VATICAN CITY, March 23 (Reuters) – Pope Francis returned to the Vatican on Sunday after surviving a five-week battle in hospital against double pneumonia that became the most serious health crisis of his 12-year papacy. The 88-year-old pope, who also made his first public appearance since February 14 before being discharged …

Colombo, March 24 (Daily Mirror) – Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today denied claims that the UNP, SJB, and SLPP are forming an alliance to work as a joint opposition. He said that the SJB will succeed on its own in this year’s local government election.

Colombo, March 24 (Daily Mirror) – Former Minister Mervyn Silva and two others have been further remanded until April 3 following their appearance before the Mahara Magistrate’s Court.   Silva was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on March 5 over allegations of illegally selling state-owned land to a private …

Two Supreme Court judges have recused themselves from hearing an appeal filed relating to former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda. When the matter came before a Supreme Court three-judge bench, Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz and Justice Priyantha Fernando announced that they would refrain from hearing this matter. Justice …

Colombo, March 28 (Daily Mirror) – Former Opposition Leader of the Central Provincial Council, Don Harindra Chanaka Illapperuma, who was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 350,000 by promising government jobs, was released on bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate today.   The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery …

Colombo, March 28 (Daily Mirror) – Two police constables attached to the Welikada Police and two other suspects were remanded till April 1 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali.  They are accused of abducting and assaulting individuals in the Keselwatta and Aduruppu Street police divisions and robbing Rs. 1.6 million. …

A warm weather advisory has been issued, warning that the heat index in several parts of the country could rise to the ‘Caution’ level in the next 24 hours. The affected areas include the Northern, North-Central, North-Western, and Sabaragamuwa provinces, as well as the Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Colombo, and Gampaha districts. …