Looters, thieves don’t worry about the people – Handunnetti

COLOMBO (News1st): Looters and thieves do not worry about the burden of the people, former parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti has said. Handunnetti pointed out that former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer was paid a monthly salary to Rs 3.2 million. “He received housing...

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President meets with Monaragala residents

COLOMBO (News1st): President Gotabaya Rajapaksa met with residents of Monaragala on Friday while attending several rallies in the area. During his visit, the President had instructed the Army Commander to address issues including the shortage of drinking water faced by...

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Several paddy fields in Pallama affected

COLOMBO (News1st): Several paddy fields in the Pallama area have been affected owing to a monopoly in using a water tank which is being refurbished using state funds. One person has been using the tank by for over 35 years and is not allowing other farmers to obtain water...

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Operations at Colombo Port at a standstill as protest against leasing ECT intensify

Colombo (News 1st);  All Operations at the Colombo Port came to a complete standstill on Friday (31) evening as a mark of protest to urge authorities to suspend any attempt to lease the East Container Terminal (ECT) to India and commence all ECT operations via the Sri...

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AG files indictment against Rajitha on White Van Abduction Press Conference case

Colombo (News 1st);  The Attorney General on Friday (31) filed an indictment against former Minister Rajitha Senaratne and former Chairman of State Pharmaceutical Corporation Mohamed Rumi with the Colombo High Court with regard to the White Van Abduction Press Conference....

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Premalal Jayasekera alias “Choca Malli” and 02 others sentenced to death

Colombo (News 1st);  Ex-Ratnapura District Parliamentarian Premalal Jayasekera alias “Choca Malli”, Ex-Chairman of the Kahawatte Pradeshiya Sabha Wajira Darshana Silva, and Ex-Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councillor Nilantha Jayakody were sentenced to death by the Ratnapura...

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STF arrests suspect with 23kg of heroin in Wellampitiya

Colombo (News 1st); Police Special Task Force arrested a suspect for the possession of 23 kilograms of heroin during a raid in Buthgamuwa Road, Wellampitiya. The raid was carried out following a tip-off given to Military Intelligence. Sri Lanka Police said the suspect...

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Former CID chief arrested over firearms case

COLOMBO (News1st): A former Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief was arrested on Friday for allegedly planting firearms at a shack, leading to the arrest of four people, police said. “The Colombo Crimes Division has found that evidence on the case was fabricated and...

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Youth narcotic smuggler arrested in Polonnaruwa

COLOMBO (News1st): A youth has been arrested for attempting to smuggle cannabis and tobacco into the Polonnaruwa prison, police said. The suspect, a 22-year old resident of Polonnaruwa, had tossed 1.5 grams of cannabis, and 56 grams of tobacco into the prison, according...

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Refurbishment of Kelani river’s flood control dams underway

COLOMBO (News1st): A programme worth Rs 35 million has been launched to repair flood control dams in the Kelani River, the irrigation department has said. The eight-kilometre northern dam running from Peliyagoda is being renovated, the department’s Colombo District Director...

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More than 60 drunk drivers arrested in special operation

COLOMBO (News1st): At least 63 drivers were arrested for drunk driving during a special operation in the Western Province, police said. The operation that begun at 9 pm on Thursday and ran until 4 am, saw 63 vehicles being seized by the police. Meanwhile, the police has filed...

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Customs department warns against scams under its name

COLOMBO (News1st): The customs department has warned the public against financial frauds that are being carried out under its name. “Fraudsters use Sri Lanka customs’ letter heads, contact numbers and even customs officers names to convince that they are genuine,” the customs...

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‘We can’t wait a moment longer’, report on slavery calls on the world to act.

Modern Day Slavery is not a phrase we are used to hearing, but according to a recent report, a shocking reality that must be urgently confronted. When one thinks of slavery, it conjures up images of African Slaves chained and lined up for sale in the Americas of the 18th and...

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Evidence Examination on “Lith” case against Basil fixed for December

Colombo (News 1st); The Colombo High Court on Friday (31) decided to commence the examination of evidence in the case filed against Ex-Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Ex-Director General of the Divineguma Development Department Kithsiri Ranawaka on the 10th of December 2020....

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Court of Appeal issues interim-injunction on Avant-Garde case

Colombo (News 1st);  The Court of Appeal on Friday (31) issued an interim injunction preventing the examination of the case filed with the Colombo High Court against Retired Major General Palitha Fernando and Chairman of Avant-Garde Nissanka Senadhipathi. The case...

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SSP Shani Abeysekara arrested over firearms related incident

Colombo (News 1st);  Former Director of the Criminal Investigations Department, Senior Police Superintendent – Shani Abeysekara was arrested by the Colombo Crimes Divison. According to Police, SSP Shani Abeysekara was arrested with regard to an incident involving firearms. SSP...

