SL remains a ‘Priority Country’ in UK HR report

Sri Lanka has achieved limited progress in the human rights situation and remains a priority country in the United Kingdom’s Annual Human Rights Report 2017, the British High Commission on Monday said.

Despite a few protesters, majority attended Jaffna meeting: OMP

The Office on Missing Persons (OMP) today said a majority of the family members whose loved ones went missing and disappeared, attended the OMP meeting held in Jaffna on Saturday despite a few members protesting outside.

Lasantha murder: Ex-DIG, fmr. Crimes OIC released on bail

Former DIG Prasanna Nanayakkara and former Crimes OIC Mount Lavinia Tissa Sugathapala, who were arrested in connection with the murder of former Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha

Death penalty: EU writes to President raising concerns

The delegation of the European Union in Sri Lanka as well as the diplomatic missions of Canada and Norway have written to President Maithripala Sirisena to verify the worrying information in the public domain about the intention of the Sri Lankan government to resume implementing the death penalty after a moratorium of more than 40 years.

Will increase forest cover to 32%: President

President Maithripala Sirisena, who arrived in Rome to attend the 24th session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO 24), said Sri Lanka was well set to increase its forest cover to 32 percent.

Basil permitted to travel abroad

Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa was granted permission by the Colombo High Court today to travel to the US for medical treatment.

Development officer hacked to death in Anguruwatota

A development officer of the Dodamgoda divisional secretariat was hacked to death by unidentified men at an apartment at Yala Junction in Anguruwatota early this morning.

Two flights diverted to MRIA due to bad weather

Two SriLankan flights which were scheduled to land at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake were diverted to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) this morning due to adverse weather, the BIA Duty Manager said.

Money circulation down: PM

The demand for consumer goods had gone down as a result of money circulation decline in the country, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

France wins 2018 FIFA world cup

France won the 2018 FIFA World Cup by beating Croatia in the final played today at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) tweeted a short while ago.  

Bus fare hike if Govt. failed to meet demands: ACPBA

The All Ceylon Private Bus Association (ACPBA) said that it would go for a bus fare increase if the Government failed to look at their demands favourably.

EU says no to Death penalty

The heads of diplomatic missions of the European Union (EU) countries would convey their displeasure to President Maithripala Sirisena on the move to execute death sentence, the Daily Mirror learned.

Heroin worth 17 million found in Serunuwara

Heroin worth 17 million had been recovered at the Seenanveli Beach in Serunuwara today, Police said.

Death Sentence: List of 18 submitted to Justice Ministry

A list consisting names of 18 convicts, who were sentenced to death for drug-related crimes, had been submitted to the Justice and Prison Reforms Ministry, Prisons Spokesman Commissioner Thushara Upuldeniya said.

Beware of strong winds: Met Dept.

Issuing a special weather advisory, the Meteorology Department today warned the public to be vigilant of strong winds and rough seas, which is expected to prevail till Tuesday (17)

HRCSL wants President to revoke death penalty view

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) in a letter sent to President Maithripala Sirisena had requested to revoke his decision to enforce the capital punishment on drug traffickers and implement a powerful and long-term policy framework for the suppression of grave crimes, including drug trafficking.

Education sector to disrupt due to a token strike

Country’s education sector to disrupt due to an islandwide token strike by Education Administrative service officers, school principals and teachers on Thursday (26) urging the Government to suspend 1,014 appointments made under the political victimization scheme immediately.

SLA will not close camps in North: Army Commander

Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake today said in a media statement that as a responsible Army, SLA would not close down Army camps in the Northern Province as alleged by some media reports.

Glyphosate ban lifted

The Government has lifted the ban on glyphosate for all crops throughout the country by a gazette issued by the Registrar of Pesticides.

Prices of bakery products up by Rs. 5 except bread

All bakery products, except bread, would be increased by Rs. 5 from midnight today (15) because of the recent fuel price hike and domestic gas price hike, the All Island Bakery Owners’ Association (AIBOA) said.

Fake passport racket helping Lankans fly abroad as Indians busted in TN

Indian Police have busted a fake passport racket in Tamil Nadu, which helped Sri Lankan nationals fly abroad from the city as Indian citizens, the PTI reported.

Belgium beat England to finish third

Belgium earned its highest World Cup finish on Saturday by beating England 2-0 in the third-place match.

SL workers vulnerable to forced labour in NZ, Egypt

Sri Lankan workers are vulnerable to forced labour in New Zealand and Egypt and they are subjected to forced labour in Pakistan, the 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report released by the US Department of State said.

South Africa get its lowest score ever

Dilruwan Perera and Rangana Herath cleaned up the house in the second session, as South Africa came out to chase 352. South Africa bowlers did well to bowl out the hosts for 10 in the first session, but they failed yet again with the bat. The Proteas were once again undone by the spin with Perera taking 6 wickets and Herath cleaning up the rest. Lakshan Sandakan took the final wicket of Tabraiz Shamsi as South Africa were bowled out for 73. Sri L

Drug traffickers - Dilshan praises MS for implementing death sentence

Sri Lanka former national cricket team's ca[taom T.M. Dilshan yesterday praised President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to implement the death sentence for drug traffickers.

Carrying out death sentence won't stop crimes: Ajith P Perera

Carrying out the death sentence will not stop crimes, State Minister Ajith P. Perera told a media briefing yesterday and added that this is a reality he learned through his experience as a lawyer and a lecturer at the police training school.

'Ava' gangsters influenced by violence in Tamil films: Minister

After a fact finding mission in Jaffna, Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara said yesterday the ‘Ava’ criminal gang was a phenomenon created by some youngsters influenced by violent scenes in Tamil films.

UNP to consider 20-A on Monday

The United National Party (UNP) will on Monday take up for discussions the 20th Amendment to the Constitution submitted by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) on the abolishing of the executive presidential system, House Leader and Minister Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday.

A'pura MC approves resolution to sing national anthem in cinema halls

A resolution submitted by Anuradhapura Municipal Council's Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna member Ranjith Rajakaruna that cinema hall owners should be instructed to play the national anthem at all cinema halls before the screening movies was unanimously passed at the monthly council meeting yesterday.

Unruly behaviour: MP Ranaweera summoned by P’ment Privilege Committee

Joint opposition MP Prasanna Ranaweera has been summoned to appear before the Parliament Privilege Committee on Monday over his unruly behaviour in Parliament when former State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran made a statement regarding LTTE resurgence.