Malinga to lead SL at WT20 and Asia Cup

Lasith Malinga is billed to captain Sri Lanka’s T20 cricket team at the upcoming World T20 and Asia Cup tournament, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced today.

UNHR Chief will arrive in SL on Feb. 6

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein is scheduled arrive in the country on February 6, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

Lady doctor accused in husband’s death in Australia

A renowned doctor had allegedly 'bludgeoned her abusive husband to death in Australia with a hammer in bed, because she was worried people would find out they were both having sex with a teenage girl.

Woman arrested with 7 kgs of gold

A 50-year-old woman was arrested with 7 kilograms of gold biscuits worth Rs. 39 million at Chavakachcheri early this morning.  

Yoshitha declines prison meals; now food from home

Four suspects including Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second son Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who were remanded over alleged financial irregularities at the CSN, had declined the food provided by the Welikada Prison, Prisons Spokesman Thushara Upuldeniya said.

Heavy traffic in Colombo due to rehearsals

Heavy traffic reported from several roads in the Colombo City mainly between Wellawatta and Colombo Fort on the Galle Road,since this morningdue to the Independence Day rehearsals at the Galle Face green.

Bus strike on Southern Expressway

Private bus operators on the Southern Expressway from Maharagama to Galle and Matara have commenced a strike this morning against the granting of permits for more buses along the expressway illegally.

New customs duty valuation to discourage motor vehicle imports

The new customs duty valuation proposed in the Budget 2016 will come into effect shortly, greatly reducing the number of vehicles coming into the country.

WHO issues global zika alert

A disease linked to the Zika virus in Latin America poses a global public health emergency requiring a united response, says the World Health Organization.

Google Loon project’s trials to begin soon

The trials of the Google Loon project would start soon in Ratmalana as the necessary equipment for such trials have arrived in the country, Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando said  yesterday. 

I can't trust Dilip says Amaraweera

Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said he can’t give any ministerial powers to State Fisheries Minister Dilip Wedaarachchi (UNP) citing that he (Amaraweera) could not place trust on him.

Mighty hurry to arrest Yoshitha but not for E'pitiya violators: MR

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today said that the urgency to arrest Yoshitha Rajapaksa, was not there to arrest those involved in the Embilipitiya incident.

'Yoshitha arrest not a political victimisation'

Neither the President, the Prime Minister nor any other minister had given orders to arrest former President's son Yoshitha Rajapaksa a deputy minister and a state Minister said today.

Govt. making different statements on UN resolution: GL

President Maithripala Sirisena has not been briefed on the contents of the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka and that is why he makes contradictory statements on it, former external affairs minister G.L. Peiris said.

Petition to stop political activities in Abayaramaya

The Ven. Pathberiye Vimalagnana Thera on Monday filed a petition in the Colombo District Court seeking an order restraining the Narahenpita Purana Abayaramaya being used for political, trade union and commercial activities.

Singing National Anthem in Sinhala, Tamil no issue: Minister

Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardana today said singing the National Anthem at the 68th Independence Day celebrations at Galle Face in Sinhala and Tamil was not an issue because the Constitution clearly states that Sinhala and Tamil are national languages and as such it could be sung in both languages at any State function.

Govt. working on reconciliation: PM

Prime Minster Ranil Wickremesinghe inaugurating the Commonwealth Asia Regional Seminar for parliamentarians in Colombo on Monday clarified about how foreign judges could participate in the accountability mechanism.

National list vacancy: Party Leader, Committee to decide on nominee

United National Party (UNP) General Secretery Kabir Hashim said today person who to be named to fill the vacancy created by the death of former Minister M.K.D.S. Gunawardene would be decided by the party leader and the committee appointed for this purpose.

Homagama mayhem: Two more monks surrender

Sihala Ravaya convener the Ven. Magalkande Sudaththa Thera and the Ven Badalkumbure Ariyashantha Thera today surrendered to the Homagama Police in connection with last week’s pandemonium outside the Homgama Magistrate’s court.  

Red Notice on fmr top LTTE leader Emil Kanthan removed

The Colombo Special High Court today removed the arrest warrant and 'Red Notice' issued on former LTTE top ranked leader Emil Kanthan after he assured to surrender to the Court within two weeks.  

Video: Shiranthi arrives at PRECIFAC

Former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa arrived at the PRECIFAC today to give a statement in connection with allegedly providing a house belonging to the National Housing Development Authority at less than the stipulated price to her media coordinating officer.

Video: Family members visit Yoshitha at Welikada

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second son Yoshitha, currently in remand custody at Welikada Prison was this morning visited by his mother Shiranthi, brother Rohitha and several politicians this morning.

Joint opposition visits Yoshitha and four others at Welikada

At least fifteen members of the joint opposition including Dinesh Gunawardena, Wimal Weerawansa, Gamini Lokuge, Bandula Gunawardana, Dallas Allahapperuma and Johnston Fernando visited Yoshitha Rajapaksa and the four others remanded at the Welikada prison.

Video: Joint Opposition to boycott Independence Day celebrations

The members of the joint opposition will boycott State functions including the Independence Day celebrations on February 4 at the Galle Face Green to protest what they described as the ‘suppression’ by the Government, MP Dinesh Gunawardena said today.

Boat capsised: Five fishermen missing

Five local fishermen have gone missing last night when their boat capsised after it collided with another ship while fishing in deep sea.

Rajitha sacks NMDRA Chairman and Deputy

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne has directed the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the National Medicinal Drugs Regulatory Authority (NMDRA) to resign from their posts with effect from today, ministry sources said.

Amarapura Nikaya says adoption of Bill with amendments very beneficial

Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Nikaya said that the Buddha Sasana Karya Sadhaka Mandalaya that has the four Most Venerable Mahanayaka Theras as its Anusasakas, has discussed the proposed Act for the Registration of 'Katik?vat of Theravada Bhikkhu Nikayas', in minute detail and a set of important recommendations have been submitted.

UNP to nominate SF to Parliament: Kabir

United National party (UNP) is to nominate Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka to Parliament to fill the vacancy created by Late Minister M.K.A.D.S Gunawardane, UNP General Secretary Kabir Hashim said yesterday.

Shiranthi summoned by PRECIFAC

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s wife Shiranthi has been asked to report to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PRECIFAC) tomorrow to obtain a statement on an order made by her to the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) directing it to allocate a house to one of her media officers at a valuation far below the market value.

Video: No additional privileges to Yoshitha-Prison

Yoshitha Rajapakse and five others who were arrested on Saturday have been given additional security but no additional privileges, Prisons Spokesman Thushara Upuldeniya said.