Wadduwa tragedy: Two event organisers arrested

A proxy owner and a publicity officer of a private event organising company, which organized the party at a hotel in Wadduwa in which four persons died, had been arrested today.  

Royal NZ military aircraft lands at Mattala

A Royal New Zealand Air Force military C-130 aircraft landed at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) this morning for refuelling and for crew resting, Airport Manager Upali Kalansuriya said.

Presidential Pardon for Gnanasara Thera?

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka said today that President Maithripala Sirisena's attention would likely to be focused on a presidential pardon for Ven. Galagoda Attte Gnanasara Thera who was sentenced to six years.

Mangala pledges to resolve salary anomalies within 3 months

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera today requested railway employees to stop the strike and come for discussions and ensured to resolve their salary anomalies within three months.

Rs. 650,000 each for a councillor’s chair at WPC

Some 104 chairs, each costing Rs 650,000, had been reportedly ordered from abroad for the chamber of the new Western Provincial Council building, JVP Western Provincial Councillor Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi said.

Eight trains to operate this evening: Railway Dept.

The Railway Department will operate eight trains by this evening despite the work stoppage by the railway trade unions, Railways Additional General WijayaSamarasinghe told Daily Mirror.

Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (Amnd.) Bill passed

The Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (Amendment) Bill was passed with Amendments amidst chaos in Parliament this morning. Parliament went into chaos when the joint opposition accused Speaker Karu Jayasuriya of not inquiring from the House whether it was agreeable to the second reading of the Bill. Speaker Jayasuriya who responded said he made the inquiry before going into the committee stage.  

Hydrographic survey ship of Chinese Navy in Colombo

A hydrographic survey ship of the Chinese Navy arrived at the Colombo port on Wednesday on a four-day goodwill visit, the Navy said.

Will take actions to defeat trade union terrorism: Sagala

The Government would take every possible action to defeat the trade union terrorism considering the welfare and the support of the public, Southern Development Minister and Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka said in a statement.  

NZ checks visas of SL students who used fraudulent company

New Zealand Immigration staff are manually checking nearly 900 applications from Sri Lankan students who allegedly used a finance company which is at the centre of a student visa scam, NZ Herald reported quoting Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway.

Resolve issues in a humane manner: Prez urges TUs

President Maithripala Sirisena today requested the trade unions including the railways to resolve their issues in an intelligent and humane manner without causing inconvenience to the innocent people.

Strong quake again hits Indonesia's Lombok island

A strong earthquake hit Indonesia's Lombok island today, causing some buildings to collapse, the Al Jazeera reported a short while ago.

Parliament Road closed due to protest

Parliament Road from Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla is temporarily closed because of a protest being carried out by Samurdhi Officers over several demands, the Police said.

Railway strike continues

The work stoppage by the Railway Trade Union Alliance (RTUA) is continuing in the absence of any signs of the matter being resolved, RTUA Co-Convener Lal Ariyaratne today said.

9,509 SL refugees have returned from TN: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday informed parliament that 9,509 Sri Lankan refugees who were in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu had returned to the country since 2010 and that another 3,815 people had expressed their willingness to return as well.

Flight with 124 on board diverted to pick ex-airline chairman, PCoI told

SriLankan Airlines’ Colombo flight from Kuala Lumpur (UL-319), had been diverted to Singapore by former SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe, to pick up him, his spouse and another Govt. delegation in January 2014, the PCoI on irregularities at the SriLankan Airlines was told yesterday.

Sri Lanka get first win of ODI series against S Africa

Sri Lanka beat South Africa by three runs in a tense rain-hit clash to end their losing streak in the one-day series in the fourth game in Pallekele.  

Duties on small cars to be revised soon: PM

The government intended to revise the import duties imposed on small cars and hybrid vehicles in the near future, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe informed Parliament yesterday.

Desperate Govt. tapping phones: JO

In a last minute attempt of survival, the Government had started listening in to phone conversations of, not only its political opponents but also Ministers, who were criticising the Government, the Joint Opposition (JO) charged today.

Liquor price increases

The prices of fast-moving locally manufactured liquor products of Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka (DCSL) have been reportedly increased between Rs. 30 to 40 from midnight yesterday.

Karunanidhi funeral: 2 Killed, many injured in stampede

Two people were killed and many were injured as a stampede broke out this afternoon outside Chennai's Rajaji Hall, after the police used batons to control the crowds surging for a last look at DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi.

Leave of SLTB workers cancelled

Leave of all Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) workers has been cancelled until the train strike ends, SLTB Chairman Ramal Siriwardene said today.

Special bus service to facilitate stranded train commuters: FM

The Finance ministry announced today that special bus services have been provided to facilitate the train commuters who were stranded due to the train strike and that private buses could travel on any route regardless of route permits.

STF deployed to control tense situ at Fort Railway station

Police Special Task Force (STF) and Anti Riots Squad have been deployed at the Fort Railway station due to a tense situation erupted because of the protest staged by the railway commuters, Police said.

Talks cancelled: Train strike to continue

The discussions that were due to be held at 6.30 p.m. between Railways trade unions and Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera on the ongoing railway strike had been cancelled, Railway Trade Union Alliance Co-Convener Lal Ariyaratne said.

I warned of railway strike: Rajitha

Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said he had warned of an impending railway strike at the recent Cabinet meeting when Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera objected to the Cabinet proposal brought in to resolve the salary anomalies of the railway employees.

Fuel price hike likely if US imposes sanctions on Iran: PM

The impending US economic sanctions on Iran might result in another fuel price hike as it would have a negative effect on Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament today.

Three faculties of Rajarata Uni temporarily closed

Three faculties of the Rajarata University were closed till August 26 due to the spread of chickenpox within the university premises, Vice Chancellor Prof. Ranjith Wijayawardana said today.

Commuters protest over train strike

A group of train commuters staged a protest outside the Fort Railway station blocking one lane of the Olcott Mawatha, against the sudden train strike launched by the railway employees from 3.00 pm today.  

Strike: No trains since 3 p.m today

The Railway Trade Unions have launched a sudden strike, which started 3.00 p.m. until further notice over a salary issue, Railway Trade Union Alliance Co-Convener Lal Ariyaratne said.