I will always safeguard the Rajapaksa family; Amaraweera

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera today said he would be always standing to safeguard the Rajapaksa family just as he did in the past.

Notorious gangster critically injured in shooting

Kamburupitiye Harsha, a notorious underworld gangster and a member of the ‘Maduska’ gang, was critically injured when shot at by two gunmen who arrived on a motorcycle.  

No one has the power to decide on LG polls: Deshapriya

Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said today the Election Commission would not postpone elections on the need of any interested person and that no one had been vested with the power to declare elections.

Verdict on Seya’s killing on March 15

The verdict on the court case in connection with the rape and killing of five-year-old Seya Sadewmi of Kotadeniyawawill be delivered on March 15, Negombo High Court Judge Champa Janaki Rajaratne said today.

Cricket legend Martin Crowe dies aged 53

Former New Zealand cricket captain Martin Crowe has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 53.

Elephant calf stayed by its dying mother till the end

From Palugaswewa, Elapathwewa in Horowpothana comes a report of an elephant calf who had stayed with its mother for a number of days until Wildlife officers arrived to attend to her after it was injured as a result of coming into contact with an Improvised Explosive Devise (IED), more commonly known locally as a Hakkapatas trap.

Minister involved in hit and run accident: Wimal

Opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa yesterday criticised the Government for not taking any action against a Minister, who was involved in a road accident, where two youths had been injured at Rajagiriya last Monday.

Doctor operates on wrong knee

A child who had been admitted to Peradeniya Teaching Hospital for treatment of a swelling on her right knee, had had her left knee operated on instead, it was reported yesterday.

President leads by example: Yapa

President Maithripala Sirisena had led by example how the Ministers should use Government funds with diligence, Finance State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said today pointing out the Presidents’ recent visit to Singapore.

Wimal questions Kiriella’s behaviour

Condemning the manner in which the Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella addressed a journalist of Ada Newspaper during a telephone conversation, the Joint Opposition today called all media rights organisations to come forward and raise their voice against the Minister’s remarks.

No threat to SL from Indonesian earthquake

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said that Sri Lanka will not be affected by the earthquake which struck Indonesia this evening.

Look at China as an opportunity; not as a threat: CBK

China is a big economic power in the region and countries should look at China as an opportunity rather than a threat, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, who is in India to take part in the Raisina Dialogue, said on Tuesday.

7.9 earthquake strikes off Sumatra

A 7.9 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of western Indonesia, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reports.

Two elevated highways in Colombo

The Cabinet today approved a proposal to construct two elevated highways within two years, it is learnt.

Dematagoda Chaminda shot at

A prominent underworld figure Chaminda Jayanath alias Dematagoda Chaminda, one of the suspects arrested in connection with the killing of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, had been shot at today at Maligawatte by two unidentified men, when he was brought back to the Welikada Prison from the Colombo High Court by the Prisons bus.

Vass Gunawardena’s wife remanded

Former DIG Vass Gunawardena’s wife Shamali Priyadarshani Perera, was today remanded till March 16 by Colombo additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris over the case filed against her and six others for allegedly possessing and transporting illegal firearms from Mr. Gunawardana’s residence to a hide out at Kalagedihena, Gampaha.  

Check if your mobile phone connections are legal: TRC

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka has requested subscribers to check with their service providers and disconnect if there were any connections operating under their name without stipulated documents or explicit consent.

MR faction holds meeting over dismissals

Several Joint Opposition MPs and Provincial Councillors of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) held a special meeting with ex-president and Kurunegala MP Mahinda Rajapaksa at his public coordinating office in Battaramulla last night.

Enrique Iglesias concert: Live Events noticed

The Colombo District Court today issued notice on the Live Events Ltd., the organisers of Enrique Iglesias Concert in Colombo, to respond on April 26 over a petition filed by two fans of the concert.  

Amarathunga sworn in as Lands Minister

Minister John Amarathunga was sworn in as the Minister of Lands a short while ago before President Maithripala Sirisena.

Decision on exhuming body of Embilipitiya man tomorrow

Embilipitiya Magistrate Prasanna Fernando said today he would give a ruling tomorrow whether to exhume the body of the man who died during a clash with the police in Embilipitiya to carry out a new postmortem examination.

Register your newsweb

The Mass Media Ministry today requested all news websites to be registered with the Ministry before March 31, so that these websites could be operated under recognised ethics and standards without interruption.

Eight monks disrobing daily: Speaker

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said that Buddhist Monks disrobing had become a challenge and that eight monks disrobe each day, thereby affecting the functioning of many temples throughout the country including those in Colombo and the suburbs.

Recruitment based on proper criteria: Prof. Madduma Bandara

Amid the controversy over Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella recommending the appointment of a lecturer, Kelaniya University Vice Chancellor Prof. Sunanda Madduma Bandara said the university authorities had often received similar letters and it was nothing new.

No place for murderers, ransom seekers -- Chandrika

“There is no camp of Sarana Gunawardene in Attanagalle now. Murderers, ransom seekers and rogues and those who were engaged in illegal activities have no place now in the SLFP,” said former president, the chief SLFP organiser for Attanagalla Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga at a seminar held at Sangabodhi college Nittambuwa.

Lakshman Kiriella berates journalist

Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella, who is now embroiled in a controversy over the appointment of a lecturer to Kelaniya University on temporary basis, had been very abusive to a journalist of the Ada newspaper when he asked him about the matter.

Thajudeen’s murder/BCIT, Canada may help with CCTV footage

The CID informed Court that there was a possibility of receiving direct assistance from the British Columbia Institute of Technology of Canada for clarification of the CCTV footage concerning the murder of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen.

Need a leader to represent Buddhist monks: Gnanasara Thera

From any point of view Buddhist monks in recent history have lacked a strong leader, compared to other religions, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera said.

Genetech to identify animal found in Sinharaja

Blood samples from the animal found in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve by Wildlife officials on Monday were sent to the Genetec Institute in Colombo for identification, Wildlife Department (WLD) Director General Chandrasiri Bandara said.

Alleged fraud of Rs. 16M. through illegal appointments

Financial fraud amounting to Rs.16 million had been committed by making illegal appointments to the government sector, including to the state school sector, said the secretary of the Ceylon Teachers' Services Union, Mahinda Jayasinghe today.