Brazilian smugglers: 163 cocaine pills worth Rs.48mn recovered

As of today, 163 cocaine pills worth Rs.48.5 million were recovered from the two Brazilians after they were arrested by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) during the weekend. PNB Director SSP TCA Danapala said the pills contained 1.950 kg of cocaine.

Next year's major public holidays during weekends

Major public holidays in Sri Lanka will fall on Saturdays and Sundays next year, a gazette notice issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs says.According to the gazette notice issued on June 29, 2018, the National New Year falls on a weekend -- April 13 is a Saturday and April 14 a Sunday. Vesak Full Moon Poya Day and the day following fall on May 18 a Saturday and May 19 a Sunday.

Rs. 96 mn worth cash, jewellery robbed from state bank

Cash and jewellery worth of some Rs. 96 million were robbed from a state bank in Thalawa, Anuradhapura over the weekend, police said.

Heavy traffic in Town Hall

Heavy traffic was reported in and around Town Hall due to a protest carried out by a group of University students outside the University Grants Commission (UGC) a short while ago, Police said.

Vehicle used in Matara shooting taken into custody

The car bearing the registration number CAE 4706, which was used for the recent jewellery shop robbery in Matara, was taken into police custody in Moragahahena this morning together with its owner, Police said.

Four injured in hand grenade attack in Kuliyapitiya

Four persons including a woman were hospitalized when a hand grenade was hurled at a house at Bohingamuwa in Kuliyapitiya last night.

Croatia send Denmark out of World Cup

It was a full day of penalty-kick drama at the World Cup, with Croatia advancing to the World Cup quarterfinals by outlasting Denmark in a shootout just hours after Russia had done the same to beat Spain in a huge upset. Combined, the two games offered a remarkable number of saves in one-on-one, high-wire confrontations.

PC elections should be held immediately under new or old systems: TNA

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) asserted yesterday that the government should enact new electoral reforms within the next two months to conduct the elections to the three provincial councils which are already overdue, or else revert to the old system to do so without any further delay.

Vehicles not up to Euro four standard, banned from today

Importing vehicles which are not equipped with safety features such as air bags, seat belts and below the emission levels or their equivalent as prescribed by Euro IV was banned with effect from today, Finance Ministry Information Director M. Ali Hassan said.

SL needs a leader who wants all beings to be happy - Sajith

Sri Lanka needs a leader who wants all beings to be happy and healthy as it is preached in Buddhism, Minister of Housing and UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa said over the weekend.

FIFA World Cup 2018: Russia beat Spain on 4-3 penalties

Russia beat Spain 4-3 in penalty shootout in a shock result to enter the quarter-finals in their World Cup last-16 clash in Moscow a short while ago.

Ranjan calls for a debate on New York Times allegations

Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday said he will shortly move an adjournment debate on the New York Times report which alleged that a Chinese company had funded the campaign of Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January 2015.

CPC could halt fuel on credit to SriLankan from Wednesday: Chairman

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) will be compelled to stop issuing aviation fuel on credit to the national carrier SriLankan Airlines from Wednesday (4) if they don’t settle what is already owed, CPC Chairman Mr. Dammika Ranatunga said today.

Pol Pot’s brothers call me Hitler’s brother: MR

Those who call me Adolf Hitler’s elder brother are Pol Pot’s younger brothers, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa told a public meeting held at Sri Visuddarama Temple in Mawathagama, Kurunegala.

Ranjan is spinning what I told him on the phone- NY Times journo

South Asia correspondent at The New York Times, Maria Abi-Habib, who had written a controversial article titled ‘How China Got Sri Lanka to Cough Up a Port,’ has rejected claims by Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake and also said the deputy minister is spinning what she told him on the phone.

Padeniya re-elected GMOA president

Pediatric Neurologist, Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya was unanimously re-elected for the 8th consecutive year as the President of the Government Medical officers’ Association (GMOA) at its AGM last evening.

China didn’t fund my election campaign: MR

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today rejected the allegations made by the New York Times article and said no contribution was made by the China Harbour Company to his presidential election campaign in 2015.

Brazilian arrested with cocaine pills at BIA

A Brazilian national was arrested by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) yesterday with cocaine pills worth Rs 14 million, Police said.

No local inquiry against ball tampering fiasco

Sri Lanka Cricket will not push for a local investigation over the ball tampering incident during the third day of the second Test between Sri Lanka and West Indies in St. Lucia.

Roy de Silva passes away

Veteran actor and film director Roy de Silva passed away at the age of 80 last night.

Uruguay 2-1 Portugal: Ronaldo follows Lionel Messi

Uruguay booked their place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup after beating Portugal 2-1 in Sochi.

France knock Argentina out of the World Cup 4-3

France are through to the Quarter Finals after a 4-3 victory over Argentina.

Silumina editor Chamara Lakshan passed away

The Editor-in-Chief of ‘Silumina’ and ‘Resa’ newspapers, Chamara Lakshan Kumara, passed away this evening(30). He was 39.

Full of political prejudice; China on NYT article

The Chinese Embassy in Colombo said that it has noticed the New York Times' article published on June 25, as well as the clarifications and responses by various parties from Sri Lanka, criticizing it full of political prejudice and completely inconsistent with the fact.

SL Navy’s Southern Command moving to Hambantota – PM office

The Prime Minister office today said that the Sri Lanka Navy is moving its Southern Command to Hambantota.

National security: Govt. trying to hide actual situation- Weerasekara

The Government is hiding the real security situation in the country, retired army officer and former MP Sarath Weerasekara said.

Five brigadiers, 34 captains promoted

President Maithripala Sirisena as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has promoted five Brigadiers in the Army to the rank of Major General with effect from June 29, the Army said.

Will file submissions over enjoining order on film distribution: Minister

Submissions will be filed on Thursday's enjoining order issued by the Colombo District Court restricting the National Film Corporation from taking over local film distribution, Higher Education & Cultural Affairs Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said.

SL makes significant efforts to end human trafficking: US report

The Sri Lankan Government is making significant efforts to eliminate human trafficking though the government is still to meet the minimum standards in several key areas, the Trafficking in Persons Report released by the US Department of State said.

SL-Pakistan discuss training of security forces

General Zubair Mahamood Hayat who is on a four-day visit to Sri Lanka, on an invitation of Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral Ravindra Wijeygunaratne, called on President Sirisena at the President’s Residence in Polonnaruwa.