Nirupama’s husband denies reports of attack

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) parliamentarian Nirupama Rajapaksa’s husband Thirukumaran Nadesan today denied media reports which said he was attacked by a group of activists today at Rameswaram

Nirupama's husband attacked at Rameswaram

Thirukumaran Nadesan, husband of Sri Lankan Member of Parliament Nirupama Rajapaksa, was attacked on Tuesday in Rameswaram by a group of activists.

Trawler used for human trafficking seized

The multi-day fishing trawler which was to be used to take 22 asylum seekers was taken into custody by the Sri Lanka Navy this morning off the seas of Hambantota

Sri Lanka cricket in 'crisis': Aluthgamage

Sri Lanka's sports minister on Monday blasted the national cricket team's recent performances, saying the side was riven by politics and in "crisis". Mahindananda Aluthgamage vowed to deliver a stern lecture to the players when they return later this month from their tour of South Africa, where they last week lost the Test series 2-1

SLFP to probe allegations against Mervyn

The SLFP disciplinary committee has decided to probe all allegations levelled against Minister Mervyn Silva by a group of Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha members

Lanka to issue free passports to Tamil refugees in India

The Sri Lankan government has taken steps to provide free passports to Lankan refugees living in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu to assist them repatriate with minimum costs.

Private universities to be closely monitored: Ministry

Four regulatory and monitoring bodies will be established under the proposed Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Qualification Framework Act to monitor and regulate private degree-awarding institutions, private universities and academies, a senior higher education ministry official said yesterday.

Change of results percentage after re-correction insignificant: Minister

The percentage of change of results after re-correction of answer scripts   of the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination conducted in 2010 had been as low as 1.5 per cent in 2010, a slight increase from 1.1 per cent reported the previous year, Minister Bandula Gunawardane said yesterday.

Indo-Lanka trade booms in Delhi’s favour

The volume of bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and India during the first eleven months of last year had reached US$4.46 billion, an increase of 71.94 per cent when compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, an official said yesterday quoting Sri Lanka customs data.

Party must approve Sajith’s plans: Attanayake

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake today said any activities with regard to the party, including the membership drive, had to be approved by the party’s advisory committee before implementation.

Initial steps taken to indict Sakvithi

Initial steps have been taken to indict alleged billion-rupee fraudster Sakvithi Ranasinghe and several other suspects in the Colombo High Court, in connection with the defrauding of Rs.1,060 million belonging to 2,135 depositors, the Attorney General informed court.

National Cancer Hospital denies radiation fear

The National Cancer Hospital in Maharagama today categorically denied reports that cancer was spreading in the vicinity of the hospital as a result of the hospital’s radiation facilities stating that there was no scientific evidence to show that there was a cancer threat.

Tangalle killing - PS Chairman, five others further remanded

The six suspects who were arrested in connection with the killing of the British tourist Khuram Shaik Zaman and caused severe injuries to his Russian girlfriend Victoria Alexandrovna on Christmas Day at a hotel in Madilla, Tangalle were today, further remanded till January 20.

Five accidents reported on Sunday in E-01

Five accidents took place on the Southern Expressway on Sunday bringing the number of accidents reported so far in Sri Lanka’s first highway to 57.

SJP students dispersed peacefully

All students of the Sri Jayawardenapura University were dispersed peacefully this afternoon following a court order. The traffic congestion on Highlevel Road has eased out and things have gone back to normal in the area

I am prepared to face any probe against me: Mervyn

Controversial Minister Mervyn Silva today challenged those who allege him of frauds asking them to prove them.  Minister Silva told a news conference today that he is prepared to face any probe that may be conducted against him

Man admits to calling shop workers terrorists

A former heroin addict has apologised for calling Indian and Sri Lankan Co-op staff terrorists. Stuart Johnson, 45, pleaded guilty at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court to racial harassment and two counts of assaulting police officers

Traffic jam in Town Hall

A major traffic jam has been reported in the Town Hall area due to a protest march which started from Hyde Park, the police said

Tension at SJP continues

Tension at the Sri Jayawardenapura University continued today as protesting students were requested to leave the university premises by police, STF and army officials following a court order to remove the students from the campus

Arrested for posing as President's Sec.

A person who called the Kegalle SP posing as the Presidents Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and wanted to take a police constable for his son’s security was arrested by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) in Aranayake

Murali becomes a father again

Muttiah Muralitharan’s wife has given birth to a baby girl in a hospital in India

SL to establish embassy in Ukraine

Sri Lanka is to establish a Resident Diplomatic Mission in the Ukraine, the government said in its official website here Monday. This decision was made following the approval of a proposal made by Minister of External Affairs G.L. Peiris to the Cabinet, and was duly approved at the last meeting

I had to close the faculty: Rajarata VC

The Vice Chancellor of the Rajarata University Prof. K.A Nandasena speaking to Daily Mirror online said that he had no choice but to close down the Medical Faculty of the university by 12 noon today PICTURES

SL boat adds to visa concerns

The interception by the Sri Lankan navy of a group of asylum-seekers bound for Australia has heightened concerns that Indonesia's plans to relax its visa restrictions could lead to a sharp spike in the number of boat-people attempting the hazardous journey

“Rethink policy to empower Lankan Tamils economically”

In the present-day world where politics is invariably trumped by economics, India has to have a drastic rethinking of its policy in favour of economically empowering the Tamils in Sri Lanka as a sustainable solution for their rehabilitation, former diplomat G. Parthasarathy said on Sunday

Tiger stamps: Lanka to defy UPU laws

Sri Lanka’s postal authorities have decided to defy rules and regulations stipulated by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) when dealing with letters and parcels with stamps bearing the emblem of the LTTE and the image of its late leader, officials said yesterday.

PMPS to lodge complaint against Minister

The People’s Movement to Protect Schools (PMPS) will lodge a complaint with the Bribery Commission today against Senior Minister Piyasena Gamage who said earlier that he offered a bribe of Rs.150,000 to a leading school in Galle recently.

COPE to discuss meaningful use of public funds

Amid charges about the dismal financial performance at various state institutions, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)  of Parliament will meet the Ministry Secretaries on January 17 to discuss such issues, a senior minister said yesterday.

Maligawatta shooting - suspects still at large

The Colombo Crime Division (CCD) has intensified its search for the suspects involved in the shooting incident in the Apple-watta area in Maligawatta last Tuesday (January 3) which resulted in the death of a person who is the brother of a prominent underworld figure

Asylum seekers brought to Colombo

The 14 asylum seekers who were planning to flee to Australia along with the eight supporters who were arrested while in a guest house in Rekawa area in Tangalle have been brought to Colombo by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and are currently been held under detention orders.