Fuel prices to go up from midnight today

A decision has been taken to increase fuel prices of CEYPETCO outlets from tonight, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.

All 12 boys and football coach rescued from Thai cave

All 12 boys and their football coach have been rescued from a Thai cave after an 18-day ordeal, the Thai Navy SEALs said in a Facebook post on Tuesday evening, on the third day of a complex mission to bring them out.

Sri Lanka to implement death penalty on drug traffickers

Minister of Buddhasasana Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said today the cabinet of Ministers had decided to Implement the death sentence for drug traffickers including those who were already being sentenced to death in prisons.  

India to advice SL, others on consequences of engaging with China

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has revealed that India would adopt a broad approach to deal with China’s increasing influence in the neighbourhood by closely tracking China’s activities and advising neighbors including Sri Lanka on the consequences of engaging with China, the Hindustan Times reported on Sunday.

Missing trawler located with seven fishermen

The multi-day fishing trawler, 'Sindur-2' that went missing with seven fishermen on board had been located at the Maldivian Sea, the Fisheries Ministry said.

Songstress Priyani’s husband remanded

Suspect Rasika Eden Prabath who was accused of the brutal killing of his wife, songstress Priyani Jayasinghe has been remanded till July 23 by the Panadura Magistrate today.

IP arrested while accepting Rs. 300,000 bribe

An Inspector of Police (IP) in-charge of Kalkudah Police administrative unit was arrested by officers of the Bribery Commission while accepting a bribe of Rs. 300,000 from a businessman today.

Two State Ministers sworn in

Two new State Ministers were sworn in before President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat today, President’s Media Division said.  

SF: Police can’t fight underworld through cheap tactics

Wildlife Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka yesterday said that the Police would not be able to eradicate the underworld by resorting to third grade and futile methods.

Thai PM to visit SL, talks on FTA to be held

Prime Minister of Thailand, General Prayut Chan-o-cha would arrive in Sri Lanka on a two-day official visit on Thursday and negotiations for a possible future Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would be launched during the visit, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said today.

Met.Dept. warns of strong winds

The prevailing windy condition would likely to continue further and strong gusty winds up to 50 to 60 kmph can be expected over the island, the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Meteorology Department warned.

Rescuers gear up for final push to save remaining five from Thai cave

Rescuers resumed preparations on Tuesday for a third rescue operation deep into a cave complex in northern Thailand to free four remaining boys and their soccer coach in a race against time and monsoon weather.

President’s ex-Chief of Staff, ex-STC Chairman re-remanded

President Maithripala Sirisena's former chief of staff I.H.K. Mahanama and State Timber Corporation (STC) former chairman P. Dissanayaka were re-remanded till July 13 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate today. The two were arrested on charges of accepting a bribe of Rs.20 million.

New chairman appointed to SL school in Doha

A new chairman has been appointed to the Sri Lankan School in Doha, Qatar, after removing its former chairman on the basis of some serious complaints, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Qatar A.S.P Liyanage told The Peninsula news agency yesterday.

Two Lankans jailed to 8 months over fake passports

Two Sri Lankan men were sentenced to eight months' jail last Thursday for owning fake British passports, the Singapore Straits Times reported.

SC grants leave on liquor petition

Supreme Court yesterday (9) granted Leave to Proceed with the Fundamental Rights petition challenging the Excise Notification imposing a restriction on female employees in liquor industry as discriminating against them.

Can the SLFP be thrown out? Sampanthan

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan asked in Parliament as to how the new political party Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) could dispense with Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) founded by the late S.W. R. D. Bandaranaike.

Brexit: Foreign Secretary quits adding pressure on PM May

Boris Johnson has resigned as UK Foreign Secretary amid a growing political crisis over the UK's Brexit strategy, the BBC reported a short while ago. He is the second senior cabinet minister to quit within hours following Brexit Secretary David Davis's exit.

Carry out a forensic audit to put an end to bond issue: UNP MP

It is high time that a forensic audit was conducted to determine the exact losses, which the Government had suffered from the bond scam and recover that amount from those who were responsible for it, a UNP backbench MP said today.

One killed, two injured in expressway accident

A woman was killed and two others were injured after a luxury jeep they were travelling in collided with the crash bar at the Elpitiya in Southern Expressway this afternoon.

Eight schoolboys freed from Thai cave

Rescuers working at a cave site in northern Thailand have suspended operations for the day after bringing four more boys out of the flooded cave system Monday, according to a witness working with the rescue team, bringing the total number of rescued boys to eight.

Delays to increase DAT allowance: GMOA to launch strike

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) would resort to strike action after July 17 without pre-notice over several demands including delays to increase the Disturbance, Availability and Transport (DAT) allowance paid to medical officers.

Take action before Vijayakala leaves country: PHU

The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) headed by MP Udaya Gammanpila today said the law enforcement authorities should take immediate action over the controversial statement made by former State Minister of Child Affairs Vijayakala Maheswaran, before she leaves the country.

Colombo has improved since 2006: Dale Steyn

South African Bowler Dale Steyn, who is in Sri Lanka for the upcoming cricket matches, said he was ‘super impressed’ with Colombo and said the condition of the city had improved since his last visit in 2006.

60 injured in Gokarella bus collision, 20 critical

At least 60 passengers, including a Buddhist monk and a Bhikkhun?, were injured when two passenger buses collided head-on at Gokarella on the Dambulla - Kurunegala Road today, the Police said.

No Lankans affected by weather calamity in Japan

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) a short while ago said that the Japanese authorities have confirmed that no Sri Lankans were affected as of now by the flooding and landslides in Southwest Japan.

Heavy traffic around Lotus Roundabout

Heavy traffic was reported around the Lotus Roundabout in Colombo due to a protest organised by a group of employees of the Inland Revenue Department, Police said.

Ondaatje’s ‘The English Patient’ wins Best of Man Booker Prize

The wartime love story, ‘The English Patient’ authored by Sri Lankan-Canadian poet Michael Ondaatje, won the Golden Man Booker Prize in London, UK on Sunday night, the New York Times reported.  

UK, US should tell UN to withdraw motion on Sri Lanka: Naseby

British Baron Lord Naseby said both the UK and the US were guilty of atrocities and that the two countries should inform the UN Human Rights Commission to withdraw the resolution against Sri Lanka.

Songstress’s husband arrested over her murder

Songstress Priyani Jayasinghe's husband has been arrested by the Police near the Panadura railway station this morning  in connection with her murder.