

South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis raises a toast to Kusal Perera for his heroic, unbeaten 153 which guided Sri Lanka to a sensational 1-wicket victory in first Test at Durban

A suspect had been arrested with Sri Lankan counterfeit currency notes valued over half million during a raid at Peragas Junction on the Biyagama Road.

The Police today released a photograph of a suspect wanted in connection with an alleged fraud of Rs. 4.3 million.

President Maitripala Sirisena said that consumption of some imported milk power, would not be healthy for the population, despite the claims of individuals attempting to defend allegations that what was sold as milk powder was a mixture of lactose and animal fats.

The suspects in remand custody in connection with vandalizing statues of the Buddha in several areas in the country were produced before Mawanella Magistrate Upul Rajakaruna and further remanded till February 27.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said yesterday it would stand for a fresh resolution to be moved by some western countries asking for more time for Sri Lanka to implement the provisions of the previous UNHRC resolution.

With the installation of three high-tech scanners at the Colombo Port of Colombo on March  1  the Sri Lanka Customs (SLC) would be able to detect drugs, narcotics, cigarettes, gold and other contraband smuggled in containers, Director General P.S.M. Charles said yesterday.

Puttalam tuned into a ghost town yesterday when all business establishments and private sector institutions put up shutters and staged a hartal against the Aruwakkalu  Gabage  Recycling plant which is being built.

A six-member police team was appointed by Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando to leave for Dubai to assist the Dubai Police in the investigations into the recent arrest of 31 Sri Lankans including drug kingpin Makandure Madush and singers Amal Perera and his son  Nadeemal .

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday there was no point in asking for more powers if the local bodies don't use what is already devolved to the Provincial Councils.

With the imposition of various trade embargoes on Iran, obtaining payments for tea exports from Sri Lanka to Iran is causing several difficulties, Sri Lankan Tea Board Chairman Lucille Wijewardena told Daily Mirror.

High Court Judge Sashi Mahendran yesterday sentenced a father of two children to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of trafficking and peddling 10.325 grams of heroin at Nedimala, Kalubowila in 2012.

The European Union (EU) reiterated the need to repeal and replace Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in order to bring counter-terrorism legislation in line with international standards.

Two youths, who were arrested for allegedly taking photos on top of one of the retinue Cheithiyas in Mihintale yesterday, were remanded until February 21, police said.

The Department of Meteorology said rains were expected to increase in the next two days.

The Opposition said today it would defeat the national government proposal with the support of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).

The US Coast Guard (USCG) conducted a port security capacity building programme at the Colombo Port with more than 25 Sri Lankan port officials from February 11 to 13, the US Embassy said today.

The entire state sector has been collapsed today due to arbitrary actions taken by the Constitutional Council, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.

A new rope is to be purchased from abroad for the use of the hangman at the Welikada Prison, a senior prison officer said.

A top US official said yesterday that his country planned to direct US$ 39 million to Sri Lanka to support maritime security, freedom of navigation, and maritime awareness as part of its Bay of Bengal initiative.

The European Commission on Wednesday listed Sri Lanka among 23 countries with strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing frameworks.

Kentaro  Sonoura, who is the special advisor to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, will arrive in Sri Lanka today for a two-day visit and hold meetings with the government leaders to further promote the bilateral relationship between the two countries, including cooperation for realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Thirty one suspects including drug kingpin Makandure Madush, singer Amal Perera and his son Nadeemal, who were arrested in Dubai, were today remanded till February 24 after being produced in a Dubai Court, Counsel Shabdika Wellappili said.

UPFA MP Niroshan Premaratne today rejected allegations levelled against him relating to his links with Makandure Madush and reports of financial assistance from him.

At least 34 Indian paramilitary soldiers have been killed in a bomb attack by militants on their convoy in Indian-administered Kashmir.