Health warning on packets of cigars

The Health Ministry said today that a pictorial health warning label would be introduced on cigarette packs in the next two months to control the use of cigarettes among people

S&P lowers SL’s sovereign rating outlook

Rating agency, Standard & Poors (S&P) has revised down its outlook on Sri Lanka's B+ long term foreign currency sovereign credit rating outlook to stable from positive while lowering the long term local currency rating to B+ from BB-

Two arrested for forging military documents

The police arrested two men who were printing letters by placing official stamps used by the Military and sending letters to residents of Vavuniya who are now living abroad, stating that they should come to military camps for further questioning

43 school boys arrested

The Cinnamon Gardens Police have arrested 43 boys from a leading boy’s school in Colombo, for causing disturbance to school activities at two of Colombo’s leading girl’s schools

UNP conducts unofficial talks to form common front

The UNP has started a dialogue with the JVP on an unofficial level to form a common platform against the government, MP Mangala Samaraweera said today

India must not support Lanka at UNHRC hearing: Karunanidhi

DMK, a key constituent of the ruling UPA at the Centre, today said India should not support Sri Lanka, which is facing war crime charges, in the hearings being conducted by the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva

Access acquires control of Sathosa Motors

Leading businessman Sumal Perera’s Access Engineering secured the controlling stake of Sathosa Motors PLC (SMOT), the agents for the Isuzu vehicle range in Sri Lanka,in a deal to the tune of Rs.846 million

Woman found dead inside hotel room

A 48 year old woman was found dead with stab wounds, inside a hotel room in Kollupitiya early this morning, the police said. UPDATE

Second murder - accused held in custody

A second Sri Lankan man has been remanded in custody on a charge of murdering an Oxford farmer last week. The man, Vivaj Alahakoon, made a brief appearance in Christchurch District Court before Judge David Saunders today, and was remanded without plea to March 13.

Customs streamline Carnet permits

The Customs has decided to streamline the Carnet scheme which permits the temporary importation of private vehicles in order to prevent the facility being misused by some permit holders to bring down luxury vehicles with foreign number plates without paying the necessary duty.

Shortage of milk powder feared

A shortage of milk powder in the local market is feared shortly as importers suspended the packing and marketing of milk powder with immediate effect yesterday pending the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) decision on a price hike.

2 Policeman accused of murder granted bail

Two police Narcotics Bureau officials who were held in remand custody in connection with the alleged death of a 30-year-old who had visited the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) office to sign the case book were released on bail by a Colombo Court yesterday.

NRI expertise to curb sea water pollution

The Power and Energy Ministry is to use Nuclear and Radio Isotope (NRI) technology for sea water pollution management for the first time as sea water contamination has gone out of control in the seas surrounding Sri Lanka, a Ministry spokesman said

Market will beat the Central Bank no matter how powerful the governor is: Harsha

UNP national list parliamentarian Dr. Harsha De Silva speaking to Daily Mirror online said that the reported intervention by the Central Bank to stabilise the dwindling rupee was unfortunate.

Uni. students protest against CoL

University students today said they were in the midst of discussions with fisheries, teachers and labour unions who had vowed to unite in their take trade union action in protest against the increasing cost of living and people’s suppression.

Uni. Non academics to strike tommorrow

University non-academics have decided to go ahead with a decision to hold a countrywide strike tomorrow  after discussions today with Higher Education Minister S.B Dissanayake to increase wages and benefits had not been successful.

Teachers in the North want transfers

Teachers unions today urged the authorities to provide transfers to over 400 teachers many of whom had served up to 15 years in the North during the war.

India shock Sri Lanka

India came up with an outstanding performance to annihilate Sri Lanka a short while ago chasing down the Lankan total of 320 within just 36.4 overs. Virath Kohli slammed 133 runs off 86 balls to help the Indians gain the bonus point in order to keep their hopes alive for the best of three finals alive. Lasith Malinga was

46 remanded for prison turmoil

Forty six prisoners were remanded today, till March 13 on charges of having been involved in the January 25 riots at the Magazine Prisons

Rupee hits new low, but state intervenes

Sri Lanka's rupee hit a new record low of 123.20 on Tuesday on importer dollar demand, but a state bank sold greenbacks to reverse the drop in an apparent break with the central bank's new policy not to intervene at a specific price, dealers said

More questions about Duminda Silva’s case

In the Bharatha Lakshman murder case, Counsel Ajith Pathirana appearing for the aggrieved stated that two months had passed since the order was given to arrest Duminda Silva but still no action had been taken to arrest him

Lanka score 320/4 in 50 overs

Sri Lanka made 320 for four wickets in their 50 overs in their one-day international Tri-series match against India at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart today.  India won the toss and opted to field. For Sri Lanka, Tillakaratne Dilshan scored 160 not out and Kumar Sangakkara scored 105 PICTURES

Fire in Henegama

A fire broke out in Henegama, Weliweriya and destroyed a paper accessories shop as well as a house close to it, last night, a police report stated

India elect to bowl against Sri Lanka

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and decided to field against Sri Lanka in the 11th ODI of the tri-series at Bellerive Oval in Hobart

Two Lankans charged with murder in Oxford

Two Sri Lankan men have been charged with the murder of Sameera Chandrasena in Oxford. The men, aged 23 and 33, are also charged with arson at the victim's home in the North Canterbury town

Election monitors concerned about North

Election monitors yesterday said that more than 3,000 eligible voters in IDP camps may not have the chance to vote at the upcoming local government elections in Mulaitivu and Puthukudiyiruppu next month since they do not have a proper identification card

Govt. rejects ‘undue’ int’l pressure

Amid vigorous lobbying against the proposed United States sponsored resolution, Sri Lanka informed the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) yesterday that the remaining LTTE rump in some countries was a major challenge confronting the country today

CAA Chief says will not allow milk price increase

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) yesterday (27) said that the request for a price increase on milk powder had only reached them last Friday (24) and it will deliver its decision within 30 days as per the law

National mechanisms of human rights are necessary: Jayatilleka

While Sri Lanka faces heat at the Geneva sessions the Former Sri Lankan Permanent Representative there Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka has stated that national mechanisms of human rights are necessary to finally put to rest the calls for an international mechanism of accountability

Uni non-academics will go on strike again

Universities in the country will be inactive for a second time this month from Wednesday as non-academic university staff will go on strike again since the government had not come forward for discussions to address their demands for higher wages and benefits, university non-academics said today