There is no scheduled visit to Sri Lanka by UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon so far, the Foreign Ministry said.There were reports last year that Ban ki-moon will visit Sri Lanka during or soon after the visit to Sri Lanka by the UN High Commissioner for human rights Zeid Ra

The suicide jacket discovered in Chavakachcheri recently is nearly five years old, a Terrorism Investigations Division (TID) probe has found. Police said the suspect apprehended in connection with the discovery is still being interrogated.A suicide jacket and a stock of explosives and ammunition were recovered during a raid conducted on a house in Chavakachcheri, Jaffna on Wednesday (30). Police raided the house in Maravanpulo, Chavakachcheri, following a tip-off.

Former External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris was today questioned for two hours by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over his remarks on the recovery of explosives at a house in Chavakachcheri, Jaffna recently. Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Professor Peiris said though the Government was attempting to sweep the incident under the carpet, the Joint Opposition wouldn't keep mum. Further, he reiterated that an impartial and a proper investigation should be launched into the recovery of the suicide jacket and explosives. The former External Affairs Minister, in a recent media briefing said that the recovered explosives were to be brought to Wellawatta.

Missing Persons Commission Chairman Maxwell Paranagama had stated that four of those who had gone missing had been found while two or three of them were languishing in Maldivian prisons responding to a question raised by media personnel after the hearings ended in Vavuniya. He said that investigations were held based on evidence placed with the Commission.

Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray yesterday said that the deadly cache detected at Meesalai, Chavakachcheri had been brought there to cause destruction. The armaments couldn

Prof. G.L Peiris who has not lit even a firecracker, is comporting like Napoleon, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday. He said he was awe struck when he saw former Minister Prof. Peiris punching himself in at the recent incident of explosives recovered at Chavakachcheri area in Jaffna. He made these comments at an event at Sirikotha yesterday. The Prime Minister said knowing not which end to light, Prof. Peiris braved his way to comment on the military hardware.

The recent seizure of a host of arms in Jaffna and Mannar of the Northern Province will not have any adverse bearing on the Sri Lankan government

While ruling a country it is important to consider the physical, social development of the country in addition to national security. Today we suspect that an issue relating to the national security of the country has surfaced With the discovery of explosives and a suicide kit in the north it is essential that the public be kept informed of the actual security situation,

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will record a statement from former External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris tomorrow at 10.00 p.m. over his remarks about the discovery of suicide jackets, explosives and some ammunition at a house in Chavakachcheri, Jaffna recently.The former minister said there was speculation these were intended for Colombo, and that the authorities concerned should investigate it thoroughly.

A Sri Lankan man believed to have left Canada in the wake of a fire at a restaurant in Woodstock, Canada is now in the custody of Canadian authorities.Woodstock Police say Jeyakumar Shanmuganathan was arrested at Toronto

Sri Lanka's Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of police has been assigned to probe yesterday's discovery of a stock of explosives, the office of the Police Media Spokesman said. Acting Inspector General of Police SM Wickremesinghe has handed over the investigations in to the discovery of stock of explosives at a residence in Chavakachcheri in Jaffna district to the TID. Accordingly, the TID has commenced investigations under the supervision of the Senior Deputy IGP of the Criminal Investigations Department, NewsRadio reported.

The government today said that that it hopes to further strengthen its defence ties with China this year. Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi told Xinhua that China supported Sri Lanka to end the war against Tamil Tiger rebels and the government is in discussions to further strengthen the defence relations between the two countries. "We are looking forward to a much stronger relationship with China. Already there are quite a few courses provided to Sri Lankan military personnel in China and we hope to expand our ties in this sector," he said.

The accidental discovery of an arms cache, including three parcels of TNT and a suicide jacket, in a house at Chavakachcheri in Jaffna District on Wednesday, may hinder the demilitarization of the Northern Province which is one of the major post-war demands of Sri Lankan Tamils and which was promised to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) by the Lankan government headed by President Maithripala Sirisena.

The Jathika Hela Urumaya has found fault with Chief Minister of the Northern Province CV Wigneswaran for not using the money allocated by the government for the development of the province. Addressing a press conference at the party head office at Battaramulla yesterday, JHU National Organiser and Western Provincial Council Member Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said that Chief Minister Wigneswaran had spent only 20 per cent of the allocations for the development of the Northern Province last year. The Chief Minister had returned the balance 80 per cent to the Treasury at the end of the year.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has found that cabinet papers submitted by some ministers are riddled with errors.PM Wickremesinghe has instructed government

A suicide kit, four claymore mines, three parcels of C4 explosives and ammunition were found in a house in Vallakulam, Chavakachcheri this morning, Police said. A team from the Intelligence Unit inspected the location down Vallakulam Pillaiyar Kovil Street after the Jaffna Division SSP received information regarding the weapons. Police said that close to a hundred 9 mm ammunition and two packs of claymore batteries were recovered from the house. The owner of the house has fled the area. The Special Task Force (STF) is inspecting the area.

