President’s Independence Day message

President Maithripala Sirisena said in his Independence Day message that the realization of the true meaning of freedom and independence lies in the country’s potential to free itself from the shackles of all kinds and forms of poverty and ill-health.

GMOA to seek int'l intervention on SAITM issue

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said today said it would even seek international intervention to revise the ruling directing the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) to register SAITM's MBBS graduates.

Can’t solve Tamil issue by chasing me away: CV

Northern Provincial Council Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran today said that the Tamil people’s issues could not be solved by chasing him away. 

Fmr Norwegian PM held at US Airport for visiting Iran

Former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik has said that he was questioned and prevented from leaving the Washington Dulles Airport for about an hour on Tuesday apparently because he had visited Iran in 2014, the Business Standard said today.  

Parachuter injured during Independence Day rehearsals

A naval rating, who sustained injuries after falling from a parachute during Independence Day rehearsals at the Galle Face Green, was admitted to the National Hospital, Hospital sources said.

Queen Elizabeth extends wishes on Independence Day

Queen Elizabeth II in a message on Sri Lanka’s Independence Day has extended her best wishes for the good fortune and happiness of the people of Sri Lanka in the coming year.

Heavy traffic in Colombo due to protest

Heavy traffic was reported in Colombo Fort and around the Lake House Roundabout due to a protest staged by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) employees demanding the authorities to solve their salary anomalies.

SL has capacity to provide professionals to work in Ethiopia: Mangala

Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who was in Ethiopia on an official visit, said that Sri Lanka had the capacity to provide skilled and semi-skilled professionals to work in Ethiopian industries.

Accused SL human smuggler in Canada gets bail

A Sri Lankan man accused of bringing hundreds of Tamil asylum seekers into Canada illegally has been granted bail after more than six years in jail, the Record said today.

Govt. expects to ‘finish off’ H’tota Port sale deal this week

The final details of the agreement to sell the Hambantota Port shares to Chinese State-owned enterprise China Merchant Port Holdings (CMPH) will be finalized this week and the details of the agreement would be announced soon, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.

Taxi driver wins case without lawyer

A trishaw driver who defended himself  in the Gampola Magistrate Court was acquitted of all charges levelled against him, by Magistrate Chandani Meegoda.   

Man shot dead at Horana

A 48-year-old man was shot dead in a motorcar in Ilimba Junction in Horana this morning by two unidentified men who came in a motorcycle this morning, Police said.

MR should support us or retire from politics immediately: Ruwan

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa should either retire from politics or make up his mind to support the government’s efforts to develop the country and to bring in peace and reconciliation, State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene said yesterday.

Lankan maid assaulted in Kuwait

An unknown person assaulted a Sri Lankan housemaid in Jahra governorate while she was walking home from a cooperative society.

Economy managed 'very badly': Cabraal

Former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, who served in office during the previous rule, said yesterday, the economy had been managed ‘very badly’ during the last couple of years even according to statistics published after the new government assumed office.

Will study 'dumb deal' struck by Obama with Aussie: Trump

the transfer of approximately up to 1,250 refugees from Australia’s offshore detention islands of Manus Island and Nauru, including many from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Iraq for resettlement into the US.

GMOA to go ahead with tomorrow’s token strike

Despite the late-night release of the 21 medical students taken into custody, the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) said today that it would go ahead with its 4-hour token strike tomorrow.

Arrested medical students released

The Colombo Fort Magistrate released the 21 medical students who were arrested on charges of violating a court order by taking part in today’s protest held in Colombo against the SAITM.

GMOA to launch token strike tomorrow

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) today condemned the arrest of students who were protesting against the SAITM and said they would launch a 4-hour token strike starting from 8 a.m. tomorrow.

GSP+: EU P'ment urged to look into HR background

A number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including the British Tamil Forum have urged the European Parliament to request a briefing from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Sri Lanka before deciding on the GSP+ reinstatement.

GMOA threatens TU action over SAITM

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) today threatened to resort to major trade union action next week if its demands with regard to the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) in Malabe were not addressed.  

Indian Budget allocates INR 1.25 bn to Sri Lanka

India has allocated Indian Rupees (INR) 1.25 billion as aid to Sri Lanka in its Budget for the year 2017, the PTI said on Thursday.

Update: 21 students arrested over protest

Twenty one students who engaged in the today’s protest against the SAITM in Colombo were arrested by the Police.

CV has become a ghost: Dayasiri

Northern Province Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran had become nothing but a ghost, who instigated disharmony between the Tamil and Sinhala communities in the country, Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said today.

Harsha shares his unpleasant experience

Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva today posted a video on his facebook account showing an unpleasant experience he had to witness where some skulls and bones, unearthed during a road construction, were thrown by the roadside in Borella.

No ban on Sri Lankans: US

A day after some international media reported that Sri Lankans were among stranded passengers at US airports because of President Trump’s ban on immigration, the US Embassy in Colombo said that “Sri Lanka is not among the seven countries listed in the recent Executive Order suspending entry into the US".

Protesting Uni. students teargassed

Police fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse protesting medical students against the SAITM at the Ceramic Junction in Colombo a short while ago, Police said.  

Heavy traffic in Colombo Fort due to protests

Heavy traffic has been reported in Colombo Fort because of two separate protests staged by port employees and disabled soldiers, Police said.

No Lankans stranded at US airports: FAM

Sri Lankan Missions in the US have informed the Foreign Affairs Ministry that there were no confirmed cases of Sri Lankans being stranded at US airports because of President Trump’s ban on immigration.

Kumar Gunaratnam gets SL citizenship

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) politburo member Kumar Gunaratnam has been granted Sri Lankan citizenship effective from yesterday, officials said a short while ago.