Motion against SL rejected in German Parliament

  A motion against Sri Lanka titled – ‘Use the UN Human Rights Council and demand Observance of Laws, Human Rights and Reconciliation Process in Sri Lanka’ has been defeated at the German Bundestag (German Parliament).

British Bar urge Queen to not attend CHOGM in SL

In a hard hitting report, the British Bar condemned the impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake and urged that Sri Lanka should not be allowed to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in November.

India increases aid to Sri Lanka

Even as the anti-Sri Lanka mood in Tamil Nadu is getting more belligerent, the Centre has increased its annual grant to the island nation in the Union Budget.

Mervyn hits out at CBK

In a scathing attack against Ex- President Chandrika Kumaratunga in response to a speech she made in Kandy, Minister Mervyn Silva said that that the former President should be aware that he possesses many secrets about the Bandaranaikes and would reveal them if compelled to do so.

Hangmen disappear

The two men recently appointed as hangmen to the Welikada and Bogambara prisons have reportedly vacated their posts.

CBK says thugs and rogues are politicians

Ex-President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga speaking at a ceremony to commemorate Vijaya Kumaratunga’s 25th death Anniversary said the majority of today’s parliamentarians comprise people who were not educated and who were known to be illegal businessman.

SL intervenes during screening of Ch-4 film

Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinghe today intervened during the screening of the “No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka” film of the UK’s Channel-4 and protested against attempts by the organizers to use the UN premises for the screening.

Sakvithi’s wife granted bail

Financial fraudster Sakvithi Ranasinghe’s wife Kumari Anuradhini was today granted bail in Rs.100,000 cash with three sureties of Rs.2.5 million each.

I am the most suitable to be PM- Mervyn

Minister Mervyn Silva today said that he is the most suitable SLFPer to be the next Prime Minister.

SL has not initiated a credible inquiry as yet-US

The United States today said that Sri Lanka has not initiated a full, credible, or independent investigation into longstanding allegations of human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, including sexual assault.

SL donates USD 25,000 to Philippines typhoon victims

Sri Lanka donated USD 25,000 to the Philippines for rehabilitation of homes of the victims of Typhoon, ‘Bhopa’ which claimed several hundreds of lives and destroyed properties worth millions last December

British push to expedite Tangalle killing probe

The brother of Khuram Shaikh-the British tourist who was killed in the 2011 Christmas eve tragedy at Tangalle - accompanied by a British MP will visit the country next week in a bid to urge Lankan authorities to expedite the investigations and bring charges against those responsible for the killing of his brother

Ganegala new CEB Chairman

Former Media Ministry Secretary W.B. Ganegala has been appointed as Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman, Government Information Department said.

Dr. Harischandra passes away

Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. D.V.J. Harischandra passed away this morning at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital where he was admitted following a heart attack, hospital sources said

12-hour water cut in Colombo

The water supply to several areas in the City of Colombo will be interrupted from 8.00 pm today to 8.00 am tomorrow as a result of the laying of new pipelines and maintenance work, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board announced

Riyadh clarifies envoy’s ‘recall’ from Colombo

Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials said yesterday the “recall” of Saudi Ambassador to Sri Lanka Abdulaziz Bin Abdurrahman Al-Jammaz was a summons for consultation

Video: Pope Benedict XVI officially resigns

Pope Benedict XVI has officially resigned, saying that he now "will simply be a pilgrim" starting his last journey on earth. ???

Boys will be boys, says Keheliya

“Even the politicians’ sons will behave like boys; if someone hits them they will hit back,”  said Minister Keheliya Rambukwella at the Cabinet news conference yesterday

No gas or oil in 4th well-Cairn

Against the backdrop of Sri Lanka going for a second licensing round to auction more blocks, the fourth well drilled in Sri Lanka’s Mannar basin by Cairn Lanka, a fully owned subsidiary of Cairn India, has been plugged and abandoned as a dry hole

Even ministers getting death threats-UNP

The dangers facing the people of this country were made even more evident by the death threats received by Minister Maithripala Sirisena, UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam told a news conference today

Mervyn’s secretaries made state witnesses

Minister Mervyn Silva’s Parliamentary Affairs Secretary and his Coordinating Secretary who were in remand over their alleged involvement in the Kelaniya UPFA Pradeshiya Sabha member Hasitha Madawala’s killing were made state witnesses by the Attorney General today

UK court blocks SL Tamil deportations

A group of failed Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers have won the right to stay in the UK after the high court here blocked their deportation scheduled for today

UNHRC disassociates itself from screening Ch-4 film

The United Nations Human Rights Council has disassociated itself from the screening of the Channel 4 film ‘No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka’ to be held on Friday (01) in Geneva at the UN premises

Dharmadasa hands over nominations

Upali Dharmadasa has handed over nominations for the presidency of the Sri Lanka Cricket today, sources said

Acid attack: Three arrested

Three suspects including an Ayurvedic doctor was arrested in connection with last Friday’s acid attack on North Central Province Ayurvedic Commissioner Dr. Kumara Alwis, police sources said

Govt. says can’t take over Halal certification

Government is not ready to take over responsibilities of issuing and administration of Halal certificates, Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said today at the weekly Cabinet briefing

Video: Australia unmoved by Tamil torture allegations

Australian Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor has released a statement affirming Australia will continue to return failed asylum seekers to Sri Lanka after a damning report of the country's detention centres by Human Rights Watch ???

'Pictorial warning' postponed to March 28

Deputy Solicitor General Arjuna Obeysekara gave an undertaking before the Supreme Court today, that the Gazette relating to the Pictorial warning on cigarette packs would not be in force until March 28 when the case was taken up today.

Smokers up in smoke

Smokers countrywide are facing a major shortage of cigarettes since yesterday after the Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) stopped distributing cigarettes until pictorial health warnings are printed on the packets before releasing them to the market

Family of three found dead

The bodies of three family members including that of an infant were found a short while ago at Sagara Mawatha in Panadura.Pictures