German national drowns in Dikwella

A 34-year-old German national drowned in Dikwella while he was taking a sea bath in the Dikwella beach area, police said

Ranil, Karu, Sajith to meet again on Monday

Opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, MPs Sajith Premadasa and Karu Jayasuriya who met today for a discussion with regard to the proposed party reforms decided to meet again next Monday,

Thugs assault policeman outside DIG office

A policeman who attempted to prevent a foreign woman being sexually harassed by three youth was allegedly assaulted by them in front of the Kandy DIG’s office, police said.

Reality star sings a different song

A singer who took part in a reality show on a popular television channel and was among the last 40 contestants was arrested by the Chilaw Police Unsolved Crimes Investigation Unit, on charges of house breaking and robbing cash and valuables.

Video: Harsha challenges Lakshman Yapa for open casino debate

UNP Parliamentarian Harsha de Silva posed an open challenge to Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeyawardane for an open debate with him on any television channel regarding the Casino issue Pictures

SL to take up student’s killing with Cameron

The Government is expected to check on the progress with regard to the investigations into the killing of a Sri Lankan student in Britain when Prime Minister David Cameron visits Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), a top official said today

Poaching: Indian Navy helpless -SL Navy Chief

Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage said yesterday though the Sri Lankan and Indian Navies maintain a vibrant relationship, the Indian Navy and Coastguard units are often helpless when it comes to poaching by Indian fishermen

2,526 candidates proficient in the Korean Language

Nearly 2,526 candidates have passed the Korean Language Proficiency Test out of the 18,466 who sat the examination, the Foreign Employment Bureau said

Bentota PS Chairman arrested

Bentota Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Gayan Sirimana was arrested a short while ago on charges of having assaulted the Vice Chairman, Police said. Pictures

No decision on Singh attending CHOGM: India

In the wake of pulls and pressures from different directions, the Indian External Affairs Ministry official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin made it clear Thursday that no decision has been taken so far on whether Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will attend the CHOGM meet in Colombo, the Indian Express reported.

We will take a tough message to SL Govt.-UK

The British government said that its’ delegation visiting Colombo to attend CHOGM “…will take a tough message to the Sri Lankan Government that they need to make concrete progress on human rights, reconciliation and political settlement.”

No talk of summit in letter to Singh: Wigneswaran

C. V. Wigneswaran, Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province  has denied that he had written to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Colombo in November

Sheikh Hasina may attend CHOGM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina may attend the Commonwealth Head of Governments Meeting in Sri Lanka from November 15 to 17

Lankan caretaker swindled X-Files star

Rs. 10.6 million belonging to popular X-Files actress Gillian Anderson and her husband had been misappropriated by the Sri Lankan caretaker in charge of their property, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) submitted before a Colombo Court

India, Australia back CHOGM in SL

Australian and Indian foreign ministers say they will not follow Canada in boycotting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka due to concerns over the country's human rights issues

SL placed 60th in World Prosperity Index

Sri Lanka has come to the 60th position in the World Prosperity Index above neighbouring India in 106th spot, Nepal at 102 and Bangladesh at 103

Wigneswaran discharged

Northern Provincial Council Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran who was admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital yesterday for a cardiac test has been discharged this afternoon after completing medical observations, Hospital Director Dr. Bavani Pasupathyraja said.

‘Royal pharmacist’ arrested with opium

A 59-year-old Sri Lankan who claims to be a royal pharmacist in Dubai was arrested today at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to smuggle in opium worth about Rs.5 million

New Zealand FM to visit Jaffna

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully is to travel to the predominantly Tamil northern region of Sri Lanka next month to see first-hand civilian life since the end of the country's long civil war in 2009.

Avissawella-Colombo road closed

The Avissawella-Colombo road has been temporarily closed due to a section of bridge close to the Madinawatta Temple caving in, police said Pictures

Delay in train services

Train services have been disrupted due to a strike launched by a group of engine drivers operating power sets, sources said

Manmohan likely to attend CHOGM-report

Taking a difficult call, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to go to Colombo to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting keeping in mind that it is in India's strategic interests to remain engaged in its neighbourhood, The Times of India reported.

Wigneswaran invites Manmohan to visit Jaffna

While a decision is still to be taken on whether the Prime Minister will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran has invited Manmohan Singh to visit Jaffna.

SL stalls IOC plan

Indian Oil Corporation's (IOC) Lankan arm, Lanka IOC, which leased oil storage tanks at Trincomalee, has hit a dead end as it attempts to set up a joint venture with Ceylon Petroleum Corporation for about 84 tanks, the Times of India reported today.

Congress leaders discuss CHOGM

Congress top brass including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday discussed the strategy ahead amid the controversy over India's participation in the CHOGM summit in Sri Lanka next month, which has been opposed by Tamil Nadu parties.

Three bodies found in Anguruwella

The bodies of a man, a woman and her ten- month- old infant were found in a house at Anguruwella, Galpatha in Ruwanwellla this evening, police said

IFJ officials asked to leave SL for violating their visas

Asia Pacific Director of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Jacqui Park and another IFJ member were questioned and asked to leave the country by the Sri Lankan Immigration Department today for having conducted a media workshop at a hotel in Colombo while they were on tourist visas

Video: ‘Rajapaksa name’ carries weight at elections: UNP

The United National Party said today that a candidate having the surname ‘Rajapaksa’ when contesting a Provincial Council election was considered a qualification for the post of chief minister ???

Wigneswaran in Hospital

Northern provincial Council Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran has been admitted to the Jaffna Hospital for a cardiac test, Hospital sources said

Holiday for Tamil Schools on Nov.1

November 1 has been declared a holiday for all the Tamil schools in the country in view of the Deepawali festival which falls on November 2, the Education Ministry said