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Polls candidate denies motorcycle crash suspect was heading for rally

COLOMBO (News1st): An election candidate has dismissed claims that a motorcycle rider who injured a couple in a crash recently, had been travelling to his rally at the time of the accident. Last Sunday, a motorcycle travelling at an excessive speed had crashed onto a motorcycle...

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Hunger fast over port terminal enters second day

COLOMBO (News1st): Trade unions have urged the government to protect the Colombo Port’s East Container Terminal, as a hunger fast by port workers entered its second day on Thursday. Port unions launched a hunger fast against the move to handover the East Container Terminal...

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Sajin Vass Gunawardena says he will support SJB in Parliament

COLOMBO (News1st): Sajin Vaas Gunawardena has said he would support the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) if he wins the parliamentary election from the New Democratic Front. “I believe in the principles and policies of Sajith Premadasa (the SJB leader). He has what it takes to...

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Justice delayed over King’s Assemby Hall demolition

COLOMBO (News1st): Action is yet to be taken against those involved in demolishing an ancient King’s Assembly Hall in Kurunegala two weeks ago, experts have pointed out. Kurunegala Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa is at the centre of the controversy, as he continues to defend the demolition,...

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SLPP candidates contradict over MCC agreement

COLOMBO (News1st): Two parliamentary election candidates of the same party have expressed diverse views regarding the US Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement. Udaya Gammanpila, a candidate of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), said that signing the agreement...

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Election campaign activities prohibited from midnight on Aug 2nd: NEC

COLOMBO (News 1st): Election campaign activities are prohibited with effect from midnight on the 2nd of August, the National Elections Commission said. “One should abstain from any propaganda activity including conducting propaganda meetings, conducting pocket meetings or house...

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Three state bodies shut in Lankapura after COVID-19 detection

COLOMBO (News 1st): Lankapura Divisional Secretariat, Pradeshiya Sabha and a regional state bank in the area were temporarily closed following the discovery of a COVID-19 infected person, health officials said. “The COVID-19 infected individual was confirmed during 60 random...

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Drug trafficking falcon seized

COLOMBO (News 1st): A falcon believed to be used by notorious underworld leader “Angoda Lokka” in his drug trafficking operations was seized by the Western Province Intelligence Unit of Sri Lanka Police in Meegoda. Officers raided a farm and discovered an air-rifle, 10 bullets...

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Individual sentenced to death over 2001 abduction and murder

Colombo (News 1st);  An accused found guilty of abducting an individual in a three-wheeler and beating him to death along with another group in 2001 was sentenced to death by Colombo High Court Judge Dhammika Ganepola on Thursday (30). The High Court Judge ruled the...

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Low-pressure water supply to several areas in Colombo

COLOMBO (News 1st): For several areas in Colombo water will be supplied under low pressure conditions for 10 hours, until midnight today (July 30), the National Water Supply and Drainage Board said . The areas affected are Colombo 01, 02, 03, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13 and...

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1000 kg of Turmeric seized in Mannar, one suspect arrested

COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka Navy arrested one suspect in the Oluthuduwai beach in Mannar along with 1,000 kilograms of Tumeric suspected to be smuggled to Sri Lanka by boat. Sri Lanka Navy Spokesperson – Captain Indika De Silva speaking to News 1st said the suspect was arrested...

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Risk of Dengue intensifies due to rainy season

COLOMBO (News 1st): There is an increased risk in the spread of Dengue due to the rainy season, health sectors warned on Thursday. “23 Dengue patients have died so far, this year, and a total of 23,000 Dengue patients have been reported across the island with an increasing...

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Scientists solve mystery of the origin of Stonehenge megaliths

COLOMBO (News1st): Scientists have solved an enduring mystery about Stonehenge, determining the place of origin of many of the megaliths that make up the famed monument in Wiltshire, England, thanks to a core sample that had been kept in the United States for decades. Geochemical...

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Task Force on Sri Lanka’s Education recommends 1000 national schools

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Task Force on Sri Lanka’s Education Affairs has recommended that the number of national schools in the country be increased to 1000. “Currently there are 345 national schools across the island, and in certain divisional secretariat there are no national...

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Army Twins attempt to Enter ‘Guinness Book of World Records’

Colombo (News 1st); An attempt to insert the names of Sri Lanka Army-produced two identical twins, Major General Pooraka Seneviratne and Major General Jayantha Seneviratne in the Guinness Book of World Records took place on Thursday (30) during a formal ceremony at the...

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Import restrictions harmful for Sri Lanka, experts warn

COLOMBO (News1st): Sri Lanka’s import restrictions can affect its economy in the long run, experts have warned, urging for stronger policies to overcome the country’s economic setback. The government, in May, slapped import restrictions on more than 200 products to control...

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Lankapura Divisional Secretariat staffer tests positive for COVID-19

Colombo (News 1st); A staff member of the Lankapura Divisional Secretariat has tested positive for COVID-19, said Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe. According to a statement from the Department of Government Information, PCR tests were conducted on...

