Namal should be Min. of Education; Akila

Kurunegala district UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today that UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa should be made Minister of Higher Education if he had given an assurance to do justice to all students who sat their 2011 A/L examination

Ranaweera says S’gamuwa CM should be from Rathnapura

Former minister and UPFA candidate Jayathissa Ranaweera said the Sabaragamuwa PC Chief Minister must be someone from Ratnapura

Dayasiri won’t crossover: Karu

UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya said today he did not believe UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara will cross over to the Government.

Boyfriend who held girlfriend’s hand gets bail

A youth was arrested and produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court after his girlfriend had complained to the police that her boyfriend had sexually harassed her by holding her by the hand and attempting to drag her out of a three-wheeler.

Beautician found dead in Vavuniya

A 30 year-old woman, beautician was found hanging in a hotel room where she had allegedly been staying with a man in Vavuniya early this morning, police said. PHOTOS

TNA candidate arrested over alleged human smuggling

A TNA candidate for the Eastern Provincial Council from the Trincomalee district believed to be one of the main suspects of the human smuggling operation was arrested by a special CID team in Trincomalee, police Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said.

Heroin ‘extracted’ from Lankan drug mules

A brief ‘vacation’ — less than 12 hours long — in India landed two Sri Lankan nationals in the customs’ net Chennai on Tuesday. The duo, who posed as tourists, later turned out to be smuggling drugs about 300 gms of first grade heroin in their person.

MR to intervene

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed the Higher Education minister to forward him a comprehensive report on the implementing process of the Z -score immediately, the Government Information Department said.

SL thrash India

Sri Lanka thrashed India by nine wickets in the second one-day international in Hambantota on Tuesday to level the five-match series 1-1

274 jaywalkers within three hours today

Legal action will be taken against 274 pedestrians who were charged with jaywalking in the Colombo city, police said.

Power supply to resume by Friday

The two damaged power plants – Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant (LCPP) at Norochcholai and the Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) at Kerawalapitiya -- will be fully repaired by Friday and power generation would resume with the supply of 400 MWs to the national grid, CEB chairman Wimalachandra Abeywickreme said.

Audio: No decision to cross over yet – Dayasiri

Responding to rumours that UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara is set to cross over to the government, Mr. Jayasekara said he has not taken any decision in this regard

India bound Lankans arrested

Sri Lanka Navy had arrested eight persons attempting to get on board a boat with the intention of sailing to India and from there to Australia from the beach in Mannar, a place known as Urumalai

Duminda cannot recall shooting incident: CID

CID informed Colombo magistrate Court that MP Duminda Silva told from Singapore that he cannot remember the Kolonnawa shooting incident where presidential Advisor Baratha Lakshman Premachandran was killed

Police to strictly implement pedestrian laws

Police are to strictly implement the pedestrian laws and will take legal action against jaywalkers in Colombo from today, police spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said

Another boat with Lankans intercepted

One boat carrying 123 passengers was found east of Christmas Island while the second sailed directly to Cocos Island from Sri Lanka with 36 people on board

Remanded for obstructing first lady

A youth who is alleged to have obstructed the path of First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa during her morning constitutional at Galle Face Green on Sunday was ordered to be remanded till August 3 by a Colombo Court yesterday

IMF starts talks with SL on a new loan

The International Monetary Fund, which has just fully disbursed a $2.6 billion loan to Sri Lanka, said on Monday it has begun talking with authorities in Colombo about arranging a new credit called an extended fund facility

CID records statement of Mannar Magistrate

A special team from the Criminal Investigation Department (which was investigating an incident in which Minister Rishard Bathiudeen had allegedly threatened the Mannar Magistrate over the phone) recorded a statement from the Mannar Magistrate, Police Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said

SC gives green light for MTV/MBC to telecast Olympics

The Supreme Court today stayed an order issued by the Commercial High Court which prevented a private TV channel from telecasting the London Olympic Games 2012 and ruled out exclusive telecast rights for the state run television channel, Rupavahaini

600 fowls set on fire

A poultry farm in the Madurankuliya area was set on fire by an unidentified gang because of a personal dispute this morning, Mundalama police said. They said 600 fowls were burnt to death

Power cuts to be re-scheduled

The Ceylon Electricity Board said that certain areas in the country would experience power cuts lasting 2 hours and 15 minutes during the daytime, while 45 minute power cuts would be imposed during the night, in certain identified areas

No uninformed power cuts; CEB

The Ceylon Electricity Board said today that despite many areas experiencing uninformed power cuts today, there would be no uninformed power cuts in the future

Stats. show no increase in crime rate - Gota

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that there was no increase in the crime rate according to statistics

Pornographic material from SriLankamirror computers-CID

The CID today informed the Colombo Magistrate Court that they have found Pornographic material from at least three computers that were taken into police custody from the Sri Lankamirror office

Two bodies found in Katuwana

The bodies of a man and a woman found in Katuwana area in Hambantota this morning, police said. The woman (52) was found dead with cut injuries and her husband (60) was found hanging from a tree in front of the house

More Lankan officers arrived: Jaya

Despite Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's strong objection to Sri Lankan  defence officers being trained anywhere in India, sources have told NDTV that four officers have landed in Chennai from Colombo and have left for Kolkata by a connecting flight to undergo an AN32 engine fitter course

Govt. trying to divide the Buddhist clergy: SF

This government is attempting to divide Buddhist monks through inducements in an attempt re-write history. These views were expressed by former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka at a meeting held at the Kandy YMBA Hall today (22).

Alleged brothel raided in Pasyala

At least seven people including four women were arrested today when police raided an alleged brothel in Pasyala on the Colombo-Kandy Road. A top police official said the alleged brothel was operated in a subtle manner with clients coming to obtain the services being screened by two youths before the gates are open.

MR saddened over judiciary’s suspicion

President Mahinda Rajapaksa expressing that his government would not allow anyone to interfere with the country’ judiciary, said he was saddened by the fact that such a suspicion has arisen in the judiciary regarding a Cabinet member of the government.