The UNP today appointed popular singer Rookantha Gunatilleke as the organiser of the Dambadeniya electorate.

Sri Lanka is negotiating with Russia the purchase of a new batch of Russian Mi-17 helicopters, which the country will use in UN peacekeeping missions, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Dayan Jayatilleka told Russian Sputnik on Sunday.

Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, Austin Fernando, has said that Sri Lanka needs the refugees to return from India. Mr. Fernando, who paid a visit to Chennai to obtain first-hand knowledge of the situation pertaining to Tamil refugees, told the Hindu that Sri Lanka needs its citizens.

The date to produce in courts the suspects including Makadure Madush, who were arrested in Dubai, was uncertain, Attorney-at-law Udul Premaratne, who went to Dubai to appear on behalf of Amal Perera and Nadimal Perera, said.

The Special High Court today overruled the preliminary objections  raised in the case filed against former defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa stating that the Special High Court had no jurisdiction to hear the case under the Judicature (Amendment) Act.

A police constable driver attached to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) has been hospitalised due to an alleged assault by UNP Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri yesterday in Bandarawela.

The police and the Police Special Task Force are conducting special raids and search operations on individuals and their residences who have connections with drug kingpin Makandure Madush and other suspects who were recently arrested in Dubai.

Those who criticize and ridicule the judiciary should be punished, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said over the weekend.

A decision has been taken to re-call applications for the post of executioner (hangman) in the Prison Department, Commissioner General of Prisons H. M. N. C. Dhanasinghe said.

The Finance Ministry had announced that the monthly fuel price revision would take place today (11) in accordance with the existing pricing formula.

In a bid to sort-out the differences among the players, Minister of Sports Harin Fernando summoned three Sri Lankan players, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera at the Ministry Office in Colombo on Saturday (9).   

Director General of Cultural Affairs Anusha Gokula said the best education system in the world was in Vietnam and Finland where the children would not be burdened with pre-school education at the age of four years and that they are made aesthetic and sensitive to beauty through activities at home instead.

Sri Lankan cricket has hit an all-time nadir and the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan blames it on the paucity of talent coupled with lack of passion among the current generation of cricketers for this steady decline.

Twelve suspects, including Shanaka Madushanka alias ' Olu Mara', were arrested on possession of heroin at Lunuvila in Wennappuwa last night.

The water supply to several areas in Colombo would be interrupted for 24 hours starting from 4.00 p.m today till 4.00 p.m tomorrow, due to essential maintenance work. the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said.

The STF today arrested an accomplice of notorious drug kingpin Makandure Madush at Madampitiya in Mattakkuliya.

A 42-year-old man was killed and a 22-year-old injured in a shooting at Thanamalvila this afternoon.

President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have turned down a request by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to assign the subject of vocational training and skills development to Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.

The UNF government will form a National Government before the end of February with the help of nine SLFP members who have pledged their support to the UNF, House Leader Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday.

Commenting on the controversy related to imported milk powder, acting Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Dr. S.C. Wickramasinghe said yesterday imported milk powder is checked for quality and safety as set out by the Health Ministry under the import inspection scheme as an essential food item.

Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Buddhika Pathirana reconfirmed his statement that imported milk powder contains harmful substances and said yesterday health ministry officials had misled Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne on this matter.

The parliamentary authorities have prohibited any form of liquid including water being brought into the parliamentary complex by MPs and visitors, an official said yesterday.

President Maithripala Sirisena today said now there are so many people to claim credit for the arrest of notorious drug dealer and underworld leader Madush in Dubai.

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday urged the government to resolve the pension anomalies of police officers.

Former Speaker and UPFA Parliamentarian Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday said he would step down as an MP if anyone comes up with the minutes of the Srilankan Airlines Board meeting which was allegedly to have been held at his official residence on March 1, 2013.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday tabled the report of the Constitutional Council (CC) which depicts the criteria followed by the CC to approve persons for various posts.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya informed parliament yesterday that pure and pasteurized milk was provided to MPs.

An Etihad Airways A-380 Airbus carried out an emergency landing at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning after a passenger had fallen ill, the airport duty manager said.

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa will visit India and deliver a lecture on the future of India-Sri Lanka relations in Bangalore tomorrow.

The six-month rigorous imprisonment imposed on Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera for threatening Sandya Eknaligoda, was suspended for five years by the Colombo High Court today.

The Police had found live bullets and several military equipments including army uniforms when they carried out a search operation in the house of Anushka Kavishal alias Janga, an accomplice of underworld drug kingpin Makandure Madush in Talalla, today.

The issues faced by government officials because of the suspension of vehicle permits will be resolved within the next three months, State Minister Eran Wickramaratne said today.

An Etihad Airways A-380 Airbus carried out an emergency landing at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning after a passenger had fallen ill, the airport Duty Manager said.

Thanks to the contribution made by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna's (SLPP) local government representatives and other party members, the party has Rs.21 million in its savings today, National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa told a group of SLPP local government members at the party office in Battaramulla.

Unconfirmed reports that came out yesterday suggested that the diplomatic passport holder who attended the extravagant birthday bash thrown by wanted underworld drug kingpin Makandure Madush in Dubai, was a Member of Kamburupitiya Pradeshiya Sabha.