SL rejects Pillay’s assertion

While strongly repudiating UN Human Rights Chief Navinethem Pillay's assertion that if certain concerns are not comprehensively addressed, she believes ‘the international community will have a duty to establish its own inquiry mechanisms’, Sri Lanka said that she has no mandate to make such a claim.

Pillay hints at int’l probe

Asserting that no new or comprehensive effort has been made to independently or credibly investigate the human rights allegations in Sri Lanka, UN’s rights Chief Navaneethan Pillay said that Sri Lanka should use the time between now and March 2014 to engage in a credible national process with tangible results, in the absence of which she believes the international community will have a duty to establish its own inquiry mechanisms.

MR’s first tweets Q and A: more Q’s than A’s

Although much was expected from the much publicized twitter Q and A with President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday, in his first foray into the realm of direct engagement via digital media, the session proved to be a damper to many, with the President answering questions that were only related the UN sessions and issues therein

3-year-old child knocked down by Minister’s vehicle

A three year-old child was knocked down by Minister of Indigenous Medicine Salinda Dissanayake’s vehicle at Gokarella this evening and admitted to the Kurunegala Hospital, police said

Wrong shot

A robber of a gang of three was injured in a shootout at Modara, Mattakkuliya while attempting to rob Rs. 500,000 from a woman this afternoon and was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital, police said

Video: Unite the country; share the power: Sumanthiran

It is good that the government’s propaganda has brought back democracy to the North, TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said today at a news conference ???

Former IPL chief banned for life

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has banned former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi for life on charges of financial irregularities.

Thisara cleared

Sri Lanka Cricket said today that the Anti Corruption Unit of the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BBCI) had refuted allegations against Thisara Perera.

41 TN fishermen released

A Sri Lankan court on Wednesday ordered release of 41 Rameswaram and Mandapam fishermen, who were arrested by the island Navy.

P’naruwa Asst. Labour Commissioner nabbed over bribe

The Polonnaruwa Distrcit Secretariat’s Assistant Labour Commissioner was arrested this morning by Bribery Commission officials on charges of having solicited a bribe of Rs.50,000 from a private security firm

Video: Election unaffected by marked ballot mishap

Another election will not be necessary in Puttalam, because the results of the September 21 election was in no way affected by the discovery of marked ballot papers at St. Andrew’s College, Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said today ???

Japanese warships in Colombo

Three Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) ships, Kashima TV-3508, Shirayuki TV-3517 and Isoyuki DD-127, arrived at the Port of Colombo on a goodwill visit on Tuesday, the Navy Headquarters said.

Khurshid to visit SL in October

Within two weeks of Tamil National Alliance romping home in the historic Northern Provincial elections in Sri Lanka , Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will be visiting the island nation early next month.

Video:More holistic approach needed-Ban to MR

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, during a meeting with Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa in New York on Wednesday, emphasized the need for a more holistic approach to address the remaining challenges in reconciliation???

World needs no policing by a few States-MR

Voicing concern over the growing trend of international interference in the internal affairs of developing countries in the guise of concern for security and human rights, President Mahinda Rajapaksa told world leaders on Wednesday the time had come to evaluate whether turbulent movements for political change had led to greater stability in such countries or had produced the opposite result.

Baby killed, eight injured in expressway accident

A two-year-old baby died and eight others seriously injured when a van skidded and toppled at the 23.1 km mile post between Dodangoda and Gelanigama exits on the Southern Expressway today, police said.

Seven nabbed with gold in stomach

Six Indians and one Sri Lankan who attempted to board a flight to Chennai after having swallowed gold bars had been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by Customs Officials last night, Customs spokesman Leslie Gamini said

Strong earthquake strikes Pakistan, felt in Delhi

A strong earthquake struck remote western Pakistan on Tuesday and was felt in the Indian capital of New Delhi where buildings shook

Landmine blast in Muhamalai; one killed

One person was killed and two others injured in a landmine explosion in an uncleared minefield in Muhamalai, Jaffna, this afternoon, sources said.

Touchwood share price soars

The share price of Touchwood Investments PLC rose over 72 per cent or Rs.1.30 in today's trading, following the announcement of the appointment of MP Duminda Silva to its Board of Directors

UNP hails SAARC monitors’ proposals

The main opposition United National Party today welcomed the suggestion made by the SAARC election monitors urging that the Elections Commissioner be vested with more powers to conduct elections in a free and fair manner

MR on Twitter Q&A from NY

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will answer questions on a Twitter Q&A from New York on Wednesday evening (SL time) following his address at the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

Take advantage of the opportunity- US to SL

The United States on Monday called on the Sri Lankan government to take advantage of the opportunity to expand efforts toward greater reconciliation by working with the newly elected Northern Provincial Council

UK welcomes progress but urges probe in SL

While welcoming Saturday’s provincial council elections, British Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt called on the Sri Lankan authorities to investigate reports of intimidation and other allegations and to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice

Missing flier in Mumbai: Cops unearth SL link

More than a month after a Londonbound flyer mysteriously disappeared from the Mumbai International Airport minutes before boarding the flight, police say the passenger could have been a Sri Lankan national residing in the UK on asylum

49 Lankans among illegal immigrants nabbed in Kedah

A total of 49 Sri Lanka nationals were found hiding in trucks by Kedah Immigration Department enforcement officers in Jalan Sultanah Bahiyah in Malaysia today

Duminda now a director of Touchwood

Ruling party MP Duminda Silva has been appointed as a Non-Executive / Independent Director of Touchwood Investments PLC, a company which is currently being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission

Three injured in PSD vehicle mishap

Three passengers were injured when a Land Rover allegedly belonging to the Presidential Security Division veered off and crashed into a wayside tree and fell into a lake at Weliara on Tangalle – Hambantota Road on Monday afternoon

Man drowns in Walawe river

Sevanagala police are conducting investigations over a complaint received that a person was killed by accidentally falling into the Walawe river yesterday, police said

Two multi-day-trawlers burnt

Two multi-day-trawlers were reportedly set on fire at the Tangalle fishing port last night, police said. The trawlers were identified as Kawshalya and Oshadi. The fire was doused with the help of the Navy and the people of the area Pictures