India expresses displeasure over SL’s failure

India yesterday expressed its displeasure over the failure on the part of the government of Sri Lanka to break the deadlock in the process of evolving a political solution to the national question, to address land issues in the north and to scale down the presence of military, informed sources said yesterday.

SF’s party won’t contest

Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka speaking at a press conference said that the Democratic Party would not contest the upcoming provincial council polls. The Democratic Party is the new political party that is headed by Sarath Fonseka

Nine arrested from Sri Lanka Mirror

Nine people were arrested and seven computers including a personal lap-top were taken into custody by the CID from the Lanka Mirror office in Etulkotte this evening.

Video: Lanka Mirror premises raided-Mangala

The CID is presently carrying out a raid at the premises where the Lanka Mirror Website and the Sri Lanka X news website carryout their operations, UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera said.

Video: Hostage drama: Three jailors rescued

Three jailors, who were taken hostage by a group of LTTE suspects last evening, were rescued in a joint Army-STF and Police operation a short while ago, official sources said.

Update: Rescue Op. underway

A Joint operation was launched a short while ago by the Vavuniya police, the army and the Special Task Force to rescue three jailors who were taken hostage by a group of LTTE suspects yesterday

Mosquito knelt at my feet - Mervyn

Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva said yesterday that he had fallen ill recently and added that even a deadly mosquito had knelt at his feet. “I fell ill recently and had a fever. Some had gone to town saying that I had become lifeless, but it was not so

India cut petrol prices

In a relief to inflation-battered common man, petrol price was on Thursday cut by Rs 2.46 per litre, the second reduction this month

Video: New boats reach Christmas Island

As authorities fear a new influx of asylum seekers following the political impasse in Australia, two new boats packed with those seeking refuge have arrived at Christmas Island this morning

Menon arrives in Colombo

Indian National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon arrived here late on Thursday night to discuss issues arising out of Sri Lanka’s reluctance to fulfill its promises, more than three years after the crushing defeat of the Tamil Tigers

I still want to be made deputy minister - Muthuhettigama

Galle District MP Nishantha Muthuhettigama, at a media briefing at his office in Galle recently, said that though Sanath Jayasuriya had withdrawn his request for a deputy minister’s post he (Muthuhettigama) would not do so

Co-accused in Pune blast trained in Colombo

Suspected LeT operative Faiyaz Kagzi had trained Mirza Himayat Baig, who was arrested for his alleged role in 2010 Pune German bakery blast, at a camp in Colombo, the Maharashtra ATS said

Hostage drama unfolds at Vavuniya Prison

A group of LTTE suspects at the Vavuniya Prison had taken three jailers hostage in protest after three of their cadres were transferred to the Boossa prison following a court order given three days ago, Police said

Hemakumara forming new political party

Former Presidential Adviser Hemakumara Nanayakkara said several government members were talking to him about forming a new political party

Dates for nominations announced

Nominations for the elections of the dissolved Provincial Councils are set to take place between 12th and 19th of July, a source at the department of election said.

Video: Z-Score fiasco, no fault of Govt - Wimal

Minister Wimal Weerawansa said today the recent Z- Score fiasco was not the fault of the government but instead the eminent person who devised it should take the blame.

Video: No difference between Govt. and LTTE - Ranil

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said today the government was acting no different to the LTTE, which was led by Prabhakaran.

Video: 'It is a blunder but not the biggest'- Keheliya

Cabinet Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said today that the 2011 Advanced Level issue is not the biggest blunder in the country's history but that it can be termed as a blunder. The minister made these remarks addressing the weekly cabinet press briefing

Jayalalitha writes to PM

Observing that Indian fishermen hailing from Tamil Nadu have been ‘traditionally fishing’ in contentious Katchatheevu, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ask Colombo to stop its navy from harassing them.

Over 100 students hospitalized

More than 100 students from a school in Hali-Ela, Badulla were admitted to the Badulla hospital due to food poisoning after having their breakfast, Hospital sources said. Update..

Fisherman disappears after mid-sea clash

A mid-sea clash between two groups of fishermen resulted in one of them going missing early today off Trincomalee seas. A police team has been deployed to locate the missing fisherman.

Canada hastens SL human smuggling trial

Canadian prosecutors announced they were forgoing a preliminary hearing and proceeding to trial for six men charged with smuggling hundreds of Tamils aboard a rickety ship into Canada.

Hirunika to enter active politics

Hirunika Premachandra, the daughter of late Presidential Advisor Baratha Lakshman Premachandra, said today that she would enter active politics soon.

Indian arrested with no visa

An Indian national was arrested today near a rail crossing on the Anuradhapura road at Puttalam for not having a valid visa, police said. He was in possession of garments which he hoped use for trading purposes at the time of his arrest

Video: UGC is responsible – Min. Bandula

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is responsible for devising the Z-score, the Minister of Education and the commissioner of examinations have been absolved of any issue regarding the advanced level results, Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardena said.

Provincial Councils to be dissolved

The North Central, Sabaragamuwa and Eastern Provinces are to be dissolved; midnight today, highly placed government officials said. Governors of the three provinces have placed their signatures on the gazette notification effecting the dissolution the source said

Video: UNP claims 'economy militarised'

The UNP claimed today that the countries economy has been ‘militarized’. Speaking at a news conference UNP MP Dr. Harsha De Silva said that the “economic management of the country has been completely militarized”.

Fraud Bureau officials arrested on bribery charges

A Fraud Bureau sub inspector and a police constable were arrested by the CID on charges of having taken a bribe of more than rupees two million from a businessman who deals in illegal transactions, acting police spokesman Mahesh Udawatta said.

Audio: Tony Greig slams India

Former England captain Tony Greig has urged India to accept the "spirit of cricket is more important than generating billions of dollars".

Update: Boat tragedy, 123 rescued

The Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard says she's been advised 123 people have been rescued from the stricken boat.