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Reports on extremist ideology given to authorities since 2013 : Witness tells PCoI

Colombo (News 1st);  Former Director of the State Intelligence Service and Current SDIG of the Eastern Province Nilantha Jayawardene told the PCOI probing the April 21st, 2019 attacks on Wednesday (30), since way back in 2013 several reports about the rapid increase of...

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AG wants Acting IGP to explain why Negombo Prison Chief is not arrested

Colombo (News 1st); The Attorney General’s Department on Wednesday (29) requested the Acting Magistrate of Negombo to issue notice on the Acting Inspector General of Police to appear in court personally to provide reasons for the failure to arrest Ex-Superintendent of...

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Wariyapola Prison Officer suspected to moving drugs, interdicted

Colombo (News 1st);  A prison officer attached to the Wariyapola Prison was interdicted. Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya speaking to News1st said information was received alleging the prison officer was serving as a mule to provide drugs to incarcerated...

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Human-elephant conflict worsens amidst corruption, project delays

COLOMBO (News1st): Corruption-riddled large scale projects and illegal cultivation have aggravated the unresolved human-elephant conflict amidst delays in setting-up an elephant reserve, a survey has shown. As elephant habitats become depleted and fragmented, the longstanding...

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Trade unions begin hunger fast over East Container Terminal

COLOMBO (News1st): Trade unions began a hunger fast on Wednesday demanding that the Colombo Port’s East Container Terminal must not be handed over to foreign or private entities. The All Ceylon Port General Workers’ Union said it had sought a written assurance from President...

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Ranil says expelling party members was calculated, not easy

COLOMBO (News1st): United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has stood by the decision to expel 54 members, saying it was calculated and however, not easy. “The Working Committee met, and after careful consideration, we decided to expel 54 politicians,” Wickremesinghe...

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Tear-gassing of Sri Lankans in Jordan condemned; Sri Lanka to resume repatriation

COLOMBO (News1st): Civic groups have condemned the tear-gassing of Sri Lankan expatriates by Jordan’s police last Monday, with reports suggesting that some are yet to recover from their injuries. Jordanian police used teargas to quell tensions that arose after talks between...

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Jayantha Dharmadasa is the new VP of Sri Lanka Cricket

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Cricket announced its Executive Committee at its Emergency Meeting held on Wednesday afternoon, unanimously decided to appoint Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa as the new Vice President of SLC for the position made vacant by virtue of K. Mathivanan’s...

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“There is a conspiracy to eliminate Basil Rajapaksa”; says Lakshman Yapa

COLOMBO (News 1st); A media briefing organized by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna revealed startling details of an attempt to remove SLPP National Organizer Basil Rajapaksa from the election arena. SLPP Candidate Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said there is a conspiracy against...

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President vows to offer 150,000 jobs after election

COLOMBO (News1st): President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has pledged to dish out 150,000 jobs for graduates and the poor after the August 5 parliamentary election. “…the economy must be uplifted,” the President said while meeting with residents of Kalutara, as the country expects economic...

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Advisory Committee appointed by PM to protect archaeological sites

Colombo (News 1st); Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed an Archaeology Advisory Committee to assist in the protection of sites with archaeological importance and to secure heritage sites located island-wide. The Advisory Committee is expected to provide advice to the...

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Students not required to go to school during election week : Education Minister

Colombo (News 1st); Education Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said students need not go to school during the week of the 2020 Parliamentary Election. He added as over 8,000 schools and 60% percent of the entire teaching staff are attached for election-related activity, students...

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SLC Vice President quits post; criticizes administration

COLOMBO (News1st): K. Mathivanan has resigned as Vice President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) expressing dissapointment at the conduct of the local cricketing authority. “The current administration carries out their duties without transparency and integrity,” Mathivanan said...

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Postal voting in Rajanganaya gets underway

COLOMBO (News 1st): Postal Voting in the Ranjanganaya division gets underway on Wednesday (July 29), after restrictions imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the area were relaxed, election officials said. “420 state sector officials in the Rajanganaya division will cast...

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Repatriation of migrant workers to resume on Friday

COLOMBO (News 1st): The repatriation of Sri Lankans stranded overseas due to the COVID-19 pandemic will resume on Friday (July 31), the Presidential Secretariat said. “A group of Sri Lankan migrant workers will be repatriated from Dubai on the 31st of July and 1st of August,”...

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No separate voting date for those in quarantine: NEC

COLOMBO (News 1st): A separate date will not be allocated for those undergoing quarantine to cast their ballot, the National Elections Commission said. “It was proposed that those in quarantine be granted the opportunity to cast their ballot after 5:00 pm on the 5th of August,...

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PHI Union calls off union action after 11 days

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Public Health Inspectors’ Union of Sri Lanka will call off the island-wide trade union action today, ending an 11 day deadlock, its chairman said. “All PHIs across the island will report to work at 7:30.a.m as usual today,” Upul Rohana, the Chairman...

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