Top stories of the day

Controversy over placing Buddhist statue in Trincomalee 

A controversy has risen over placing of a Buddhist statue in a land disputed to be coming under the purview of the Coast Conservation Department in Trincomalee and the Police removing the statue last night. The Buddhist statue was reinstalled at the original location, subject to gaining approval from authorities. 

GSMB Former Chairman granted bail

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama granted bail for the Former Chairman of the Geological Survey & Mines Bureau (GSMB), Anura Walpola on two sureties of Rs. 1 million each and imposed a foreign travel ban preventing him from leaving the country. He was arrested on allegations of unlawfully recruiting persons to the post of Assistant Director of Information Technology at the bureau without following due process during his tenure as chairman. 

GMOA meet the president, trade union action cripples hospitals 

State hospitals have been crippled today due to trade union action by the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) members. They met the president at the Presidential Secretariat and the President acknowledged the proposals presented by the GMOA. The President had informed the Association that those proposals would be discussed further and that he would look into the possibility of providing reasonable solutions.

Tourist arrivals pass the two million mark

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka today passed the two million mark for this year.

Former minister Rambukwella and children served indictments

Former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, his son Ramith Rambukwella and his daughter have been served indictments before the Colombo High Court Judge Mohamed Mihal. They have been released on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 each with two sureties of Rs. 1 million each, while a travel ban was imposed on the defendants.