The number of persons who can board the parliament elevators has been restricted to six persons after several MPs were trapped in an elevator yesterday. It was observed that a notice has been displayed on the elevators of both the visitors and MPs saying that “maximum capacity; six persons only”.

A 34-year-old Indian was arrested by Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning, when he attempted to smuggle in 1 kg of cocaine valued at Rs.15 million, PNB Director SSP TCA Danapala said.

While initiating several measures against Automated Teller Machines (ATM) cards skimming activities, the Central Bank requested the ATM users to use EMV enabled payment cards to enhance the security of customer funds and prevent fraudulent card transactions.

The Chief Incumbent of the Getambe Rajopawanaramaya Ven Keppetiyagoda Siri Wimala Thera said yesterday President Maithripala Sirisena should take the responsibility over the chaotic situation which has arisen in the country today.  

No details of the arrest of notorious underworld drug kingpin Makandure Madush and several other Sri Lankans had been reported to the Foreign Ministry yet, a senior Ministry official said.

Two suspects were arrested by the Organised Crimes Prevention Division (OCPD) with 400kilos of Kerala ganja, valued at Rs. Rs. 40 million, in Peliyagoda, while transporting the stock at Peliyagoda this morning,  Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said.

The United National Party (UNP) yesterday rejected the remarks made by President Maithripala Sirisena on Independence Day and in Parliament on Wednesday.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today dismissed criticism levelled by President Maithripala Sirisena on the Constitutional Council (CC). Making a special statement in Parliament, Speaker Jayasuriya who is also the head of the CC, said it never informed the President that it does not consider the seniority when

MP Dilan Perera today charged that the controversy involving the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal between the Constitutional Council (CC) and the Presidential Secretariat has affected the entire judiciary badly.

Minister Ravi Karunanayake said a mechanism to regulate all the elevators, which are being operated, would be introduced shortly and that a cabinet paper would be presented next week in this regard.

It would be better if action is taken against Makandure Madush and others in Dubai itself without bringing them back to Sri Lanka, JVP MP Nalinda Jayatissa told Parliament today.

There is a diplomatic passport holder, a police officer and a prisons officer among the 24 persons arrested along with drug lord Makandure Madush while celebrating a birthday party held in a luxury hotel in Dubai.

Sri Lankan Government will hold discussions with the UAE Government at State level over the possibility of extraditing notorious underworld drug kingpin Makandure Madush and other Sri Lankans who were arrested in Dubai, State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene said yesterday.

Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday defended his earlier decision to appoint the retired navy official Rear Admiral  Dr.  Shemal Fernando as the new Director General of Sri Lanka Customs (SLC), noting that the decision was taken to discipline a group of people he called “port mafia”, at SLC.

The overlooking of the country’s second senior most  Judge Justice Deepali Wijesundara successively for promotion in judicial appointment has led to the Bar Association of Sri Lanka writing to President Maithripala Sirisena to consider her for promotion. 

President Maithripala Sirisena today said the truth regarding the plot to assassinate him would be revealed in two weeks. The President made a statement in parliament saying that he too, had given a statement to the CID on the assassination plot.

President Maithripala Sirisena today said that the death sentence would be carried out within the next two months on those convicted for drug offences.

The opposition today urged the government to launch an investigation into the revelation made by the Deputy Minister, Buddika Pathirana that some companies were selling animal oil mixed milk powder in the market.

Referring to the revelation made by Deputy Minister Buddkia Pathirana on Tuesday in Parliament regarding the mixture of lactose powder and animal fat in imported milk powder, Women for Justice’ today urged the government to look into the issue immediately.

Leader of the House and Minister Lakshman Kiriella said today steps would be taken to call for a report from the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) on the allegation that milk powder contains substances harmful to human consumption.

The Centre for Research and Development (CRD) is now gearing itself to manufacture a 20-barrel multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) in the wake of its experts successfully manufacturing a ten-barreled MBRL, CRD Director General Brigadier Dr. Thiran de Silva said.

During the proceedings of SriLankan Airlines Commission, it has appeared on an e-mail sent by a former CEO Kapila Chadrasena that a hotel in Dubai had been booked by SriLankan Airlines for 100 individuals and among those individuals there was former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States,  Jailiya  Wickramasuriya and his family.

The political alliance, led by the United National Party (UNP), will be launched on May 1 coinciding with Workers’ Day, Minister Rajitha Senaratne told Daily Mirror yesterday.

The Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) said that it hoped more taxes would not be heaped on vehicle imports in the upcoming budget.

Some of the milk powder importing companies have been involved in a racket where a mixture of lactose powder and animal oil has been imported and sold in the local market in the guise of selling milk powder, Deputy Minister of Industries, Trade and Commerce Buddkia Pathirana revealed in Parliament.

Form a national government first before increasing the number of ministers, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila said today.

British Baron Lord Naseby has said Sri Lanka is not a country that has to be monitored by the Western countries almost everyday, the Politics Home reported today.

The  Customs Trade  Unions Alliance yesterday called off their work-to-rule campaign after they were informed about the reinstating of P.S.M.Charles as the Customs Director General officially.

Rajapaksas and Wickremesinghes are both involved in the bond scam, JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake alleged in Parliament.

Power, Energy and Business Development Minister Ravi Karunanayake said that he was against the removal of Director General of the Customs Department Ms P.S.M. Charles.

The national cricket selectors have made sweeping changes to the national squad by sacking its skipper and several other misfiring players for the two-match Test series in South Africa.

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has withdrawn the proposal made to appoint retired navy officer Shamal Fernando as the Director General of Customs and to reinstate P.S.M.Charles who held the post previously.

Special Task Force (STF) Commandant Senior DIG M.R. Latiff, who was scheduled to retire, has been given a one-year service extension today. The proposal made by the President to extend the tenure of Mr. Latiff was approved by the Cabinet today.

The Customs-Trade Unions Alliance today said it would continue the work-to-rule campaign until it was officially informed about reinstating of P.S.M.Charles as the Customs Director General.

Out of the 545 inmates who were released on the Independence Day under the Presidential Pardon, 27 inmates were sent back to their prisons, Prions Department said.