Power crisis likely in 2018, says Deputy Minister

There could be a power crisis in 2018, Power Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera said today.

Malinga at hospital for medical test

Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga appeared before expert doctors for a medical examination at a private hospital in Colombo a short while ago.

Another quake, magnitude 6.2, strikes Ecuador

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the coast of Ecuador today, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, just days after a major quake hit the country killing nearly 500 people.

Pujith appointed new IGP

Senior DIG Pujith Jayasundara was appointed as the 34th Inspector General of Police (IGP) by President Maithripala Sirisena today.  

VAT won’t be added to water, electricity and medicine

The VAT (Value Added Tax) will not affect essential food commodities, medicinal drugs, water and electricity as requested by President Maithripala Sirisena, Acting Finance Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana said.

Govt. decides to enact new security laws to replace PTA

The Government has decided to enact three new laws relating to national security and law and order, Minister of Law and Order Sagala Ratnayake had informed the UN Counter Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED).

Armed men rob house and take 17-year-old as hostage

A group of unidentified armed men had robbed the house of a businessman in Weerahena, Maravila last night, Police said.

MS firm on financial decisions

President Maitripala Sirisena is reported to have told the Cabinet meeting yesterday that decisions related to the financial sector and the Central Bank should be taken only through a committee comprising him, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake.

DV Upul sues Ranjan Ramanayake for Rs. 500m

Southern Provincial Council Minister D.V. Upul filed a defamation suit yesterday against Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake in the Colombo District Court claiming Rs. 500 million as damages.

Youth arrested under POCSO Act

A youngster from the Sri Lankan refugee camp at Uchapatti near Thirumangalam was arrested on Monday under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for his misbehaviour with a minor girl from the camp.

Fisheries ministry rejects media reports

Ministry of Fisheries Aquatic Resources Development has rejected media reports that the ban imposed by the European Union on Sri Lanka's fish exports will be lifted on April 21.

Showers show up

Fairly heavy thundershowers were reported at few places in the Sabaragamuwa Province this afternoon, while moderate thundershowers were reported at a few places in the Central Province, the Meteorology Department said.

MR invited to SLFP May Day Rally:Amaraweera

UPFA General Secretary and Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said today he had sent the official invitation to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the SLFP May Day Rally to be held in Galle.

Nine illegal migrants on way to Australia nabbed

Nine Sri Lankan illegal immigrants who were heading towards Australia were apprehended by the Navy in the seas off Negambo on Monday.

Mozambique debris almost certainly from MH370

Two pieces of debris recovered from beaches in Mozambique -- one found last December and the other in February -- almost certainly came from missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said Tuesday.

VAC charges MS, RW of nepotism

President Maithripala Sirisena’s brother, who is the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), had awarded the insurance deal of Mobitel to a company owned by someone close to him causing Rs. 3 billion loss to the Government, the Voice Against Corruption (VAC) charged today.

Power failure in Colombo

Power interruptions were reported in several areas in Colombo including the Port, Slave Island and Kollupitiya areas due to a technical failure, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said today.

CC had no right to approve name of new IGP: Gammanpila

Taking exception to the decision of the Constitutional Council’s (CC) to grant approval to the appointment of Senior DIG Pujith Jayasundara as the 34th Inspector General of Police (IGP), Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) General Secretary and MP Udaya Gammanpila claimed the appointment was both illegal and unethical.

EU fish ban to be lifted on April 21

The European Union’s (EU) ban on Sri Lankan fish exports will be lifted on April 21, the Fisheries Ministry said today.

Lankan girl has reconstructive burn surgery in South Korea

A Sri Lankan girl, who had suffered severe burns, had reconstructive burn surgery in South Korea. Rochelle, the 13-year-old girl from Colombo had been set on fire by her father, a drug addict, in a fit of rage when she was a baby.  

Heroin haul: 16 suspects further remanded

The 16 suspects who were arrested in connection with the largest ever heroin haul in the southern seas were further remanded till May 3 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate today.

Kidney racket suspects transferred to Colombo Prison

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris today directed the Prisons Superintendent to transfer the seven remaining suspects of the alleged Indo- Lanka kidney racket to the Colombo Prison.

Man dies during marathon

A 38-year-old man died while running a marathon at an Avurudu festival in Sooriyawewa this morning.

Hand grenades found in Kuliyapitiya

Three hand grenades, hidden inside an ice cream container, were recovered from a land in Hettipola, Kuliyapitiya.

Bond auction process back in spotlight

Questions have again been raised over the government securities (G-Secs) auction process as a recent treasury bond issue had accepted triple the amount it offered at a significantly higher interest rate, driving up the government’s cost of borrowing.

Bangladesh identifies 8 Lankans in cyber theft

Bangladeshi investigators have identified 20 foreigners - 12 Philippine nationals and eight Sri Lankans - suspected to have been involved in the cyber heist of tens of millions of dollars from its central bank, a police officer said on Monday.

India's fighter jet Tejas catches SL attention

India's Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, which was several years in the making, has now caught the attention of foreign buyers with Sri Lanka and Egypt evincing interest in the indigenously built fighter jet.

Authority to regulate electronic media

The government is considering setting up an independent authority to regulate the electronic media in the near future, sources said.

Mahanama College principal removed

Prasanna Upashantha, the principal of Mahanama College, Colombo, has been transferred with immediate effect to the Western Province Education Department, the Education Ministry said.

Underworld figure Kennedy arrested

A prominent underworld figure, Stanly Kennedy, known as ‘Kennedy’, who has been accused of several recent murders in the Southern Province was arrested by the Special Task Force, on Sunday, in Galle, police sources said.