SL maid held in Saudi since 1999 brought back

A Sri Lankan housemaid, who has been held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia since 1999, without being paid for more than fifteen years amidst physical harassment by her employer, has been given her salary in arrears and brought back to the country, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) officials said.

NPC not for special powers: Sivagnanam

The Northern Provincial Council (NPC), which has reiterated the position of Tamil parties for a merger of the North and the East, is not for special powers to be provided to the proposed State, according to its chairperson C.V.K. Sivagnanam.

Abducted LTTE cadre ‘Ram’ at TID

Rehabilitated former LTTE member known ‘Ram’ was arrested by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) yesterday, Police said.

Kaushal to be discharged soon: SLC

Cricketer Kaushal Silva, who was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Colombo after being hit by a ball on the head, would be discharged today or tomorrow, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) sources said today.

Ragging: Ministry mulls Indian model

The Higher Education Ministry has instructed university authorities to explore the possibility of setting up a system outside their purview, as in India, to entertain complaints by freshers subjected to ragging, Minister Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday.

SLFP chairmanship: I would not have accepted had I known what it entailed: MS

President Maitripala Sirisena said he would not have accepted the chairmanship of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) had he had any foreknowledge of the harassment he would be subjected to when running the party's affairs.

Sweden FM appreciates work of Govt.

Foreign Minister of Sweden Margot Wallstrom, who arrived in Sri Lanka today appreciated the work of the new government of re-establishing democracy and said the country has marked a significant progress.

SL will be an economic hub in the Indian Ocean: PM

Sri Lanka will be turned into an economic and a monetary centre in the Indian Ocean where the ordinary citizens in the island will be able to engage in transaction in the monetary markets, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Saturday.

Damages to Sigiriya paintings: Minister orders probe

Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has on Saturday (23) ordered the Central Cultural Fund and the Department of Archaeology to investigate the incident of damage caused to the Sigiriya paintings when cello tape pasted on the plaster for some rehabilitation activity was being removed.

Two Bangladeshis arrested over stealing SriLankan pilot's laptop

Two Bangladeshi nationals were arrested by the Airport Police officers today on charges of stealing a laptop belonged to a pilot attached to the SriLankan Airlines at Paris Airport.

Test batsman Kaushal airlifted to Colombo

Test batsman Kaushal Silva has been airlifted to Colombo this evening after being hit by a ball on the head during a training session in Pallekele, Sri Lanka Cricket said.

No honesty in Jaya’s claim on SL Tamils issue: Kanimozhi

Tamil Nadu’s DMK MP Kanimozhi, the daughter of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi, on Sunday slammed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, saying the latter has no right to talk on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue as she highlights the same just before the elections.

JVP to complain on new Rs. 80b bond issue

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna today said it will lodged a complaint with the Secretariat for Committee on Eradication of Corruption and the Bribery Commission with regard to the new Rs 80 billion treasury bond scam on Wednesday.

18 riders arrested for ‘dangerous racing’

Eighteen motorcycle riders were arrested today by the police for dangerous riding in Piliyandala-Kesbewa new road which was used by this gang for speeding their motorcycles.

Body of missing youth found after 4 days

The body of the youth who was missing since Wednesday (20) was discovered in a river in Maskeliya last evening.

SLFP should be restructured- President

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) should be restructured as a clean political party and that there would be many obstacles during the said restructuring process.

Politician’s NIC found with hand grenade

A hand grenade and the NIC of a powerful Tamil politician were recovered from a drain in Goods Shed, Vavuniya.

Asia’s tallest Buddha statue declared open in Mathugama

A replica of the Aukana Buddha, considered the tallest standing Buddha statue in Asia, was declared open in Mathugama yesterday by President Maithripala Sirisena.

Will seek dual citizenship, separate homeland for SL Tamils: Jayalalithaa

AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Saturday asserted her party would take “continuous steps” to attain a separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka and demand that the Centre grant dual citizenship for refugees from the island nation living in the state, PTI reported.

May Day: Joint Opp. to proceed as planned

The joint opposition said it would commence its May Day procession from Shalika Grounds in Narahenpita as planned despite the cancellation of the reservation of the ground.

Sri Lanka’s interest in TN politics wanes

Sri Lankan politicians are not concerned about the Tamil Nadu election, Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said. 

SL-Pakistan to increase security,economic ties-President Hussain

Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain said that both Pakistan and Sri Lanka need to increase their cooperation in the security and economic fields to further cement the friendly relations.

Sweden's Foreign Minister to visit Sri Lanka

Sweden's Foreign Minister, Margot Wallstrom, is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow to renew bilateral relations and strengthen trade cooperation, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement today.

Govt. in final stage of formulating ECTA: PM

While assuring that the government was planning to work towards regaining GSP Plus in the same manner as they did to lift the EU fish ban on Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today the government was in the final stage of formulating the ECTA Agreement with India.  

May Day procession: Joint Opp. to proceed as planned

The joint opposition said today it would commence its May Day procession from Shalika Grounds in Narahenpita as planned despite the cancellation of the reservation of the Ground.

Vehicles permits for public servants soon

The Public Administration Ministry is to secure Cabinet approval soon for giving duty free vehicle permits to public servants entitled for the benefit, Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara said.

PM appoints high powered committee

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a four member high powered Committee of public officials headed by Presidential advisor W.J.S. Karunarathna to recommend criteria to be used as guidelines when appointments for the posts of Chairman, Board of Directors and CEOs of state owned enterprises are made, the Daily Mirror learns.

NPC passes Bill on N-E merger proposal

A Bill aimed at establishing the Northern and Eastern provinces into one federal ruling system and some other proposals to be considered when devising the New Constitution were today passed by the Northern Provincial Council with a majority vote.

Two Maldivians arrested with over 1 kg of heroin in Bambalapitiya

Two Maldivian nationals were arrested with more than one kilogram of heroin while they were staying at a hotel in Bambalapitiya last night, Police said.

MR leaves for Thailand today

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa will leave for Thailand today for what sources close to him called for a variety of cultural activities, it is learnt.