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 benefits and vehicle facilities. He leaves to Australia Friday night and returns to […]
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 area residents. The people informed the president of their issues including the threats posed by wild […]
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 from it to irrigate their fields, villagers […]
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 Lanka Ports Authority. The Joint Trade Union Collective […]
Operations at Colombo Port at a standstill as protest against leasing ECT intensify
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. State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, the Co-Ordinating Officer to the Attorney General speaking to News 1st […]
AG files indictment against Rajitha on White Van Abduction Press Conference case
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 High Court today. The judgment was delivered by Ratnapura High Court Judge Rohan Jayawardena. The trio was sentenced to death after they […]
Premalal Jayasekera alias “Choca Malli” and 02 others sentenced to death
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 is a relative of organized criminal gang member “Pukudi Kanna” and is a […]
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 that the firearms were recovered in a wrong manner,” police spokesman Jaliya […]
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 to officials. He is due to be produced before the Polonnaruwa Magistrate’s Court.
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 Priyani Jayadeera said. The objective of the program is to regulate flood control in the […]
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 cases against 874 suspects who were arrested […]
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 department said in a notice. The scams request people to deposit money and […]
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 19th Centuries. OR of hapless captives being […]
‘We can’t wait a moment longer’, report on slavery calls on the world to act.
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. The case was filed against Basil Rajapaksa and Kithsiri Ranawaka, over the printing of 5 […]
Evidence Examination on “Lith” case against Basil fixed for December
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 was filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and the order was […]
Court of Appeal issues interim-injunction on Avant-Garde case
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 Shani Abeysekara arrested over firearms related incident
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 in Nattandiya, leaving one critically injured. The motorcycle that […]
Polls candidate denies motorcycle crash suspect was heading for rally
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 of the Colombo Port to foreign entities. They urged that the […]
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 reseolve these issues,” Gunawardena said during News1st’s Newsline programme on […]
Sajin Vass Gunawardena says he will support SJB in Parliament
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, citing that the building was a hotel, and not of […]
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 to obtain the 480 million US dollar grant, is nothing but a “joke”. “Even talking about […]
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 meetings and visiting residences to canvas,” the National Elections Commission said in a statement. In addition, the distribution of […]
Election campaign activities prohibited from midnight on Aug 2nd: NEC
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 PCR tests conducted in the region; and he was a staff member at the Lankapura Divisional […]
Three state bodies shut in Lankapura after COVID-19 detection
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 and the falcon. The owner of the farm and another person […]
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 charges against the accused over the abduction and murder of an […]
Individual sentenced to death over 2001 abduction and murder
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 14. The National Water Supply and […]
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 by a Sri Lanka Navy mobile patrol […]
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 rate of dengue cases from Kaduwela and Athurugiriya […]
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 testing indicates that 50 of Stonehenge’s 52 pale-gray sandstone megaliths, […]
Scientists solve mystery of the origin of Stonehenge megaliths
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 schools at all,” Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawarathne – Member of the Task […]
Task Force on Sri Lanka’s Education recommends 1000 national schools
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 Army Headquarters. Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General […]
Army Twins attempt to Enter ‘Guinness Book of World Records’
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 outflows as tax revenue, foreign remittances, and tourist arrivals took a beating amidst the […]
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 the entire staff of the Lankapura Divisional Secretariat and one of the tested positive for the […]
Lankapura Divisional Secretariat staffer tests positive for COVID-19
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 Sinhala Buddhist and Muslim conflicts were sent to the relevant authorities which […]
Reports on extremist ideology given to authorities since 2013 : Witness tells PCoI
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 the Negombo Prison Anuruddha Sampayo, as it has been 07 days since the arrest warrant […]
AG wants Acting IGP to explain why Negombo Prison Chief is not arrested
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 individuals. He said the Wariyapola Police was requested to conduct an investigation into the matter.
Wariyapola Prison Officer suspected to moving drugs, interdicted
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 tussle had killed 405 elephants and 121 people last year alone, the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform said in […]
Human-elephant conflict worsens amidst corruption, project delays
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 Gotabaya Rajapaksa that the terminal’s control will lie with the Sri […]
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 said during a party rally on Tuesday. He said disciplinary inquiries would be conduct […]
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 Sri Lankan Embassy officials and Sri Lankan migrant workers to solve their problems failed. […]
Tear-gassing of Sri Lankans in Jordan condemned; Sri Lanka to resume repatriation
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 resignation. Sri Lanka Cricket stated the said resignation of Mathivanan comes in the wake […]
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 Basil Rajapaksa as a certain group who held a meeting at a five-star hotel […]
“There is a conspiracy to eliminate Basil Rajapaksa”; says Lakshman Yapa
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 growth to drop to 1.5 percent by 2020. He added that the government […]
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 subject minister with regard to all archaeology activity in the country as well as to provide […]
Advisory Committee appointed by PM to protect archaeological sites
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 need not be present in schools during that week. Speaking to reporters, the Education […]
Students not required to go to school during election week : Education Minister
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 in his resignation letter on Wednesday. He added that SLC has sidelined him from administration activities contrary to the […]
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 their votes today,” R.M. Wanninayake – the District Returning Officer of Anuradhapura said […]
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,” Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage – the Additional Secretary to […]
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, which is the date scheduled for the 2020 Parliamentary […]
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 of the PHI Union told News 1st on Wednesday […]
The Department of Meteorology says showers or thundershowers are likely in parts of the Northern, North-central, Eastern and Uva provinces t...
