Netherlands’s Rijksmuseum to start talks about stolen art with SL

The Rijkmuseum in Amsterdam is starting talks with Sri Lanka and Indonesia about some 1,000 pieces in its collection that may have been stolen and become part of the Dutch ‘colonial heritage’, the Netherland Trouw reported.

UK, Canada submit resolution on SL to UNHRC

A resolution on ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’ was submitted to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Monday by six main sponsors including the UK and Canada. The main sponsors

CB has misled government again: Ravi K

The Central Bank has once again misled the government by making it go for a US $ 3.5 million International Sovereign Bonds (ISB) issue at 8.5 per cent, Minister Ravi Karunanayake told parliament today.

SL, Kenya agree to collaborate in combatting terrorism

The governments of Sri Lanka and Kenya have agreed to collaborate in combatting terrorism, address the challenges of transnational crime and the importance of littoral countries addressing the issues concerning the Indian Ocean, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said yesterday.

Teachers, Principals 24hr strike starts tomorrow

The Teachers and Principals Trade Union today said that it had confirmed on launching its 24-hour countrywide token strike tomorrow, Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin said.

Deadline for accepting complaints on serious acts of fraud, extended

The deadline for accepting complaints into serious acts of fraud, corruption and abuse of power has been extended till March 19. The deadline was to end on March 14. President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed a Presidential

CRD introduces MILO Range for live-fire training

The Centre for Research and Development (CRD) of the Defence Ministry recently introduced Sri Lanka’s first digital close quarter combat theatre (MILO Range), thus making provision for live-fire training facilities, especially for commandos and special forces.

TNA wants N-E development issues resolved

TNA MP Mavai Senathirajah said yesterday they would support Budget 2019 only if it resolved the issues pertaining to the development in the North and East.

Govt. will rescind age limit for employment: Eran

The government will revoke the procedure followed when imposing an age limit for job recruitment, State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne told Parliament today.

PS funds exclusively for well-being of people: SLFP

SLFP MP Shantha Bandara told Parliament today that funds were allocated to the Presidential Secretariat (PS) not for the well-being of the President but to facilitate a number of projects launched for the well-being of the people.

No fuel price revision tonight

The monthly fuel price revision would not come into effect midnight today, the Finance Ministry announced a short while ago.

JVP-TNA discuss 20A

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today held a discussion with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution which aimed at abolishing the executive presidency.

Hot weather to prevail till May: Met Dept.

The current spell of hot weather will last till the end of May and disappear with the onset of the southwest monsoon, Meteorology Department Forecasting Directress Anusha Warnasuriya said.

CID records 8-hour long statement from Karannagoda

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) recorded an eight-hour long statement from former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda today. Admiral Karannagoda arrived at the CID

177 kgs of heroin found in safe house run by Madush

About 177 kgs of heroin worth over Rs.1,800 million, several firearms and a large stock of ammunition were seized from an alleged safe house of Makandure Madush at Rawathawatta in Moratuwa today.

Lankan, working in foreign airline nabbed with gold at BIA

A Sri Lankan crew member attached to foreign airline had been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning with Gold Bangles worth more than Rs.20 million while he was attempting to smuggle them into the country, Deputy Director and Acting Spokesman Vipula Minuwanpitiya said.

Borella OIC hit & run: Driver further remanded

Driver of the Defender vehicle, Navin Ratnayake, who was arrested for the hit and run accident that killed Borella Traffic OIC, IP Sarathchandra, was further remanded till March 18 by the Colombo Magistrate today.

Man found dead in Nawagamuwa identified as wanted murder suspect

The body of a man found with gunshot wounds in Nawagamuwa this morning has been identified as the main suspect wanted over the murder of a businessman in Sapugaskanda last year, the police said.

Minister Kabir Hashim’s CS injured in a shooting

A police investigation is in progress to ascertain whether Minister Kabir Hashim’s Coordinating Secretary (CS) Mohamed Naslim was shot by a religious extremist group over his cooperation with police in the conduct of inquiries into instances where Buddhist statues in the area were damaged recently.

Karannagoda arrives at CID

Former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID a short while ago to give a statement over the abduction and killing of 11 youths in 2008-2009.

Country unites to sing national anthem in two languages: PM

Sri Lanka has united once again as the national anthem is being sung both in Sinhala and in Tamil at functions in all parts of the county, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe observed yesterday.

Male body found with gunshot wounds in Nawagamuwa

The body of a man was found with gunshot wounds near a rubber land at Godellawatte in Nawagamuwa this morning, the police said.

WTC owners freed from trespassing and mischief charges

Fort Magistrate Court freed Messrs, Overseas Realty (Ceylon) PLC and the owner of World Trade Centre (WTC), from alleged offences punishable for criminal trespassing and mischief charges framed against them.

Damaging railway property -- Matale Mayor released on bail

Mayor of Matale Duljith Aluvihare who was produced before the Matale Magistrate on the charge of entering the Matale Railway Station premises by force, damaging the fences and constructing a road on the land belonging to the railway, was released on personal bail of Rs.100,000.

Met. Dept. issues ‘Extreme Caution’ heat advisory

The Meteorology Department today issued heat weather advisory in ’ Extreme Caution’ level to be expected in most part of the Northern, North-Central and North-Western provinces tomorrow.

Ethiopian airliner crashes on way to Kenya

An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 passenger jet has crashed on a flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi.

Army gets Belgian Malinois to Mine Detection Dog fleet

The Mine Detection Dog (MDD) fleet of the Humanitarian De-Mining Unit (HDU) had received the 4-year old Belgian Malinois from the US-based Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) for its mine clearing work, the Army said.

First SL nurse leaves for the US

A nurse of the Kandy General Hospital has left for the USA, being the first ever Sri Lankan female nurse to work in a US hospital, Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) said.

Two arrested with heroin worth Rs. 12mn in Ambalangoda

Two suspects were arrested by the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) with 1.06 kg of heroin valued over Rs. 12 million at Akurala in Ambalangoda.

Hit and run accident: Borella Traffic OIC succumbs to injuries

Traffic OIC of the Borella Police, IP Sarathchandra, who was injured in a hit and run accident involving a Defender vehicle in Bambalapitiya, succumbed to his injuries yesterday, police said.