Drone camera falls on the Ruwanweli Mahaseya; man arrested

A videographer attached to a private TV station was arrested following his drone camera fell on the sacred Ruwanweli Mahaseya's base in Anuradhapura yesterday during the Kapruka Pooja, the Police Said.

About 100 missing after boat sinks off Libyan coast

About 100 migrant passengers are missing in the Mediterranean Sea after their boat sank off the coast of Libya.

Worst loss as SL skipper: Mathews

The Sri Lanka captain labels his side's innings-and-118-run loss to the Proteas their worst defeat since he became captain

Expansion of IT, a threat to employment: Minister Akila

The expansion of Information Technology (IT) has become a threat to a many employment opportunities today, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said.

Little girl dies from burn injuries after clothes catch fire

A four-year-old girl, who attempted to warm herself in front of a fire in the kitchen of her home, died of burn injuries after her clothes caught fire. The victim Nipuni Hansamali (4) lived in the Kandeketiya area.

Dry weather conditions to ease after Jan.20: Met Dep.

A slight change in the prevailing dry weather condition could be expected after January 20 with a few showers, the Department of Meteorology said yesterday.

Mangala meets Commonwealth Secretary-General

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera has expressed hope that the Commonwealth will continue to fight for the values that have strengthened Sri Lanka in recent times, such as human rights, rule of law and democracy.  

President meets Police top brass

President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday immediate attention should be drawn to eliminate certain negative attitudes of the people towards the police service.

Govt. to introduce economic agenda: PM

The Government will soon introduce its economic agenda for the next few years, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Singer Deepal Silva passes away

Popular singer Deepal Silva, who was known as ‘Podi Lamaya’, has passed away this morning at the Ragama Hospital, Hospital sources said.

Strive for unity in diversity: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremeisnghe in his Thai Pongal message stressed the people to strive for unity in diversity and keep the spirit of the festival going throughout the year.

Significance of Thai Pongal so relevant today: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said that as the world look forward to move in the direction of sustainability, the message transmitted by Thai Pongal since antiquity, becomes ever more relevant.

Drinking water for only 2 more months: WSDB

The Water Supply and Drainage Board (WSDB) has cautioned about a possible water scarcity and curtailment of water supply if the prevailing dry weather continued, while insisting that drinking water was now available for only two more months.

Beggars will ride on Ravi's resident visas: Wijeyadasa

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe yesterday criticized Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s statement that temporary resident visas would be issued to foreigners who invest a minimum of US$300,000 in Sri Lanka.

Be prepared; difficult times ahead

Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa today warned of an imminent food shortage, power and energy crisis and a scarcity of water for agriculture by March this year because Sri Lanka will not have any significant rain until mid March.

UNP tactfully delaying LG polls: CaFFE

Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon said today the United National Party (UNP) was purposely delaying the Local Government elections by its representative not signing the delimitation committee report.

Meters made mandatory for three-wheelers

Issuing an extraordinary gazette, the Transport Ministry imposed a heap of regulations on three-wheeler drivers/owners including clauses to make it mandatory to have an operational taximeter and prohibiting them from smoking at all times while on duty.

Five policemen re-remanded over killing of Jaffna Uni. students

The five policemen remanded in connection with the killing of two Jaffna University students were further remanded till January 27 by Jaffna Magistrate S. Satheeshkaran today.

Liquor consumption in Uva increases

The Uva Province reported the consumption of 17 million litres of toddy, 4.4 million liters of government arrack and 4.3 million liters of beer in 2015, Uva Province Asst. Commissioner of Excise, D. H. C Silva said.

'Sun Sea' voyage was a humanitarian service to Tamil migrants

Defence lawyers made their final pitch to the jury at a human-smuggling trial yesterday, arguing their clients provided humanitarian assistance to Sri Lankan Tamils fleeing persecution in a country ravaged by civil war, challenging the Crown’s view that the accused illegally organized the MV Sun Sea’s arrival in Canada, the Globe and Mail reported today.

Jaliya Wickramasuriya re-remanded

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the USA, Jaliya Wickramasuriya was further remanded till January 27 by Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today.

Sarath Kumara Gunaratne further remanded

Former deputy minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne was further remanded till January 20 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala today.

Fiji appoints fmr Sri Lankan judge as Resident Magistrate

Former Sri Lankan district judge Geethani Wijesinghe Widanelage was sworn as Fiji's new Resident Magistrate by President Jioji Konrote on Friday, Fiji Times said.

Ranil replies to Mahinda on GSP Plus

Contradicting former president Mahinda Rajapaksa who said that Sri Lanka would have been better without the GSP Plus facility, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that it would help the country to capture a market with a population of 500 million.

SLFP favours proposals not requiring referendum: Dilan

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is in favour of constitutional proposals which do not require the people's approval at a referendum, Party spokesman and State Minister Dilan Perera said yesterday.

Avoid siding with big powers: China tells small, medium size nations

In a white paper which its stance on Asia–Pacific Security, China has stressed the need for small and medium-size countries in the region to refrain from siding with big powers.

Draft proposals in 2000: No clause for two-year extension of tenure: CBK

Former president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunga responded to Cabinet spokesman and Minister Rajitha Senaratne saying she made no attempt to extend her term of office by two more years through the constitutional proposals presented to Parliament in 2000.

UN resolution on SL remains largely unimplemented: HRW

Though the Sri Lankan Government was able to report progress on certain aspects and sought technical expertise from the UN and other countries, the UN Human Rights Council resolution adopted in October 2015 on the country remained largely unimplemented, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday said.

No statements were recorded from me: Lasantha Alagiyawanna

Deputy Megapolis and Western Development Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna who was the Deputy Minister of Construction and Engineering Services in the previous government when Wimal Weerawansa was the subject minister, said today that no one had recorded a statement from him over the alleged misuse of government vehicles.

Woman dies after drinking concoction made by exorcist

A woman, who had consumed a concoction prepared for her by an exorcist at a devalaya, died on Wednesday (11) night after going into a trance-like state, the Dummalasuriya Police said.