Film Corporation Chairman removed

The Chairman of the Film Corporation Ashoka Serasinghe had been removed from his post yesterday (13).

No intention to be common candidate: Maithripala

“I have no intention to be the Opposition’s common candidate,” said SLFP general secretary and Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena at a media briefing at SLFP headquarters on Darley Road on Wednesday.

India plays down docking of Chinese subs in SL

While playing down the issue of the docking of Chinese submarines at Sri Lankan ports, Indian Navy Chief Admiral R K Dhowan said today ‘… that is an issue between the Sri Lankan Navy and the Chinese’, PTI reported.

Nandana Gunatilleka to resign from UPFA

Panadura UC Chairman Nandana Gunatilleka of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) today denied rumours that he was planning to join the United National Party (UNP) as its Horana organiser.

350 evacuated over landslide threat in Koslanda

About 350 people of 101families from areas in and around Koslanda had been evacuated by officials because of a possible landslide threat this evening, Assistant Director of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Udaya Kumara said.

India 404/5

End of first innings India scored 404 runs for five wickets after batting first against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Sharma hits highest score in ODIs

Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma entered record books by slamming his second one-day double hundred off 151 balls  against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday.

Two relatives sentenced to death

Two relatives, who were found guilty murdering another resident of the same village, were sentenced to death by Puttlam High Court Judge K.Priyantha Fernando.

Mauritania President due here today

President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz will be visiting Sri Lanka today on transit to Brisbane, Australia, to attend the G-20 Summit, The Ministry of External Affairs said.

Video: JHU still not decided

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) on Thursday said that it had not yet taken any decision to join the common opposition or had any discussions with opposition political parties on a common candidate to be fielded at a Presidential Election.

Parlour raided in Mardana

A massage parlour at Darley Road, Maradana had been raided last evening by the Police Organised Crimes Investigation Unit for allegedly running a brothel, the Police said.

No decision yet on pardoning Indian fishermen: SL

A day after Sri Lankan Deputy Minister Prabha Ganesan announced that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was ready to pardon the five Indian fishermen facing death penalty, presidential spokesperson Mohan Samaranayake on Wednesday told The Hindu : “Until now, no decision has been taken to that effect.”

Man injured in Peliyagoda shooting

A person was injured when he was shot by unidentified gunmen who arrived in a three-wheeler at Nuge Road in Peliyagoda this morning, Police said.

Container-lorry drivers end protest

The protest launched by container-lorry drivers and assistants at Ingurukade Junction in Colombo over a dispute with Customs officers was called off a short while ago, Police said.

Pressures mount on Common Candidate

An agreement between civil society members, political party representatives and trade unions to support a common candidate for the coming Presidential Election will be signed next Monday (November 17), sources said.

Jayasuriya miffed at seniors spilling beans

Sri Lanka chief cricket selector Sanath Jayasuriya lashed out at the national team’s two senior statesmen Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene for making controversial statements to media and warned that he might have to leave the senior players out of the meetings of the team’s think-tank where strategy is discussed if the two veterans kept on disclosing their plans on public domain.

New medical test signed by MoH unclear to SL

The Philippines and Sri Lankan embassies in Kuwait have no knowledge of a new mechanism to medically test their workers before they head to Kuwait.

What Pivithuru Hetak with NGOs - Ven. Dhammananda

The president of the Buddhist Cultural Renaissance Committee, the Ven. Medagama Dhammananda Thera today criticised the Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera and the Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera and charged that their organisations were backed by non-governmental organisations (NGOs).   

Video: JVP rally against ‘third term’ on Nov. 18

The JVP today said it would hold a mass protest rally on November 18, if President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced his participation at the speculated Presidential Election.

Huge crowd at campaign against Ex. Presidency

A campaign to pressurise the President to abolish the Executive Presidency and implement the 19th Amendment is underway at the Muttaiah Park in Colombo 02.

Speaker cautions Ranjan

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa today cautioned United National Party (UNP) MP Ranjan Ramanayake to conduct himself with patience and dignity in Parliament.

Northern expressway gets off the ground

Construction work on the Northern Expressway will be launched tomorrow by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Highways Project Minister Nirmala Kotalawala said yesterday.

Two bodies floating in Polgolla Reservoir

Unidentified bodies of two dead persons were found floating in the Polgolla Reservoir this morning, the Police said. They said the bodies were suspected to be of two males.

MR ready to pardon fishermen

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is ready to pardon the five Indian fishermen sentenced to death in Sri Lanka if the Indian High Commission in Colombo does not proceed with an appeal against the sentence, Sri Lankan Minister Prabha Ganesan told The Hindu on Tuesday.

Australia verify asylum claims

Australia is verifying the genuineness of the asylum claims of the 157 Sri Lankan Tamils who had left Puducherry by boat, Australian Consul-General to South India Sean Kelly has said.

Mahela willing to open batting

Senior stalwarts Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene had mixed emotions after their team suffered an early series loss against India with two games to go in the five-match ODI series.

SLC seal Penney deal

Sri Lanka Cricket today signed Trevor Penney, the former India fielding coach, as the national team’s fielding coach up to the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, SLC confirmed.

Lankan maid gets three months in prison in Dubai

A Sri Lankan housemaid who stole gold jewellery worth Dh50,000 from her employer’s house before running away was sentenced to three months in prison.

DP alleges its PC members bought over

The Democratic Party (DP) said today it would take legal action against the three Provincial Councillors who joined the government and alleged that they crossed over for personal gains.

Rathana Thera’s FB and mail accounts hacked

Jathika Hela Urumaya Parliamentarian Athuraliye Rathana Thera said his Facebook account and email account had been hacked today.