SJP students heading to Temple Trees

Thousands of students of the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) staged a massive protest march today demanding the immediate removal of the Sri Jayawardenapura University Vice Chancellor. The demonstration caused hours-long traffic congestions along the High Level Road and Galle Road    UPDATE

Implement recommendations in LLRC report

Religious leaders called for the implementation of recommendations set out in the LLRC report. They went on to say that the report has not presented a total solution. This comments were made at a media conference by the Congress of Religions

‘New electoral system will better reflect the will of the people’: Dinesh

The government expects the support of “an overwhelming majority of political parties in parliament” to pass the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Bill on January 17, Chief Government Whip and Minister of Water Supply and Drainage Dinesh Gunawardena said today

Petrol bomb blast in J'Pura campus

A petrol bomb blast was reported in the Sri Jayawardenapura University early this morning damaging a memorial statue within the University. The blast had occured at around 2.25am.

four fishermen held by the Navy

Four fishermen from Rameswaram, who ventured into the sea on Monday were allegedly arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on Wednesday. Govindaraj (45), Arumuguam (35), Kumar (34) and Kalanjianathan (53) ventured into the sea in a boat belonging to one Bose.

Missing A/L papers found

Five A/L examination papers of students who had sat for the examination on Buddhist Civilisation which had gone missing, were discovered on Tuesday (3), the Ceylon Teachers Services Union said yesterday

Census to count toilets as well

The third stage of a countrywide population and housing census will begin next month to gather information on the number of residents in a household, tenure, access to drinking water, electricity, cooking fuel, toilet facilities, communication and internet facilities, methods of solid waste disposal and other household information, the Department of Census and Statistics said

Lankan asylum seeker accused of petrol station robbery

A Sri Lankan asylum seeker stands accused of robbing a petrol station and beating a man with a baseball bat. Hajendra Saravanababanantha, 26, is also alleged to have sent a threatening text message and defrauded another petrol station

Body of Khuram Shaikh repatriated to the UK

The body of Mr. Khuram Shaikh, a British National who was murdered in a brutal attack on December 25, has been returned to the United Kingdom in preparation for a family funeral

Body of abducted male found in Grandpass

The body of a man allegedly abducted by an unidentified group on Tuesday night was found in Grandpass this morning. Police media spokesman Ajith Rohana said the body was found at around 6.30am on Ferguson Road in Grandpass

No one will be allowed to rock the boat in 2012: Ranil

Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today said those who attacked the party head quarters ‘Sirikotha’ on December 19 and those who are defending them are enemies of the party.

N.G.P. Panditaratna passes away

Mr. N.G.P. Panditaratna (91) former chairman of the UNP, the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka and a close confidante of late President J.R. Jayawardene passed away this morning. Funeral arrangements will be notified later.

Suspect in Gillian Anderson’s case remanded till Jan.18

A Sri Lankan who had misappropriated Rs.17.8 million from Sri Lankan properties belonging to popular Hollywood actress of X-Files fame Gillian Anderson, was remanded till January18, by Colombo Fort Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne after taking into consideration the seriousness of the offence.

SLMC and DUA to merge?

Moves are afoot to create a political union between the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the Democratic Unity Alliance (DUA), the Daily Mirror reliably learns

SL repatriates 35 Indian fishermen after cyclone

Thirty-five Indian fishermen who drifted into Sri Lankan waters late last month were taken back to the state of Tamil Nadu by the Indian Coast Guard on Tuesday, the Press Trust of India reported.

Team to reach Cmb today to repair boats

A team from Tamil Nadu is arriving here on Wednesday in a bid to repair and re-float the seven boats that require to be fixed before they can be taken back.

TNA and SLMC want Mullaitivu LG Elections postponed

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) yesterday requested the Elections Commissioner Mahinda Desapriya to postpone the elections to the local government bodies in the Mullaitivu district, informed sources said.

Gem of a student

The Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday directed the Controller of Immigration and Emigration to prevent a Sri Lankan student studying in Japan from leaving the country as he had allegedly cheated a gem businessman of Rs.11.4 million

More people friendly initiatives in 2012: Police

The Police Department is planning to take a number of steps this year to increase its efficiency and move closer to the public by introducing a number of people friendly initiatives under the directions of Inspector General of Police (IGP) N.K. Illangakone

Seven students from Rajarata uni suspended

Seven students of the Faculty of Medicine of the Rajarata University who had allegedly been involved in various violent activities were suspended by the Vice Chancellor of the university today

Saudi woman held over affair with Lankan

Saudi Arabia’s feared religious police arrested a divorced local woman for having an affair with a Sri Lankan man after confessing she was pregnant, a newspaper reported on Tuesday

Afghan unit to hunt abused bride's husband

A special 10-man police unit has been set up to hunt for the husband and others behind the torture of a 15-year-old Afghan bride, officials say. Sahar Gul was left starving in a basement by her new husband and his family. The case came to light last month when police rescued the teenager.

Threat to Pera student's lives discussed at meeting

The meeting which was held between the leaders of the Student Unions of the nine faculties, Deans and the Vice Chancellor had ended cordially sources say. The Unions had put forward their request to remove all conditions that harm the smooth functioning of the unions stating that their actions never put the student's lives at risk and did not bring the university into disrepute

Central Unit for Crime Analysis opens

The police opened the Central Unit for Crime Analysis today to identify trends of criminal activities, the instant prevention of crime together with advice on the necessary measures that need to be taken and the establishment of divisional units to mdonitor crime

Election for office bearers was mistake: Attanayake

The election which was held last year to elect new officer Bearers of the UNP was a mistake as it would lead to unwanted divisions in the party, General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said today

TNA ‘sincerely committed’ to talks‪

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) today dismissed speculation that it was planning to withdraw from talks with the government and reiterated its commitment to continue the bilateral discussions

A/L mishap due to three data entry operators: Dullus

Preliminary Investigations have revelealed that the August GCE Advanced Level results mishap was due to three data entry operators feeding the same results to the Examination Department database Youth Affais and Skills development Minister Dulles Allahapperuma said today

Tiger stamp not official says French Embassy

Following reports published in different newspapers regarding the issuance in France of stamps bearing pictures and symbols of the LTTE, the Embassy of France in Sri Lanka wishes to inform the media and the Sri Lankan public that no such stamp is part of the official philatelist programme of France, neither on sale in the French post offices

Student Unions to meet Vice Chancellor today

The represantatives of the Student Unions of the Peradeniya University are to meet  the Vice Chancellor today. The meeting would be to request the Vice Chancellor to remove all conditions that have been laid down for the function of Student Unions by the university

Dharmadasa new Chairman of SLC

Upali Dgarmadasa has been appointed as the new Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket uncontested. Dharmadasa is the first elected chairman of the bodyin seven years,