SL family allowed to stay in NZ

A Sri Lankan family who won the support of the Queenstown community in their fight against deportation have been given a reprieve and they will be allowed to stay in New Zealand for another year, the New Zealand Herald reported today.

Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker has been supporting the family, Dinesha Amarasinghe, Sam Wijerathne and their three boys Senath, Subath and Binath.

SL beat Bangladesh by 6 wickets

Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by six wickets to go 1-0 up in the two-match T20 series. After opting to bat, the hosts rode on fifties from Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim to post 193/5. In reply, fiery knocks from Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka and Thisara Perera helped Sri Lanka seal the deal with 20 balls remaining.

At the halfway stage, Bangladesh would have felt that they have found their mojo back, having lost the Test series. However, all the good work done by their batsmen was undone in a jiffy through blistering knocks of Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka - a 53-run stand inside five overs of play.

Arjun Aloysius, Palisena remanded

Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) owner Arjun Aloysius and PTL CEO Kasun Palisena,, who were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this morning, were remanded until Monday (5) by the Fort Magistrate Court a short while ago.

CID officials have recorded statements from the both suspects for over 12 hours in connection with the Central Bank Bond case.

President voids liquor Gazette

President Maithripala Sirisena said today that he had instructed the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister to cancel the Gazette notifications issued revoking the prohibition of selling liquor to females and the time extensions on liquor shops.

Addressing a public meeting in Agalawatte, he stated that he was informed about the two Gazette notifications issued allowing selling liquor to females and female employment in liquor shops and time extensions via the media.

President’s term is only five years- SC

The Supreme Court has communicated to the Presidential Secretariat that President Maithripala Sirisena’s term was only five years, it is learnt.

Last week the President had made a reference to the Supreme Court seeking its opinion whether he could serve up to six years.

Victor Ratnayaka’s wife arrested

Hashini Amendra, the wife of veteran singer Victor Ratnayake, was arrested by the Tangalle Police this morning for the alleged misappropriation of Rs. 1.28 million worth of jewelry belonging to a state bank.

Police said the manager of the said state bank had lodged a complaint with the police against the 32-year-old for the crime she allegedly committed during her time as an employee of the pawning section of the bank during 2012- 2016.

Gay population in SL now tops 7500

In a report by the National Venereal Diseases and Prevention of AIDS project it is stated that there are 7500 persons identified as gays in Sri Lanka.

Blood samples of about 1.2 million suspected persons had been examined and 280 persons among them had been identified as victims of AIDS, stated the Director of National Venereal Diseases and Prevention of AIDS Dr Sisira Liyanage. Among this group there had been Women, Men and Children as victims and a majority had been Gay persons, Dr Liyanage states further.

Terror attacks cannot be ruled out in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has been listed among the countries where ‘terror attacks cannot be ruled out’ this holiday season, according to the British Foreign Office.The British media has warned Brits to be vigilant while visiting the countries to which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued travel advisories.