A key suspect in the triple murder incident in the Middeniya Police Division has been arrested by Criminal Investigation Department officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to flee to Dubai last night. The triple murder was reported on February 18 in Middeniya.

The suspect has been identified as 23-year-old Badalage Pasidu Sanjana from Doremure, Agulandeniya, Katuwana. He had arrived at the airport to board Emirates Airlines flight EK-653, which departed for Dubai at 8:15 AM today.

After his arrest by officers from the airport’s Criminal Investigation Department, a team of special officers from the Middeniya Police arrived at the airport and took him into custody for further investigations.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya is in hot water after backtracking her statement on banning politicians attending functions at schools. She told parliament yesterday that she had not imposed a law banning any politicians from attending functions at schools and that she had only said politicians must avoid using the school system for political ends.

More than 5,500 shops have been raided for selling rice above the maximum retail price as of March 12, and legal action has been taken against 4,070 traders for violations, the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said.

Good air quality level was recorded in nine cities, while unhealthy air quality level was reported in Jaffna today, the Vehicular Emission Test Trust Fund of the Department of Motor Traffic said. They said moderate air quality level was recorded in four cities, including Hambantota, Kalutara, Jaffna, and Badulla.

The strike launched by the doctors at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital was called off this morning, GMOA deputy secretary Dr. Ajantha Rajakaruna said. He said the decision was taken following a discussion with the North Central Province Governor Wasantha Jinadasa this morning.

The elder sister of the suspect arrested for allegedly raping a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital has also been taken into custody. Police arrested the 37-year-old woman from Galnewa for allegedly aiding the suspect after the crime.

The suspect wanted in connection with the alleged rape of a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital has been arrested. Police said the suspect, an army deserter, was arrested in the Galnewa area.

The passenger who was arrested for allegedly attempting to sexually harass two SriLankan Airlines flight attendants, was released on two sureties of Rs. 100,000 each by Colombo Chief Magistrate Tanuja Lakmali today. The court also imposed a travel ban on the suspect.

Former MP and an organiser for the Kalutara District, Lakshman Wijemanne protested against MP Rajitha Senaratne's presence at the party headquarters Sirikotha during a ceremony held to handover appointment letters to new organisers. However, party sources said the matter was settled by party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who intervened and managed to calm things down.

Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayke today requested Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne to look into the possibility of taking action against his predecessor Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, former Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa and former Deputy Chairman of Committees Angajan Ramanathan for alleged excessive use of fuel during their tenures.

Medical officers have decided to continue with their strike action despite the arrest of the suspect wanted in connection with the alleged rape of a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.

While the preparations for the 2025 Local Government (LG) Elections are being carried out, 155,976 new voters have qualified to vote in the upcoming polls, Elections Commission (EC) Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake said.

The Cabinet decided to table the Batalanda Commission report in Parliament within this week, Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said today. He told the weekly briefing to announce Cabinet decisions that the Cabinet discussed the measures to be taken with regard to the report.

The doctors of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital launched an idefinite strike against the sexual assault of a lady doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.

The suspect who sexually assaulted a lady doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching hospital is found to be an army deserter, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today.

Considering requests from various departments and affiliated bodies of the Ministries to fill vacant posts, the Cabinet has granted approval for the relevant Ministries and institutions to proceed with 5,882 recruitments, as recommended by the committee.

Claiming that the stance of the government on the Adani Wind Power project has not changed, Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said today the Adani group can decide to pull out of the project if they are not ready to revise the tariff rates.

Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa was careful not to mention former Minister Tiran Alles' name despite numerous questions from journalists about potential links between former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon and former Minister Alles.

Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon, through his lawyer, has filed a writ petition before the Court of Appeal seeking an order to revoke the arrest warrant issued by the Matara Magistrate's Court. A two-judge bench of the Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Mohamed Laffar and Sarath Dissanayake, has fixed the petition for support on March 12.

New education reforms will be launched in 2026 and the process of preparing for it will take place in 2025, Prime Minister and Minister of Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said.

The Department of Meteorology has issued a weather advisory predicting showers across multiple regions of the country, with fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 75mm expected in several provinces.