SL praises Indian move

Sri Lanka today commended the move by Indian authorities to release thirty (30) Sri Lankan fishermen and nineteen (19) boats that are currently in Indian custody.  

No loopholes in ballot paper printing: Govt. Printer

The Department of Government Printing said today the printing of ballot papers was continuing under special security arrangements and denied allegations about any irregularities and security lapses in the printing process.

Video: I finished 75% of the war: CBK

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga today staked a bigger claim for the war victory by reiterating that 75 per cent of the LTTE-held territory was cleared during her tenure.

Dilshan hundred leads SL to 302

Tillakaratne Dilshan smashed a century in his 300th one-day international as Sri Lanka piled up 302-6 after choosing to bat in the seventh and final match against England in Colombo on Tuesday.

Video: Govt. alleges secret meetings in S’pore

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva today claimed that several common opposition members including presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena had secretly met representatives of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) in Singapore.

Terrorists targeting of children is cowardice: MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa condemned this morning’s Taliban terrorist attack on an Army School in Pakistan and said targeting of children was most cowardice.  

Lankan schoolboy dies in UK

A father today paid tribute to his "amazing" son who died from an injury in a freak incident when he was hit in the stomach by a football cleared by a goalkeeper during a PE lesson at his north London school.

Colombo Port City will be scrapped: Ranil

Opposition United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremsinghe said today the new government, which would be formed by the joint opposition after the current regime was defeated at the January 8 elections, would scrap the Colombo Port City Project.

Taliban attack in Peshawar: 100 killed including 80 children

At least 100 people, 80 of them children, have been killed in a Taliban assault on an army-run school in Peshawar, Pakistani officials say.

CMC budget passed by 30 votes

The 2015 Budget of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) was passed with a majority of 30 votes.

TN to release 30 SL fishermen, 19 boats on Dec 22

The Tamil Nadu government has agreed to set free 30 Sri Lankan fishermen and their 19 boats, currently in custody in the State. The fishermen would be released on December 22.

Terrorists attack Army Public School in Peshawar, 18 killed

Six terrorists of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan stormed Peshawar's Army Public School & College on Tuesday morning killing 17 students and a teacher.

Two injured in TNA - EPDP clash

Northern Province Agriculture Minister P. Ayngaranesan and provincial councilor K. Sarveswaran of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) were injured in a clash with the EPDP during the Jaffna District Development Committee meeting today, Police said.

‘Secure release of fishermen in Indian custody’

Relatives of Sri Lankan fishermen in the Indian custody today staged a hunger strike at the Negombo bus stand, police said.

Govt told tribunal LTTE still wants ‘greater Tamil Nadu’

While seeking to extend the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government told a tribunal that the banned outfit nurtures an idea of “greater Tamil Nadu, which includes the state of Tamil Nadu, part of Kerala, part of Karnataka, part of Andhra Pradesh and northeastern provinces of Sri Lanka”.

R’pura Depot told to show receipts for release of buses

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya has ordered officials of the Ratnapura Bus Depot to produce the cash receipts issued for the release of 25 buses to transport people to a political rally in Panadura today.

Kotte MC in crisis

The Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Municipal Council has been plunged into a complex situation since this evening triggered by the cross over of four ruling UPFA members to the opposition, Municipal sources said.

Will not allow offenders to flee: Maithri

Common opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena said he would not allow those who faced allegations of corruption to leave the country, if he were elected to office in January.

Election monitors on way to SL

International election observers have started arriving in Sri Lanka in view of the January 8 presidential election, an official said today.

Two buried under earth mound

Two people were buried under an earth mound which collapsed on them while they were mining for gems in an abandoned house at Thiriwanaketiya in Ratnapura today.

Update: 5 escape from Sydney hostage-crisis building

Five people have fled from the Sydney cafe where a gunman took an unknown number of hostages at the height of Monday morning rush hour.

Kuttiarachchi backs MR

UNP Uva Provincial Councilor Janaka Tissa Kuttiarachchi has decided to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the upcoming presidential election.

MR expresses concern over Sydney hostage situation

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today expressed concerns over the hostage situation in Sydney and said Sri Lanka stands united with Australia in fighting terrorism.

Lankan accused of molesting 11-year-old girl in Dubai

A Sri Lankan clerk has been accused of sexually molesting an 11-year-old schoolgirl while she was present in a shop with her parents in Dubai.

Sydney siege: Hostages held in central cafe

Several people have been taken hostage by at least one armed man at a Lindt cafe in the centre of Sydney.

Terror suspect deported

A Sri Lankan national wanted in India for allegedly plotting terror strikes at American and Israeli consulates in the country has been deported by Malaysia to the island nation notwithstanding India’s plea for his extradition to unravel key aspects of the conspiracy.

Japanese advisor to help commission

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had appointed another international expert to advise the Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons (Commission) Chairman of the Commission retired High Court Judge Maxwel Paranagama said yesterday.

Will not allow to revert to bullock-cart era: MR

President Mahinda Rajapaske said he would not allow anyone to lead the people astray and to revert the country to the bullock–cart era.

Sinister move to get Tamils boycott poll: Champika

There was a sinister move by some local and international forces to change the mindset of the Tamil community in order to get them boycott the January Presidential election, Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka charged today.

Oppn. wants digital screens removed

The common opposition today urged the Commissioner of Elections to remove all digital bill boards on roadsides and to halt the live coverage of election rallies attended by the ruling party candidate stating that these were illegal.