Private plane makes emergency landing at BIA

A private plane flying from South Africa to Singapore made an emergency landing at the Bandaranaike International Airport due to a technical fault in one of the engines this evening.

CPC loses $60 mln hedging case vs Deutsche Bank

Sri Lanka's state-run oil company has lost a $60 million hedging case against Deutsche Bank after a U.S.-based arbitrator ruled in favour of the bank, officials said on Friday.

GL meets Khursheed

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and his Indian counterpart Salman Khursheed held talks in New Delhi today, the Hindu reported.

Mobile call of nature

A remand prisoner who had concealed two mobile phones in his rectum had to undergo a surgical operation at the Anuradhapura teaching hospital to have them retrieved from their hiding places.

My mother will not back down says CJ’s son

Shaveen Bandaranayake the son of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, who is facing an imminent impeachment motion in parliament in a note posted on Facebook, said his mother would not back down from anything and called on the citizens of the country to stand by her.

One lane of expressway closed due to earthslip

The lane towards Galle on the Southern Highway has been temporarily closed due to an earthslip between the Dodangoda and Welipanna exit points. The other lane towards Kottawa is open for vehicle traffic, the Ministry of Highways said.

Amnesty accuses Sri Lanka of targeting judges

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International on Friday accused the Sri Lankan government of cracking down on the judiciary, a day after ruling party lawmakers moved to impeach the country's top judge.

26 more Sri Lankan Boat People return to Colombo

The men, who had arrived by boat at Christmas and Cocos Islands earlier in the week, left Christmas Island late on Thursday, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen, said.

Another 43 asylum seekers arrested

At least 43 asylum seekers including 33 men, 8 women and 2 children who had illegally left for Australia off Puttalam seas on a multi day trawler were arrested at the Beruwela Fishing Habour by the Navy and the coastal guard last night, police said.

SC decision on Divi Neguma Bill conveyed to President

The Supreme Court decision relating to the petitions filed in connection with the draft of the Divi Neguma Bill was conveyed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday

Navy fills vacant CoS post after nearly two years

The post of Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy was filled yesterday after being vacant for 21 months, with the appointment of Rear Admiral Damayantha Dharamasiriwardane, informed sources said

US concerned over attempts to impeach CJ

While expressing concern over the move to impeach Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, the United States today highlighted the necessity of strengthening judicial independence by ending government interference with the judicial process.

Video: Legal procedure on impeachment is blatantly one sided-Ex CJ

Former chief justice Sarath N. Silva said at a media briefing on Thursday that the legal procedure to impeach the Chief Justice was blatantly one sided and fundamentally flawed. ???

UPR: Many countries commend SL

Most of the member countries, that took part in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Sri Lanka, which was held today at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, commended the country’s achievements in many areas including the early completion of the resettlement of IDPs ???

SL offers to repatriate 10 Indian prisoners

Sri Lanka has offered to repatriate 10 Indian prisoners, currently serving their sentence in the island nation's jails, to India to complete their remaining prison term

Kandy Mayor asked to leave his residence

Kandy Mayor Mahendra Ratwatte was advised to move out of his official residence temporarily over fears that the rock behind his residence might slide down, the NBRO said

Two killed due to electrocution

A 58 year old mother and her 20 year old daughter were killed this afternoon while a 7 year old child sustained injuries and was admitted to the Kandy Hospital due to electrocution outside their home in Madawala Bazaar, Kandy , police said.

Another quintuplet birth

A 23 year old mother has given birth to a quintuplet (three girls and two boys) last night at a private hospital in Colombo, hospital sources said

Welipenna exit point temporarily closed

Welipenna exit point on the Southern Expressway is temporarily closed due to flooding of the Aluthgama- Mathugama road, Ministry of Highways said.

Rivers overflowing, flood warnings issued

The Irrigation Department said that the Kelani, Kalu, Gin & Nilwala rivers are beginning to spill and people living downstream on the river banks should be cautious of possible floods in four hours

Amunugama sworn in as Dy Finance Minister

Senior Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama has been appointed as Deputy Minister of Finance in addition to Senior Minister of International Monetary Cooperation while Geethanjana Gunawardene has been appointed as the Deputy Minister of Civil Aviation today

Bad weather closes school in N’Eliya

Tomorrow will be a holiday for all schools in the Nuwara Eliya district due to the adverse weather conditions.

Video: Impeachment motion against CJ handed over to Speaker

The Impeachment motion against Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake was handed over to the Speaker by government MPs Arundika Fernando, Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Pavithra Wanniarachchi at the auspicious time of 10.12a.m. ???

Heavy rain continues

Under the influence of the cyclonic storm ‘Nilam’, South-western parts of the island ( Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces) are receiving  heavy rainfalls  and it is likely to continue for next 09 hours, the Met Department said

SL hampers legal redress for rights abuses -ICJ

Sri Lanka's government has made it all but impossible for victims of human rights abuses to get justice, a Geneva-based human rights body that monitors legal matters said on Thursday.

SL will respond to questions at UPR today

Sri Lanka makes its presentation at the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review in Geneva today

Embargo prevents SL importing Iranian crude

Although the United States has permitted Sri Lanka to import a restricted amount of crude oil from Iran, the embargo on the Iranian government-owned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) prevents such imports from Iran

AG to visit Saudi to obtain pardon for Rizana

Attorney General Palitha Fernando will leave for Saudi Arabia soon in a fresh initiative to secure a full pardon for housemaid Rizana Nafeek, who has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, officials said yesterday

Another woman killed in Kahawatta

A 66-year-old woman was found dead in her garden in the Warapitiya area in Kahawatta by her son this evening when he came back from work

Five LTTE artillery guns found

The Army said today it had located five artillery guns -130 mm and 152 mm- and a boat fitted with two powerful boats hidden by the LTTE at the Vellamullivaikkal beach in Mullaitivu.