Kofi Annan death: World leaders honour former UN chief

World figures have been paying tribute to former UN secretary-general and Nobel laureate Kofi Annan, who has died at the age of 80.

Cases against Senarath and Kudabalage: The first to be heard by the Trial at Bar

The Special High Court Trial at Bar set up to hear cases of financial frauds and other major crimes will sit for the first time at Huftsdorp next Friday, a Colombo High Court source said yesterday.

IGP asks police in North to build houses for people there

The police officers stationed in the North are reportedly nonplussed and at a loss as to how they are to carry out the orders issued by Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara they should at least build one house each to be donated to people in the area.

SL underworld nesting in universities: Wijeyadasa

Sri Lanka's underworld is nowhere else but in universities, Higher Education and Cultural Affairs Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said yesterday.

Imran Khan sworn in as Pakistan prime minister

Former cricketer Imran Khan has been sworn-in as the new prime minister of Pakistan, more than two decades after he entered politics.

Turkish, Iranian economic crises may affect SL: PM

Fresh moves by the United States to impose sanctions on Turkey and the impending economic crisis in Iran may affect Sri Lanka as well, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Japanese Defence Minister to Visit SL next week

Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera will visit Sri Lanka from August 20 to 22. It will be the first time ever for a Japanese Defense Minister to visit Sri Lanka.

Open economy destroyed Lankan values: Cardinal

The open economy has destroyed the social norms and values practiced by the people of this country, Colombo's Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said.

Matara-Beliatta Railway Track: Work to finish by early 2019

The first phase of the Southern Railway Expansion Project -- the stretch from Matara to Beliatta, will be completed by the beginning of next year, a Chinese construction company consultant said yesterday.

Strong winds damage nearly 700 houses

Strong winds that hit 12 districts during the past two days have damaged nearly 700 houses, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today.

Work-to-rule campaign from midnight to replace bus strike: ACPBWA

The All Ceylon Private Bus Workers' Association (ACPBWA) said they will stop the ongoing strike and launch a work-to-rule campaign from midnight today, unless the President intervenes to solve their issues.

Landslide warning issued for three districts

National Building Research Organization (NBRO) today warned of possible landslides, rock falls, slope failures, cutting failures and cutting subsidence in three districts.

Pakistan Par. approves Imran Khan’s premiership

The National Assembly approved Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan as 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Distribution of 800 tickets: SLC rejects allegation

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said today the media reports that Sports Minister had distributed 800 tickets free of charge among his close associates were baseless and that SLC only allocated tickets to the Minister to accommodate people at the ‘Minister’s Box,’ which is reserved for the Sports Minister, during International Matches.

Cochin airport closure: SriLankan offers other options to passengers

SriLankan airlines has introduced a series of measures to mitigate inconvenience to its valued passengers from the closure of the Cochin International Airport due to flooding.

It is political revenge: MR

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa today claimed that the government was using journalist Keith Noyahr’s abduction and assault to achieve its political ends and described it as yet another case of political revenge.

Sri Lanka becomes a member of CICA

Sri Lanka was unanimously accepted as a Member of the Conference on Interactions and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) on 15 August 2018, by its 26 Member States. 

Wildlife Dept denies report of attempt of eagle to grab child

Referring to the incident where an eagle had attempted to grab a child at Sucharithagama in Anuradhapura on Wednesday, the Wildlife Conservation Department denied it, saying it was difficult to find such huge eagles in Sri Lanka.

CID team leaves MR’s residence: Records statement for 3 hours

CID detectives have left the official residence of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa after recording a statement for nearly three hours.

Sri Lankan leaders pay tributes to Vajpayee

Sri Lankan cabinet minister and Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella will attend former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's funeral on Friday, as an envoy of Sri Lanka, authorities said.

Bus strike continues

All Ceylon Private Bus Workers Association (ACPBWA) said that the ongoing private bus strike will continue today as well unless the President himself intervenes to solve their issues.

India monsoon floods 'kill 106' in Kerala

More than 100 people are thought to have died in devastating monsoon floods in India's southern state of Kerala, the worst in almost a century.

CID team at Rajapaksa’s residence

A special CID team arrived at the official residence of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo to record a statement from him over the abduction and torture of Journalist Keith Noyahr a short while ago.

Nine planes grounded by bomb threats in South America

Nine planes were forced to make emergency changes to their routes within Chilean, Argentine and Peruvian airspace on Thursday because of bomb threats issued to Chile’s civil aviation authority said.

Minister gave 800 tickets free of charge: SLC incurs Rs.4 mn loss: JO

Sports Minister Faiszer Mustapha distributed some 800 tickets free of charge among his close associates for the recently concluded 50 over finals and the T20 between Sri Lanka and South Africa, thus incurring a Rs.4 million loss to Sri Lanka Cricket, the joint opposition said yesterday.

Govt. gazettes new revenue proposals

The government has gazetted a series of amendments to the Finance Act to give effect to several revenue proposals in the budget 2018, including taxes on cellular towers, luxury motor vehicles, vehicle entitlement and carbon emissions.  

FTA to be amended if expert committee recommends

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Sri Lanka and Singapore will be amended if the expert committee appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena proposes they were necessary, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said yesterday.

A/L exam timetable in a muddle

Several candidates have lost the opportunity to sit for two subject papers with the alleged bungling of the GCE Advanced Level examination timetable, it is learnt.

We thank MR for saving Keith Noyar: Ajith P. Perera

We must be thankful to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his intervention to prevent the killing of journalist Keith Noyahr in 2009, State Minister Ajith P. Perera said yesterday.

Vehicles not meeting standards to be re-exported at importers’ cost

Vehicles imported on Letters of Credit (LCs) opened after July 13, 2018, should undergo a pre-shipment Emission Inspection and Certification, an Extraordinary Gazette Notice dated August 10 said.