Modi flags off Talaimannar train service

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today flagged off a train service at the north-western Sri Lankan town of Talaimannar – the closest point to India – restored after decades of civil war, completing the reconstruction of the entire Northern Province Railway Line.

13 kgs of heroin found in prawn farm

About 13 kilos of heroin was detected by the Police hidden in a prawn farm in Mundalama last night.

Two legs found in a canal in Dematagoda

Two amputated legs believed to be of a man were found in a canal at Siridhamma Mavatha in Dematagoda this morning, the Police said.

Video: Be patient with SL govt.: Modi tells TNA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked Sri Lanka’s Tamils to be patient with the new government in Colombo, The Hindu reported.

Lanka anticipating new governing system: PM

Sri Lanka is envisaging a new governing system based on cooperation of all political parties, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday.

Ex-Maldives President sentenced to 13 years in prison

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed has been found guilty of terrorism and sentenced to 13 years in prison for the military’s detention of Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed in January 2012.

MiG airplane purchases to be probed

Financial misappropriations that had allegedly been committed during the purchase of four MiG airplanes from Ukraine in 2006, is being probed by the newly established Police Financial Fraud Investigation Division, Police said.

No NEC decision to arrest Gota: Anura

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader and National Executive Council (NEC) member Anura Kumara Dissanayake today said the Council had not taken any decision ‘in his presence’ to arrest former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Nandana Gunatilaka to contest on UNP ticket

Former Panadura Mayor Nandana Gunatilaka said today he would contest the upcoming general election on the UNP ticket.

Mahinda to meet Modi

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is due to meet visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.

Bird-flu like ailment spreading in South

Health authorities in the south are perturbed that an unidentified ailment similar to Bird Flu (Avian Influenza) is spreading in the Hambantota and Tissamaharama areas. 

‘Ali Roshan’ arrested by CID

Nirad Roshan alias ‘Ali Roshan’ had been arrested yesterday by the CID on the charges of keeping elephants after obtaining fake licenses, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said today.

Going beyond 13-A will expedite reconciliation: Modi

Visiting Indian prime Minister Narendra Modi today pledged his support for Sri Lanka`s reconciliation process and said it could be expedited by implementing 13th Amendment and going beyond.

Mahela joins Sussex for T20 Blast

Sussex have signed veteran Sri Lanka batsman Mahela Jayawardene for the first half of their T20 Blast campaign.

Ex-brigadier sentenced to death

Former brigadier Chandana Priyantha was today sentenced to death by Gampaha High Court Judge Piyaseeli Mathurata after he was found guilty of having killed his wife Thejangani Rupasinghe, a mother of two children, in 2007 at Makola North in Sapugaskanda.

Modi assures on-arrival visas to Lankans

The visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that beginning from the National New Year on April 14, India would grant visas to Sri Lankan tourists on arrival.

Traffic restrictions for Modi’s visit

Vehicular movement will be restricted between 4.30 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. today along the road leading to Galle Face from the Sri Jayewardenepura Parliament via the Polduwa, Ayurveda Junction, D.S. Junction, Nelum Pokuna, Kollupitiya Junction and Galle Road under the special traffic arrangements for the Indian Premier’s visit, Police said.

HR situ in SL continued to be of concern in 2014-UK

While claiming that the human rights situation in Sri Lanka continued to be of concern in 2014, with little overall improvement, the UK said that it remained concerned over a number of issues, including restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, restrictions faced by minority Tamils in formerly conflict-affected areas in the north and east.

​MR says India’s RAW rallied opposition to his presidency

Claiming that the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of India conspired with “Western agencies” CIA and MI-6 to rally the opposition led by President Maithripala Sirisena against his presidency, Sri Lanka’s former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says he does not, however, believe Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the government was responsible.

Lankan jailed for molesting girl on flight to Dubai

A drunken Sri Lankan passenger has been jailed for one year for molesting a sleeping female teenager on a Dubai-bound flight.

US welcomes release of Jayakumari

The US government has welcomed the release of Balendran Jayakumari by the Sri Lanka's new government.

Modi arrives

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sri Lanka early this morning and he was welcomed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Video: If this is ‘Yahapalanaya,’ may the gods have mercy on us – MR

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says if this is ‘Yahapalanaya’ may the gods have mercy on us.

Nepali sentenced to death

The Kandy High Court Judge Manilal Waidyatilleke sentenced to death a Nepalese National, who had been in possession pure heroin in September, 2009.

Video: Ray Wijewardene’s airplane given to AF Museum

The light aircraft found abandoned at a warehouse in Narahenpita Economic Centre was handed over to the Sri Lanka Air Force today to place it on display at the Air Force museum at Ratmalana.

SC issues notice on UNP leaders

The Supreme Court today issued notices on UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Secretary General Kabeer Hashim and other respondents through the petitioner sequent to a petition filed by former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake against his expulsion from the party.

Skeletons of two women recovered

Skeletons of two women were recovered today from the ground floor of a two storied house at Uyankele in Panadura, the Police said.

Avant Guarde Chairman refused business travel

Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today refused the Chairman H.N. Yapa Senadipathi of Avant Guarde Maritime Service (Pvt.) Ltd to go to Nigeria for business as the CID objected asserting that if the petitioner travelled to Nigeria it would hold back the on-going investigations.

Video: NEC has no powers to decide on anyone’s arrest: NFF

The National Executive Council (NEC) had no authority to decide or call for the arrest of former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa or any person, the National Freedom Front (NFF) said today.

Update: Sarana remanded till March 23

Former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on charges of a financial fraud, the Police said.