Another landslide reported in Aranayake

Another landslide was reported in Kabaragala-Kanda at Aranayake this afternoon, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.

PM congratulates Jayanthi

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala on her achievement as the first Sri Lankan to summit Mount Everest this morning.

Jayanthi becomes first Sri Lankan to summit Mount Everest

Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala sumitted Mount Everest this morning becoming the first Sri Lankan to do so.

Use of obscene language: Speaker vows to take action against Harin

Joint opposition MP Dinesh Gunawardane yesterday urged speaker Karu Jayasuriya to take action against Minister Harin Fernando whom he accused of using abusive words on MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage.

Two flights from Japan, India arrive at BIA with humanitarian aid

Two flights from Japan and India arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning carrying humanitarian aid needed for the affected people.

PM’s Vesak message: Live as Lord Buddha taught you

As we celebrate the thrice blessed Wesak once again, we are reminded of the true values Lord Buddha enshrined – Metta, Muditha, Karuna and Upekkha- which must be the ideals that are upheld in a sincere spiritual awakening towards building social goodwill and harmony.

‘Real Buddhist is one who works for betterment of masses’ – President

The real Buddhist is the one who works for the betterment and the contentment of the masses, President Maithripala Sirisena said in his Vesak message.

Special unit to handle major disasters: Ruwan

The government is planning to set up a unit to handle special disaster situations under the Defence Ministry, State Minister f`or Defence Ruwan Wijewardene said yesterday.

Flood relief distribution: needs attention

Even though lorry loads of dry rations, food and other requirements were pouring into the flood affected areas in Kelaniya and other areas in Colombo, people complained that there was no proper ground level mechanism to ensure that they reached to the people who were actually affected and in need of assistance.

Boat capsize kills two

A forty seven year-old man and a 15 –year-old boy were killed after a boat capsized at Ambulgama in Hanwella this evening, police said.

540 inmates to be released for Vesak

Five hundred and forty prison inmates from Prisons Island wide would be granted Presidential pardon tomorrow in view of the Vesak Poya Day, Prisons Department said.

This is why dogs are called ‘man’s best friend’

Another loyal dog that was looking for its owners was captured by cameras at the landslide site in Samassarakanda hill in Aranayake.

15 elephants released to owners on bond

The Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today released 15 elephants to their owners till August 31 over the inquiry on forged elephant licenses and alterations made to the wild elephant registration book, on a Rs. 30 million bonds on each.

Magistrate Thilina Gamage interdicted

Judicial Service Commission has today interdicted Colombo Additional Magistrate Thilina Gamage after he was named a suspect by the Attorney General over the alleged possession of an elephant without a valid license, sources said.

Rising water levels may shut down Ambatale

Rising sea levels will cause an increase in the water levels in the Kelani Ganga resulting in the shutting down of the new Ambatale water intake, Town Planning and Water Management Minister Rauff Hakeem told Parliament today.

No fuel shortage: CPC

There will be no fuel shortage in any part of the country, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman T.G. Jayasinghe said.

EgyptAir wreckage found in Mediterranean

Egypt's military said its search teams found wreckage today from the EgyptAir plane that crashed in the Mediterranean with 66 people on board.

Govt. waives import duty on flood relief

Government has decided to waive the import duty on the goods being sent to Sri Lanka as flood relief, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told Parliament today.

Upcountry trains still only to Rambukkana

Train services on the upcountry line from Colombo Fort will end at Rambukkana, the Railway Control Room said.

Air-sea search intensifies for missing EgyptAir plane

A massive search was under way Thursday for the wreckage of an EgyptAir plane that plunged into the Mediterranean with 66 people on board, in what the Egyptian authorities said may have been an act of terrorism.

Indian naval ships rushed to SL with relief materials

India on Friday rushed two naval ships with relief materials to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka, the Indian Express reported. INS Sunayna, an NOPV (Naval offshore patrol vessel) and INS Sutlej, a survey vessel with relief material have been rushed to Colombo from Southern Naval Command Kochi.

Harin and cousin decide to settle brawl case

The Magisterial inquiry, involving Minister Harin Fernando and his cousin over an alleged brawl between them, was yesterday terminated by Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne after the both parties decided on a settlement.

Adverse weather: Death toll rises to 64

The number of deaths caused by floods and landslides had increased to 64, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today.

FCID quizzes deputy minister over major Ethanol scam

The Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division yesterday quizzed Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries Lakshman Wasantha Perera over a major Ethanol smuggling ring that also saw the alleged involvement of a former senior minister in the UPFA government.

Govt. declines to divulge FCID details

The government yesterday declined to divulge details such as names, professional and educational qualifications and experience of police officers serving in the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) to Parliament because of an ongoing court case.

President condoles, says programme in place to deal with situation

President Maithripala Sirisena expressed his profound grief for the loss of life, the people who went missing and the damage caused to property as a result of the adverse weather conditions prevailing throughout the island.

Cooperation is the need of the hour: PM

Addressing a media briefing at the Temple Trees today, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe warned that prevalent inclement weather conditions would prolong for some time, and said cooperation was the need of the hour.

Thajudeen killing:CID quiz SDIG Senanayake

The Criminal Investigation Department today recorded a statement from Anura Senanayake, a former Senior DIG of the Western Province, in connection with the death of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen.

Mechanism with foreign involvement needed in SL: Canada

Issuing a statement on the seventh anniversary of the end of the war in Sri Lanka, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a robust accountability mechanism with foreign involvement was needed to enlist the confidence of war victims.

No danger to Ambatale water plant: Water Board

Ambatale water plant operations manager R.P.P. R. Rajapakse said today there was no danger to the Ambatale Water Treatment Plant due to the adverse weather experienced in the country as rumoured.