'No immediate threat of power cuts'

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka told the media there was no immediate threat of power cuts though the prolonged drought had badly affected the catchment areas.

Video: Child rape on the rise; Police

The number of reported cases of child rape and abuse has increased by five per cent with upto 975 cases reported in the last six months, Police media spokesman Ajith Rohana said

Bajaj reduces prices of three-wheelers and bikes in SL

Auto major Bajaj Auto cut prices of its 2-wheelers as well as 3-wheelers in Sri Lanka in order to bring back volumes lost post the excise duty hike in the country. Sri Lanka accounts for almost 5-7 per cent of the total volumes of the company.

Tamils’ rehab issue discussed-Singh

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has told his government’s key partner DMK that he had taken up with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse the steps required for rehabilitation of Sri Lankan Tamils in that country.

Video: Media laws to be amended

The government said today that laws with regard to the media would be amended making the registration of news websites compulsory by law.

SLPL player draft behind closed doors

The player draft of the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) T20 will be held today at 5 p.m. at Taj amudra Hotel in Colombo behind closed doors and will be out of bound for media.

Audio: UNP says Govt. militarising schools

Main opposition UNP today charged that the Government was trying to militarise schools by giving military training and military ranks to school principals.

Jaya asks Centre to block SLAF training

Taking objection to the training being imparted to Sri Lankan Air Force personnel at an Indian Air Force base near Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalaithaa today (Thursday) urged the Centre to immediately cancel the programme and send the personnel back to Sri Lanka.

Detention of fishermen: CM seeks Manmohan’s intervention

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa appealed to the Prime Minister for his intervention in the detention of fishermen from Tamil Nadu by Sri Lankan Navy.

SL hits back at US

Sri Lanka hits back Wednesday over claims it is clamping down on media freedom after criticism from rights groups and Washington for its shutting of opposition news websites.

Video: Safety jackets essential to climb Sigiriya

The Sigiriya Central Cultural Fund Manager Vajira Ferdinand said from today it was compulsory for foreign tourists to wear special protective jackets if they wished to go beyond the ‘Lion’s Paw’ when climbing the Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Death sentence for heroin peddler

A heroin peddler  accused of trafficking 10.8 grams of heroin was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court today

Second Pakistan-SL Test drawn

The second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka ended in a draw in Colombo on Wednesday after the hosts avoided the follow-on on the fifth and final day.

Harry J released on personal bail

Business tycoon Harry Jayawardena and five other Directors of Melstacorp Limited were released on a personal bail of 2 million rupees each for violation of Section 51 (2) of the Securities and Exchange Commissions act

MR to appoint committee on Z-score: SB

Higher Education Minister SB Dissanayake said today that President Mahinda Rajapaksa would appoint a committee to supervise the UGC when it recalculates the Z score ratings as directed by the Supreme Court.

SL bowled out for 391

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 391 runs in the second test match against Pakistan currently played at the SSC. Kumar Sangakkara was dismissed for the second time in the series on the brink of a double century after he was caught off the bowling of Junaid Khan for 192 runs

Video: Elections are a farce; Karu

UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya said the proposed elections to be held under the 18th amendment would be a farce

SL able to keep int’l shipping lane free from piracy activities

Sri Lanka said that it has been successful in keeping its busy international shipping lane off South Dondra Head free from any piracy or criminal activity with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Navy and the Coast Guards Service.

President against the bill

President Rajapaksa today asked the government group to vote against the proposed bill blocking priests from engaging in mainstream politics. UNP MP Wijedasa Rajapakshe was to present a private members bill earlier, which would prevent clergy from engaging in mainstream politics

Wasp attack in Sigiriya: 20 hospitalized

At least twenty persons inclduing two children and two Greek nationals have been injured after they were stung by a swarm of wasps close to the Lion’s Paw (Sinha Padaya) in Sigiriya this morning, police said.

Akuressa PS Chairman arrested

The chairman of the Akuressa Pradeshiya Sabha was arrested early this morning for allegedly raping a 14 year-old girl last month, Police said.

Conspiracy to tarnish Lanka’s image: Keheliya

The government yesterday said there might be elements with vested interests trying to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka by falsely accusing the country of being a haven for human smuggling.

Special cells also to come under surveillance

The special cells or “Mora Wards” in which high profile individuals serve their jail terms have now come under the surveillance of authorities after raids were carried out in prisons countrywide.

Afridi, Gayle among star-studded icons for SLPL

Pakistani allrounder Shahid Afridi and West Indies opener Chris Gayle have been named the two international iconic players for the inaugural Sri Lanka Twenty20 premier league (SLPL), Sri Lanka Cricket said.

63 families affected in SL

At least 63 families have been affected due to bad weather conditions in the country during the past few days, the Disaster Management Centre said.

Clergy in politics: Ranil meets JHU

Opposition United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has held talks with the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) on the private member’s motion to be tabled in Parliament by UNP front-liner Wijedasa Rajapakse.

'SL used as transit point'

Sri Lanka is now being used as a transit point for human trafficking, the head of the country’s national counter trafficking unit said.

Ruling party politicos seek UNP ticket: UNP

The main opposition UNP today said it had not decided if it would accommodate some ruling party politicians who have expressed willingness to contest under the UNP ticket at the upcoming PC polls.

Lankans held in armored car heist

Five Sri Lankan expatriates were arrested for their involvement in a theft that was carried out  wherein one among them stole KD 60,000 from an armored vehicle at the airport

UN concerned over raid on SL news websites

The United Nations yesterday expressed concern over the raid on the offices of the Lanka Mirror and Lanka X news websites and on the arrest of nine employees