The Government today reiterated that there was no threat to the country

While urging the Government to launch an impartial investigation into the recovery of a suicide jacket and explosives in a house Vallakulam, Chavakachcheri Last night, the Joint Opposition today said that these kinds of incidents could cause a threat to the national security. Speaking at a media conference in Borella, Prof. G.L.Peiris said the Government was attempting to hide the truth behind the scene to the public.

The Sri Lankan Rupee depreciated further against the U.S. Dollar yesterday, amidst government claims that there was no fundamental reason for it. The Greenback appreciated to Rs.149 against the Rupee in the open market, while the Central Bank fixed the spot rate at Rs.143.90.On Monday the buying and selling rates stood at Rs.144.93 and Rs.148.91 respectively.

Security forces suspect whether the explosives found from a house in Chavakachcheri was part of a plan targeting to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena, reports say.The President was scheduled to visit Jaffna on April 03 to inaugurate two hotels in the city as well as a housing project in Vavuniya.However, security forces have now urged the President to cancel the Jaffna visit, reports add. Meanwhile, the PSD personnel sent to Jaffna ahead of the President's visit, have been recalled, reports further say.

There had been a power outage lasting for more than half an hour this afternoon, during the North Western Province Medical Awards Ceremony (organised by the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine of the North Western Province) while President Maithripala Sirisena, who was the chief guest, was addressing the gathering. The event, held at the auditorium of the provincial council, had continued in darkness as the standby generator at the auditorium, too, had failed to function.

Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Mahesh Senanayake yesterday said that there was no security threat to Jaffna peninsula. He assured that Security Forces personnel would not allow terrorists to raise their heads again. Major General Senanayake made these remarks when Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Minister Gayantha Karunatilleka and a group of journalists from the South and North visited the Security Force Headquarters in Jaffna.

Chief Incumbent of the Nagadeepa Vihara, Venerable Nawadagala Padumakiththi Nayaka Thera said that he was informed in writing by the Government Agent of Jaffna to immediately halt construction of the proposed Buddha Statue, which was to be constructed at a cost of Rs 120 million at the Nagadeepa Temple in Jaffna and that he condemns this order with revulsion.

President Maithripala Sirisena should be held responsible for the alleged faults of the previous Government, because he was a one of its Cabinet Ministers, claimed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday. Speaking at an occasion held in Embilipitiya Rajapaksa said if there were unsuitable decisions of the past administration, these were all taken with the approval of the then Cabinet.

The United States says it respects and appreciates the values that the Sri Lankan voters voted for in the two elections of January 8 and August 17 of last year. The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Atul Keshap said the US appreciates the vision of the Sri Lankan people for their country to be a reconciled, peaceful, unified, prosperous, and free democracy that can be a pillar of stability and prosperity for the entire Indo-Pacific region.

About 28,500 foreigners who came to India on valid visa were found overstaying with people from Pakistan and Sri Lanka topping the list. According to the latest official statistics from the Indian Home Affairs Ministry, 4,335 Pakistanis were found to be overstaying in India as on December 31, 2014, while there were 3,857 such Lankan nationals. These were followed by South Korea (1,772), Iraq (1,625), the United States (1,291), Oman (1,254) and Tanzania (1,068).

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that he will not be accepting a position in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party if he is given the offer. Speaking to media yesterday, he said that he has no plans in accepting such a post. Journalists asked Rajapaksa of the recent disturbances in SLFP regional meetings, when party members expressed their support to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the younger brother of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said that people's demands should be heeded.

A book written by the former head of the LTTE women

President Maithripala Sirisena today visited

The navy on Friday (March 25) vacated a training base established at Sampoor soon after the liberation of the Eastern Province in mid 2007. Navy headquarters said that 177 acres had been handed over to Eastern Province Governor Austin Fernando to be distributed among original owners. President Maithripala Sirisena handed over 60 acres held by the navy at Sampoor to original owners last August. The navy facility covered an area of 237 acres. Navy headquarters said the entire camp had been vacated to facilitate resettlement and rehabilitation of the war displaced.