Singer Whitney Houston dies at 48

Legendary pop singer Whitney Houston was found dead Saturday at a Beverly Hills, California, hotel, officials said. She was 48. The entertainer, whose incredible talent was discovered at an early age, was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. (6:55 p.m. ET) at the Beverly Hilton hotel despite resuscitation efforts, a police spokesman said UPDATE

CPC, LIOC increase fuel prices

The price of a litre of diesel has been increased by Rs.31 with effect from midnight today. The price of a litre of petrol has been increased by Rs.12 and Kerosene by Rs.35 with effect from midnight today VIDEO

Dengue case fixed for March 1

Court rejected the preliminary objections raised by the Kebitigollewa Divisional Secretary, who was charged with allowing mosquitoes to breed in the vicinity of his official quarters.

Oil prices revived from tonight

The Government Information Department says that oil prices will be revised from tonight but concessions will be given to private and public transport as well as the fisheries sectors

Police and political parties most corrupt, survey reveals

According to a survey by Transparency International (TI) nearly 50% of Sri Lankans believed that the police and political parties in the country were the most corrupt institutions in the country.

Sub-Committee appointed to implement HR Action Plan

The Government has decided to appoint a Cabinet Sub-Committee consisting of six ministers to monitor the process of speedy implementation of the proposals in the Action Plan prepared by the relevant Ministries and authorised agencies on human rights. 

Court grants anticipatory bail to CMC member

The Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday granted anticipatory bail to the UNP Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) member Kithsiri Rajapaksha in connection with a case filed against him on charges of assaulting and obstructing a CMC officer from carrying out his duties.

Check credibility of pre-school centres: Children's Secretariat

The Children’s Secretariat has advised parents to check on the standards of early-childhood centres such as nurseries, montessories and daycare centers when admitting their children because more than 50 per cent of them have not been registered with the authorities.

Govt. reverses stance on IMF loan

Despite the Central Bank’s previous announcement that the US$2.6 billion Standby Arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would be terminated, the government has said it hoped to sign a new Letter of Intent next month to obtain the balance US$800 million.

Old votes to be counted at new elections

Postal votes cast early last year by voters of Pudukudairuppu and Maritimepattu before the postponement of the polls, will be used at the March 24 mini local government elections to be held for the two Pradeshiya Sabhas, election officials said yesterday.

Rs.61.5 million spent on Deyata Kirula exhibition centre

A sum of Rs.61.5 million had been spent for the exhibition centre of the ‘Deyata Kirula’ Exhibition 2012 in Anurdhapura while several millions had been spent for the water supply facilities, Parliament was informed yesterday.

Stone-throwing suspects remanded

Four youth who attempted to obstruct the Southern Expressway by hurling stones were remanded till February 21, by the Elpitiya Magistrate Sekara Samaradiwakara.

Little response for online petition against SL

An online petition, created in August 2011, calling on the British Government to support an independent investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka has only attracted 3,430 signatures to date.

Delay in determining cause of kidney disease in SL

There had been a delay in determining the exact cause of the kidney disease which is rampant in several areas in the country including the North Central province, the Acting Minister of Healthcare Lalith Dissanayake told Parliament yesterday.

Samurdhi will be paid in March says Govt.

The government admitted yesterday that Samurdhi recipients had not been paid their allowance this year and gave an assurance that they would pay the Samurdhi allowance for the first quarter of the year in March.

PAC wants VAT scam suspects charge-sheeted

The parliament Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed the Inland Revenue Department officials to charge sheet those involved in the multi-billon VAT scam reported earlier, informed sources said yesterday.

SL must help toward peaceful settlement in the Maldives: Ranil

Sri Lanka must do its best for the Maldives to ensure a peaceful settlement to its crisis, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday.

School boxing training gone wrong

An 18-year old school boy had been admitted to the hospital for injuries he received during a boxing training session with a soldier without proper safety precautions, the Homagama police said.

President calls for expanding Pak-Sri Lanka bilateral trade

President Asif Ali Zardari Friday called for stepping up efforts to fully realize the potential of Free Trade Agreement with Sri Lanka and building a mutually beneficial economic and trade partnership to jack up the bilateral trade from current $375 million to $2 billion target in the next three years.

President Asif Ali Zardari honours MR

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari Friday hosted a reception in honour of President Mahinda Rajapaksa here at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

National Green Reporting System to be established

In a bid to strengthen the steps taken to protect the environment, the government has decided to establish a National Green Reporting System (NGRS) in Sri Lanka with the main focus on minimising the carbon emission.

Govt. won't stop Mahapola schol., Johnston says

The Government will never stop the Mahapola scholarships, Minister of Trade Johnston Fernando said dismissing claims by United National Party MP Sajith Premadasa.

Bail granted but conditions violated

The counsel for the depositors of the Golden Key Credit Card Company complained to the Colombo High Court that the respondents had violated the bail conditions by failing to pay the Rs.40 million to the depositors as agreed by them before the Supreme Court as a condition of bail.

American national assaulted

A private bus driver who had allegedly assaulted an American national and his driver was remanded till February 24 by the Dambulla Magistrate Sanath Morawaka today.

Rajapaksa in Pakistan

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Pakistan today on a three-day state visit.

Racket facilitating illegal immigrants uncovered

Judicial authorities and police officials from Finland, France and Belgium conducted a joint operation against a Sri Lankan criminal network on February 6, Europol and Eurojust said in a joint statement Friday. UPDATED

SL gets over 85, 000 tourists in January

The number of tourists visited Sri Lanka during the month of January 2012 rose 15.7 percent to 85, 874

Sri Lanka lose by five runs

Australia survived a frenetic Sri Lankan fight-back to post a thrilling five-run one-day victory at the WACA today.

GL in Jordan

External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris met the Jordanian Prime Minister Dr. Awn Khasawneh and the Minister of Defence in Amman.

Sri Lankan found dead in Saudi Prison

A Sri Lankan detainee at the Malas Ladies’ Prison committed suicide, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh said.