Britain votes to leave EU in historic divorce: BBC

Britain has voted to leave the European Union, the BBC said based on voter tallies from Thursday's referendum, an outcome that would set the country on an uncertain path and deal the largest setback to European efforts to forge greater unity since World War Two.

EU vote shows divided Britain, result too close to call

Britain's bitterly contested referendum on whether to quit the European Union was too close to call on Friday as early results showed a deeply divided nation while the pound was hammered on financial markets.

Soyza hits out at Basil's party

The break away group of the SLFP, ‘the joint opposition’ and the new party reported to be formed by former Minister Basil Rajapaksa are doomed for disaster as the SLFP's history has proved in numerous occasions that not a single politician or group had succeeded after betraying the party, Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Wijith Vijayamuni Soyza said yesterday.

'Celluloid gang operating in Jaffna'

A gang, inspired by violent scenes in South Indian cinema, is engaged in emulating them for various criminal activities in the Jaffna peninsula according to initial observations , Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake informed Parliament yesterday.

Unlimited funds for treatment of cancer patients

Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister Rajitha Senaratne has directed the Ministry to remove the threshold of Rs 1.5 million allocated for a cancer patient and to allocate funds without a limit for their treatments.

Thajudeen murder: CID to get CCTV report in August

Senior State Counsel Dilan Ratnayake today told court that the CCTV footage relating to the inquiry over the murder of Ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen, has been sent to the British Columbia Laboratory- Canada for expert examination and the progress of the examination would be received by the CID by the first week of August.

Norwegian PM welcomes reconciliation progress in SL

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg welcomed the progress in Sri Lanka in reconciliation, strengthening democracy, good governance and economic development policy, a media release issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

Nearly 50,000 heroin addicts in Sri Lanka

About 50,000 heroin addicts were reported in Sri Lanka while nearly 200,000 people were reportedly addicted to cannabis, National Dangerous Drugs Control Board Chairman said today.

Ulterior motives behind arrest of Govt.’s opponents: Wimal

Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (JNP) MP Wimal Weerawansa today charged that the government was imprisoning its opponents at a rate as it intended to hold a referendum to adopt its new Constitution which was aimed at dividing the country.

Ranjan under fire for target practice

Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake came under fire in Parliament today for using the premises of the MPs' housing complex in Madiwela to do target practicing for a film shoot.

Update: Police constable’s side arm misfires killing another

The side arm of a police officer is reported to have misfired injuring another officer attached to the Kantale Police station.

Police fire teargas to disperse protesting students

Police fired teargas and used high pressure water cannons to disperse university students who were protesting at the Kollupitiya Junction a short while ago. However, our reporter said the students had sat on the road disregarding the water cannons and the teargas.

Stretch of Galle Road outside Temple Trees closed

The stretch of Galle Road, from Kollupitiya Junction to Lotus Roundabout in Colombo 1 has been closed because of a protest march by university students was heading towards the Temple Trees, police said.

Three killed in bus-van collision in Kegalle

At least 3 people were killed and several others injured when a bus collided head on with a van at Ballapana junction on the Colombo-Kandy road, a short while ago, the Police said.  

Anura Senanayeke’s bail application rejected; remanded till July 7

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris today rejected the bail application submitted on behalf of former senior DIG Anura Senanayake and former Narahenpita Crimes OIC Sumith Perera and re-remanded them till July 7.

FCID to check bank accounts of two companies

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris today permitted the FCID to check the bank accounts of two private companies, Nimbus and Steel Impex.

Man shot dead outside Mahara Courts

A 35-year-old man was reported to have been shot dead, a short while ago, by unidentified gunmen outside the Mahara Magistrate's Court when he had come there in connection with a drug peddling case.

Baby elephant rescued from drain dies at Uda Walawe

The elephant calf that was less than a month old and had been rescued from an uncovered drain in Hambantota died last night at Elephant Transit Home in Uda Walawe.

Bidet showers replaced with tissues at BIA washrooms

The bidet showers fixed at the washrooms of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) have been removed from today and replaced with toilet tissues, a BIA official said.

Six indicted for Sri Lankan cricket team attack

An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday summoned the prosecution witnesses by June 30 after framing charges against six members of a banned outfit accused in 2009 Sri Lankan cricket team attack case. 

PM disputes borrowings doubled

With reference to the report that the Government had borrowed in excess of the limit approved by Parliament, Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday that the Auditor General's observation contradicted against the reports of the Treasury and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

New Customs Ordinance detrimental to country: TU

The new Customs Ordinance, if implemented, would reduce the powers of Customs Officers, allow more room for criminals to operate and bring the control of the entire Customs Department under a single individual, the Customs Trade Union Alliance charged today.

Not MR, but other Rajapaksas have allegations: Rajitha

There was no evidence to suggest that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was involved in any financial fraud, but allegations of money laundering and financial mismanagement had been levelled against many of the Rajapaksa family members, Cabinet Spokesman, Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said today.

Lady doctor, lawyer arrested for biting two WPCs

A lady doctor of a Government hospital, and a lady lawyer had been taken into custody by the Welikada Police for obstructing the duty of two women Police Constables by biting them.

I’ll go home tomorrow, if allegations proved: Arjuna

While rejecting the allegations made by the Joint Trade Union Collective of the Ports Authority, Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said today he would resign from politics and go home tomorrow if it was proved he had defrauded a single rupee.

Body found in Beira canal

A human body had been recovered from a canal leading towards the Beria Lake behind a Warehouse of Sathosa at D. R. Wijewardene Mawatha in Colombo 10, the Police said.

SC allows petition challenging VAT increase

The Supreme Court today granted leave to proceed with the rights petitions challenging the intended imposition of additional liabilities pertaining to multi-stage tax called the Value Added Tax (VAT) and Nation Building Tax (NBT).

Cabinet suspends work, payments of Defence HQ

The Cabinet on Tuesday suspended the construction of the Rs. 40 billion Defence Head Quarters Complex (DHC) at Akuregoda and the payments to the private contractor, as the selection of consultancy firm and payments that had been made were done without providing true information to the Cabinet, Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said today.

B’desh CB hacking: CPU, mobile phones to be sent to Moratuwa Uni.

Colombo Chief Magistrate today allowed the CID to send a CPU of a computer and two mobile phones recovered following investigations into the $20 million transfer by hacking from the Bangladesh Central Bank to Shalika Foundation, to Moratuwa University.

Pillaiyan further remanded

Former Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathuai Chandrakanthan alias Pillaiyan who had been held in remand in connection with the alleged assassination of Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham, was further remanded for 14 days till July 07.