Jul 31 (AD) The motion to extend the State of Emergency in Sri Lanka by another month was passed in the Parliament today with a majority of 40 votes. 40 MPs voted in favour of the motion while only 2 members voted against it. The Extraordinary Gazette notification was issued extending the State of Emergency in Sri Lanka by another month with effect from July 22. President Maithripala Sirisena said in the decree he believed there was a more..

Jul 31 (SWI) A 22-year-old Sri Lankan man drowned in a pond on Tuesday in the northeastern Swiss city of St Gallen. The police were alerted at around 7:30 pm on Tuesday evening that a man who entered the Drei Weieren (Three Ponds, in German) did not resurface. Several dozen swimmers in the water immediately began a search for the tourist. An off-duty lifeguard who happened to be present also took part and coordinated the operation until the arrival of the emergency rescue team. more..

Jul 31 (EN) The Govt is looking to upgrade higher education in Sri Lanka with a view to increasing the employability of university graduates while also addressing the issue of ragging in campuses, UNP MP Thusitha Wijemanna said. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe will personally oversee the reforms, Wijemanna told journalists at Temple Trees this morning (31), adding that special attention will be given to the quality of some of the courses offered by state universities. more..

Jul 31 (Island) Ven. Ulapone Sumangala, who successfully moved the Supreme Court against the Lands (Special Provisions) Bill, yesterday, said that the UNP govt bid to abolish restrictions currently in place to prevent recipients of state land from transferring the ownership had been decisively defeated. Ven. Sumangala and his counsel MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, said that SC intervention had prevented a catastrophe more..

Jul 31 (AD) Jean Arasanayagam, renowned SL contemporary poet and fiction writer, has passed away yesterday at the age of 88 due to an illness. Arasanayagam, who was born into a family of Dutch Burghers on 1931, has made irreplaceable contributions to the SL literature through her noteworthy works such as The Life of the Poet, Apocalypse ‘83 and The Cry of the Kite. She was awarded the National Award for Literature in 1984 and she bagged the Gratiaen Prize 2017 for more..

Jul 31 (NR) The JHU calls for the enactment of one common law to ensure national security. Speaking in Parliament during the debate to extend State of Emergency, Deputy Minister Karunarathna Paranawithana said following the Easter Sunday bombings, several issues have surfaced and therefore stressed the importance of revamping the existing legal structure. The Deputy Leader of the JHU added that the existing marriage and divorce laws, legislation concerning child rights and more..

Jul 31 (AFP) Sri Lanka was considering applications from three top international cricket coaches to replace incumbent Chandika Hathurusingha, who has until mid-August to step down, country's sports minister said Tuesday. Harin Fernando said Hathurusingha would be given until the start of Sri Lanka's home Test series against New Zealand, which begins on Aug 14, to quit and make way for a new coach. more..

Jul 31 (DM) A grade 12 student of the Sapugaskanda Maha Vidyalaya, who had suddenly fallen ill while practising at the school sports ground, was pronounced dead on admission to the Kiribathgoda Hospital yesterday. The deceased student had been identified as Aruna Hettiarachchi (17). Police said the student had fallen ill last morning during sports practice. Father of the student had said that an elder brother had also died under similar circumstances due to a heart ailment. more..

Jul 31 (AD) The Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara against being sent on compulsory leave has been fixed for support on September 17th. The FR petition was taken up before the Supreme Court judge bench consisting of Justices L.T.B. Dehideniya and S. Thurairajah today (31). As the petition has to be considered before a three-judge bench, the Supreme Court justices ordered to take up the petition again on Sept 17th. more..

Jul 31 (DM) General Secretary of the SLFP Dayasiri Jayasekara and Trade Union organizer Weerakumara Dissanayaka today slammed Badulla District UPFA MP Dilan Perera and warned him not to act like a nincompoop and betray the SLFP. Mr. Jayasekara charged that people like Mr. Perera had always attempted to disrupt the talks between the SLFP and SLPP and promoted his own agenda. more..