I only discussed 13 plus with India: President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday he had only discussed the 13th Amendment plus with Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna. The President said it was not up to him but the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee to determine the solution best suited for Sri Lanka

SL's largest ocean research vessel in construction

Sri Lanka had begun constructing one of the country’s largest ocean research vessels at an estimated value of Rs.25 million, the Fisheries Ministry said yesterday.

A/L crisis goes to Supreme Court

Sixteen GCE Advanced Level Students and the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) yesterday filed fundamental rights violation petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the formula applied on the 2011 GCE Advanced Level Examination to calculate the Z-score

Karu denies rumours of forming political party

Former Deputy Leader of UNP Karu Jayasuriya yesterday scoffed rumours that he is going to form a political party.

Fishermen Attack: D. Raja Welcomes Jaya Govt's Stand

Welcoming the Tamil Nadu Government's stand on the issue of recurring attacks on Indian fishermen allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy and Katchatheevu, CPI leader D. Raja today said, "prolonged indifferent" attitude by the Centre would have "serious impact on the country's federal structure."

Trishaw driver sentenced to death for trafficking heroin

Colombo High Court today sentenced a trishaw driver to death for trafficking and retaining heroin.

Attack on Viluthu head office condemned

A group of well-known civil society activists have strongly condemned the recent attack on the Colombo head office of Viluthu, a non-governmental organisation working to promote social justice and women’s rights

FUTA vows to take action

The Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) today vowed to do everything possible to prevent the private universities bill from proceeding if it is presented to Parliament without consulting all stakeholders in the higher education sector.

Teacher trainees guilty of ragging to be expelled

The Education Ministry has decided to expel teacher trainees, who are found guilty of subjecting new comers to ragging at the National Colleges of Education, Minister Bandula Gunawardane said today.

Police to amend existing seat belt law

The Police Department is to amend the existing seat belt law to charge spot fines on drivers who fail to wear it instead of sending them to courts.

Court stops release of fertiliser

The Colombo Commercial High Court today ordered the Director General of Customs and the Registrar of Pesticides to stop the release of fertiliser allegedly contaminated by arsenic and mercury until further notice.

Derailment in Badulla

The “Podimenike”  express train from Colombo derailed at the Badulla railway station this evening when it was moving to the yard after de-training passengers. The train ground to a halt obstructing the level crossing on the Badulla–Mudunpita road.

Admin and financial irregularities hamper Eastern Uni activities

Administrative irregularities and financial misappropriations have hampered the activities of the Eastern University for years, officials said today.

Determined to regain Katchatheevu

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah today reiterated the state government's resolve to regain Katchatheevu, an island ceded to Sri Lanka through an accord, to restore the lost rights of the fisheremen.

Police to assist tourists

The Police Department has taken steps to increase the number of Tourist Police units in the country to assist and help tourists as the number of tourists visiting the island had increased in the recent past.

SL won't draw balance of $2.6bil IMF loan

Sri Lanka, which is locked in a row with the International Monetary Fund over its exchange rate policy, will not draw the remaining $800 million of a $2.6 billion loan from the global lender due to the high interest rate, the governor of the central bank said on Monday.

Gillian Anderson case suspect released on bail

The  Army Captain who was in remand custody on charges of having misappropriated Rs.17.8 million from the Sri Lankan properties owned by popular X-files actress Gillian Anderson was released on strict bail by a Colombo Court today.

DNA test to confirm suspect in Payagala crash

The police are to conduct a DNA test to ascertain the identity of the suspect who is in police custody over the death of two cyclists who were knocked down by him on Saturday night in Payagala, a nephew of a Deputy Minister

PSC to decide on 13+: MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa says he only discussed 13 plus with India and it is up to select committee to decide on political solutions

Fire at Mathugama PS building

A fire broke out at the Mathugama Pradeshiya Sabha Building last night and Kalutara Urban Council fire brigade was called in to douse the fire

Destroyed documents to be collected from respective courts

The Prison Department is to collect the criminal records of the prisoners in remand for narcotic offences from respective courts destroyed after the records room of the Magazine remand prison was set on fire during riots on Tuesday, a senior prison officer said.

Thondaman harassed in India

Indian police had to escort Minister Arumugam Thondaman’s nephew Uva Provincial Councillor Senthil Thondaman who was on a visit to Thirunallar Temple in Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu, when a group of political activists tried to surround him on Saturday night, Indian media reports said.

I have the power to steer party: Ranil

Opposition UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today claimed that by virtue of the party’s Constitution he had full powers to give orders and take decisions to ensure strict discipline in the party.

Snakes, crocodiles in Ratmalana house

A wide variety of crocodiles and snakes were recovered by Wildlife Conservation Officials during a raid on a house at the Ratmalana Sirilmalwatte housing scheme last Saturday.

Abducted man found in hiding

A youth from Trincomalee who had reportedly been abducted, was arrested by the Police while hiding in Achchuveli, Jaffna today.

School development project failure:JVP

The JVP today cited the project for the development of 1,000 secondary schools as a total failure and therefore urged the government to abrogate the programme immediately.

Man pulled away by crocodiles

A man who was cutting grass in a marshy land area situated close to the Ragama town disappeared when he was pulled deep into the marshy fields by a group of crocodiles.

Seventeen killed due to accidents

Seventeen persons were killed due to road accidents reported from 6.00am on Saturday and 6.00am today due recklessness, driving after consuming alcohol and speeding, bringing in a marked rise in fatal road accidents, the Police Headquarters said today

Political parties asked to submit accounts

The Elections Secretariat  has informed all political parties to submit their annual accounts for the year 2011 by January 31.  The Secretariat has informed 27 Political parties which had failed to submit their accounts to the secretariat to do so by January 31.

UGC calls for University applications

The University Grants Commission called for applications today for the 2012 academic year from eligible students who passed the 2011 Advanced Level examination