LTTE spokesman’s family gets asylum in Sweden

The wife and children of Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan, who had been an LTTE spokesman have been given asylum in Sweden, a former LTTE reader Lohini Rathimohan told the BBC in an interview

SL vessel found floating in Kenya waters

Police have recovered a Sri Lanka fishing vessel suspected to have capsized at the deep-sea and drifted to Pate Island in Lamu East. Lamu East police boss Samson Obara said the boat was spotted floating at the deep sea by fishermen who alerted the police last week

Liquor shops to be closed on New Year

All liquor shops in the country will be closed on April 13th & 14th in view of the National New Year, Commissioner General of Excise Department D.G.M.V Hapuarachchi said

WikiLeaks; LTTE could have threatened Karunanidhi

Tamil Tigers might have threatened the then Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, in 1989 “with a significant increase in the level of militant violence in Tamil Nadu” if he did not “boost their cause,” the United States surmised

SL reacts strongly to TN Assembly resolution

Sri Lanka on Monday reacted strongly to the recent Tamil Nadu assembly resolution against it, saying it was “disturbing” and asked the critics to visit the country to see the progress on the ground instead of going by “exaggerated” allegations of human rights abuses

Attempts to replace Minister Sirisena: UNP

A move is underway to appoint Minister Dullas Alahapperuma as the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in place of Minister Maithripala Sirisena, UNP Monaragala Provincial Councilor Tissa Kuttiarachchi told a news conference today

Margaret Thatcher dead at 87

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a towering figure in post-war British and world politics, and the first woman to become British prime minister, has died at the age of 87, her spokeswoman said Monday

Son of Mervyn’s secretary allegedly gave weapon

The Kadawatha Acting Magistrate today issued an arrest warrant against the son of Minister Mervyn Silva’s parliamentary secretary in connection with the killing of Kelaniya PS member Hasitha Madawala

Deminer killed by mine

A man engaged in de-mining in Muhamalai Jaffna was injured accidentally by a land mine this morning and succumbed to the injuries on admission to the hospital

Audio: Motorists must be allowed to speed: MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa speaking at the opening of the “Rajadhani Road’ in  Anuradhapura said he believed that it was time to amend the traffic laws pertaining to speeding and that motorist should be allowed to drive faster.

Power failure in Colombo and suburbs

Residents in several areas in Colombo and it's suburbs were hit by a sudden power failure this morning and  several attempts  made to contact Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman W. B. Ganegala  and other CEB officials proved futile

Cobra girl: Court turns down police request

The Colombo Fort Magistrate today turned down a police request to direct the Controller of Immigration and Emigration to arrest Nirosha Wimalaratne also known as ‘the cobra girl’ when she returns to the country.

Bodies of husband and wife found in Chenkallady

A husband and wife were found dead in their house in Chenkallady, Eravur, with stab injuries.

Courting by phone lands him in court

A charge sheet was filed in Court against a youth who allegedly made repeated telephone calls to a young woman, causing her considerable inconvenience

Treat fishermen arrests as acts of aggression: Jaya

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Sunday again wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the continuing arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy

Philandering husband remanded

A man who allegedly kept company with two other women while his wife was hospitalised and assaulted her on her return home, causing injuries, was produced before Kalutara Additional. Magistrate G. Namal Perera and remanded till April 10, 2013.

Number of Lankan runaway maids swells

The number of runaway housemaids seeking refuge at the Sri Lankan mission has doubled following the government’s enforcement of the Nitaqat program in recent weeks, a senior official from the Sri Lankan Embassy has told Arab News

Can’t give in to whims and fancies but we are ready for talks: CMC

Colombo Municipal Commissioner, Badrani Jayawardena said they were ready to engage in discussions with villagers protesting against the 16-acre garbage dump site in Meethotamulla and provide possible solutions to their grievances, if they were willing to participate.

Private bus owners to launch one-day strike

The Lanka Private Bus Owners Association (LPBOA) yesterday announced that they would launch a one-day bus strike some time between April 20 - 30 if the authorities failed to increase the bus fares as requested by the bus owners.

Rameswaram fishermen to stay off sea indefinitely

Fishermen from the Rameswaram region of Tamil Nadu will go on an indefinite strike from Monday demanding the release of more than 30 of their colleagues arrested by Sri Lankan Navy on the charge of poaching.

Jayanthi asks FICCI to cancel MPs visit to SL

Opposing a FICCI-sponsored Sri Lanka visit of a team of Parliamentarians starting tomorrow, Union Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan today said it would deeply hurt the cause of Lankan Tamils and asked the industry body to cancel it in expression of solidarity with them.

More Indian fishermen arrested

Sri Lanka Navy arrested another group of 30 Indian fishermen along with five Indian fishing Trawlers engaged in illegal fishing in the Northern seas of Sri Lanka yesterday, the navy said.

Somawansa to step down in due course

Hinting at a leadership change in the party, the JVP announced it would set an example to the country by handing over the reigns of the party to the younger generation, which had the ability to take the party to greater heights.

Vaiko demands referendum for Tamils in SL

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko called for an independent international investigation into war crimes allegations against Sri Lanka and also demanded that the Tamils in Sri Lanka should be allowed a referendum to decide their fate

India Spent Rs 100 cr in 2nd Phase of SL Housing Project

India has processed more than 15,500 transactions and disbursed Rs 100 crore in the last six months to beneficiaries in Sri Lanka under the second phase of the housing project there with the help of five Indian banks.

Two die inhaling toxic gas

Two people were killed and one hospitalized after inhaling a toxic gas while attempting to clean a gully at Attidiya in Ratmalana last night, Police said.

Mass grave: MR to appoint commission

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to appoint a special Commission to look into the mass grave unearthed at Matale, Presidential spokesman Mohan Samaranayake said.

Over 100 Lankans rescued off India

More than 100 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees heading to Australia by a ferry from nearby Karaikal, Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, were rescued by Indian Coast Guard personnel when they got stranded in mid-sea off here after their craft developed a snag in the wee hours on Saturday.

26 Indian fishermen arrested

Some 26 Indian fishermen were arrested yesterday along with five of their fishing trawlers while they were illegally fishing in the northern seas, Sri Lanka Navy said.

Govt. vows to go ahead with private universities

Higher Education Minister S.B Dissanayake addressing the opening of the first phase of the Malabe private medical college teaching hospital yesterday said despite whatever criticism the government might face from the medical fraternity, it would continue its efforts to take private medical education to greater heights in Sri Lanka