70 university students in remand

Some 300 university students are facing court cases while 70 are already in remand custody as a result of a crackdown carried on students by the authorities, the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) alleged yesterday

Lawyer, land owner who used fake revenue stamps granted bail

A lawyer and a land sales owner who were accused of using fake revenue stamps on the deeds that the lawyer attested, were granted bail of Rs.40,000 each with two sureties for Rs.500,000 on each of the accused, by the Colombo High Court

Fake Rajapaksa associates arrested

Two men who posed as close confidants of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa were taken into custody in Galkiriyagama for promising villagers in Uduruwa South that they will be given jobs in state banks and the customs department. They had also asked them for money

Railway strike called off

Railway trade unions called off their countrywide railway strike as the Minister of Transport had agreed to rectify their salary anomalies

Fisheries Ministry to bring Lankan fishermen back

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource is taking steps to bring the remaining sixteen Sri Lankan fishermen in India along with four of their trawlers. The fishermen are residents of Gandara and Trincomalee

SSP Vaas Gunawardena hospitalised

Kurunegala SSP Vaas Gunawardena was hospitalised following an overdose of medicine he took today, the police said

Railway guards on strike, train services halted islandwide

Train services islandwide have been halted due to a strike carried out by railway guards. Talks are currently underway between the authorities and the union

Elections Dept. cancels registration of 3 political parties

The Elections Department cancelled the registration of three political parties namely the National Unity Alliance (NUA) formed by SLMC founder leader late A.H.M. Ashraff, the People’s Front of Liberation Tigers (PFLT) formed by the LTTE and the Eelam People’s Democratic National Front (ENDLF)

Malaysian job scam busted

The police apprehended a Malaysian couple and three others yesterday (January 31), for questioning, regarding a racket where a number of persons were defrauded under the pretext of providing jobs in Malaysia.

Suspected bird flu case in Bingiriya

The Health Ministry this morning called for a full investigation on the Bingiriya chicken farm which had a suspected case of bird flu after 1,000 chickens were found dead including one which showed symptoms of the flu, ministry officials said UPDATE

Human smuggling operation busted

In a human smuggling operation gone sour, around 200 Sri Lankan refugee claimants hoping to come to Canada are stranded in West Africa.

Rajapaksa's appeal to Jayalalithaa

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has a message for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa: “Take care of our people who go there. Ministers, our relations etc.”

'Pura Neguma' to makeover 108 Local bodies

Dr.Nihal Jayasinghe secretary to the Minstry of Provincial Councils said that the Ministry has initiated a programme “ Pura Naguma” to resuscitate 108 local government bodies that the ministry has found to have been lagging behind in waste management

Complaints on NCPA hotline sees sharp increase

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) yesterday said that the number of complaints received by the NCPA hotline 1929, had increased sharply from 1,391 complaints in 2009 to 3,811 complaints in 2010

PCs likely to give land powers to Govt.

Provincial Councils are expected to give their consent to the proposed Town and Country Planning Ordinance Amendment before February 8, informed sources said yesterday

Navy builds its own simulator

The Sri Lanka Navy has built its own Naval craft simulator by developing software to train its naval officers, navigators and cadets on navigating a Naval craft without leaving the shores, in a move to save a large amount of money which is spent on training

Fresh criminal case against a Ceylinco subsidiary

The CID yesterday filed a fresh criminal case at the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court against another Ceylinco group company - Ceylinco Profit Sharing Investment Corporation Ltd - for allegedly cheating and committing criminal breach of trust involving Rs.76.7 million of depositors’ money

Dengue prevention not our duty: Maithripala

Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena said that dengue prevention does not necessarily fall within the ambit of the Health ministry

CEPA review expedited

The Inter Agency Committee appointed to review the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India, has been asked to expedite work on the matter, officials said today

Oral test for GCE O/L English exam

The Education Ministry has decided to introduce an oral test for the English language at the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination from next year, Minister Bandula Gunawardane said today

47 involved in prisons riot identified

The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate Court today that they had identified 47 suspects involved in causing damage to the Magazine Prison and its property during riots that took place in the prison on January 27

SL Embassy in Iraq to be opened immediately

The President has instructed the External Affairs Ministry to re-open the Sri Lankan Embassy in Iraq with immediate affect, Presidential Spokesman Bandula Jayasekara said

New luxury buses from China

New luxury buses imported from China will be introduced to six routes in the Colombo city this month (February) as part of a pilot project to promote public transportation to passengers who use private vehicles, the Transport Ministry said today

U.S. punishing small nations: MR

As the combined United States and European Union sanctions against Iran take effect, small nations like Sri Lanka are extremely worried. Sri Lanka depends almost entirely on Iran for its crude oil supplies and the only refinery in the country, Sapugaskanda, can only process Iranian crude

Dengue review to be held today

The first review assembly of the dengue action committee appointed by President Rajapaksa is to be held today at the Presidential Secretariat. The Committee headed by the Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena together with ministers in charge of twelve ministries

GMOA strike for telephone allowance

Government doctors in all provincial hospitals in the Colombo District are on a token strike today owing to the failure of the government to provide a telephone allowances to the doctors

CID fabricating evidence, Bhartha’s counsel says

The Counsel for Baratha Lakshma Premachandra, Upali Kumarapperuma told court today that the CID is "fabricating evidence" when the case was taken up today

J’pura students to hold protest at noon today

The students of the Sri Jayawardenapura University will hold a protest at noon today in front of the university. The Students Union says that the protest will be held against the dictatorial behaviour of the Vice Chancellor

Suicide jacket found in Kataragama

An old suicide jacket weighing more than three kilos was found hidden inside a room of a rest house in Kataragama this morning, the police said. UPDATE and PICTURES

MPs currently on visit to Israel

A Sri Lankan parliamentary delegation is currently visiting Israel on an invitation extended by the Israeli parliament – ‘The Knesset’. The Sri Lankan delegation comprises of Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena; Deputy Minister Neomal Perera; UNP MPs John Amaratunga and Buddhika Pathirana; and Secretary-General of Parliament Dhammika Kithulgoda