8 year-old girl killed after falling into swimming pool

An eight -year-old girl was killed after she fell into a swimming pool at a hotel in Kalpitiya today.

No survivors after Tu-154 plane crashed

A Russian military plane crashed on Sunday in the Black Sea as it made its way to Syria with 91 people onboard, including musicians heading to celebrate the New Year with troops.

Half of Badulla District prone to landslide

More than half the area of the Badulla District was vulnerable to landslides, National Building and Research Organisation said following a recent survey.

572 prisoners set free for Christmas

A total of 572 prisoners, who were sentenced for minor offences, had been set free from all the prisons across the country to mark the Christmas Day, Prisons Department said today.

Police should give news under RTI, says Officer

The Police was under obligation to provide news to private media institutions, especially when the Right to Information (RTI) Act is in effect in the country, the National Police Commission (NPC) Secretary Ariyadasa Cooray said today.

X’mas revenue hits record on expressways

The Southern Expressway and the Katunayake Expressway amassed their highest revenues for a single day over the by Saturday, the Road Development Authority said today.

Raviraj: Sumanthiran says will appeal against verdict

Jaffna District TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumathiran said yesterday that his political party was not satisfied with the verdict in the former Parliamentarian Nadaraja Kaviraj’s assassination case and would file an appeal against the verdict.

Update: Russian military plane crashes in Black Sea near Sochi

A Russian military plane with 91 people on board has crashed into the Black Sea, Russia's defence ministry says.

254 accidents during Christmas

A total of number of 254 cases had been reported to the Colombo National Hospital on the Christmas Eve, which is a thirteen percent increase, comparing to last year, which stood up at 219, National Hospital Coordinator Pushpa Ramyani de Soysa said.

‘Udamwita Samare’ shot dead

An underworld gangster known as ‘Udamwita Samare’ was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at the Veyangoda Railway Station last night, Police said.

Let us aspire to love one another in harmony: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his Christmas message urged all Sri Lankans to truly aspire to create an environment in which people can love one another in harmony, tolerance and co-existence that was and is central to the birth and life of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was a great messenger of reconciliation: President

Religion makes people show compassion, kindness and empathy towards others and it is one of the most precious guiding lights of the human civilization, President Maithripala Sirisena said in his Christmas message.

Christmas should be celebrated without waste: Catholic Bishops' Conference

The Christmas should be celebrated by avoiding the wastage of food, cutting down trees and electricity usage for exaggerated decorations, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka said yesterday in its Christmas message.

Gunaratne Weerakoon resigns as SLFP Karandeniya organizer

SLFP Karandeniya organizer and former minister Gunaratne Weerakoon said he had decided to resign from the post of SLFP organizer due to personnel reasons.

Woman suspiciously dies at NFTH: GMOA

A woman, who was receiving treatment at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital Malabe (NFTH), had allegedly died of suspicious circumstances yesterday, Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) said.

Ranil meets Maha Nayaka Theros

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today met the Maha Nayaka of the Malwathu Chapter Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Sidhdhartha Sumangala Thera and the Maha Nayaka of the Asgiri Chapter most ven. Varakagoda Sri Gnanasara thera where he discussed about the proposed constitutional reforms.

We will not approve Constitution that will harm unitary status: President

President Maithripala Sirisena has told the Global Sri Lanka Forum (GSLF) that the recommendations made by the constitutional sub-committee on Periphery and the Centre Relations were merely proposals, members of the group said on Thursday (22).

PM assures to amend Development Bill: Shan Wijayalal

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has agreed to amend the Development (Special Provisions) Draft Bill and re-submit it with amendments, a Chief Minister said.

Development Bill to engage PCs in national development: PM

The main objective of the Development (Special Provision) Bill is to engage the Provincial Councils in national development, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Raviraj killing: Five suspects acquitted

Five suspects, who had been indicted by the Attorney General over killing of TNA MP Nadarajah Raviraj and his driver in 2006, were acquitted from all charges by High Court Judge Manilal Waidyathilaka yesterday.

Vehicles for 58 parliamentarians put on hold

The move to provide vehicles to 58 parliamentarians under an operational lease at a total cost of Rs.2.4 billion, has been temporarily halted, UPFA General Secretary Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said today.

IGP suspends police news to private media

The Police Chief has suspended the police news sent daily to private media institutions through emails with effect from Wednesday, a senior officer at the Police Headquarters said today.

Libyan plane hijack ends peacefully in Malta

Two hijackers of a Libyan aircraft with 118 people on board surrendered to authorities on the island of Malta hours after claiming to have hand grenades and threatening to blow the plane up unless their demands were met.

Ammunition in trunk found in Dandugama Oya

A trunk containing ammunition, allegedly belonging to the military,  was recovered from the Dandugama Oya, Minuwangoda this morning, Police said.

Update- Hijacked Libyan plane lands in Malta

Two hijackers with hand grenades are threatening to blow up a Libyan passenger plane that was diverted from the north African country to Malta, state TV said.

British HC ‘thinks’ SL will have new constitution in 2017

British High Commissioner James Dauris said today he ‘thinks’ that the majority of Sri Lankans will be looking forward to having a new Constitution in 2017, “One that will help create the right framework for really good long-term community relations.”

Dev. (Special Prov.) Bill rejected in NPC

The controversial Development (Special Provisions) Bill was rejected by members in the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) today.

Problems go far by not talking: Wijeyadasa

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, who met Batticaloa's Mangalaramaya Temple Chief Incumbent Ven. Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera, said the problems had worsened because those who say the monks are creating them had not discussed these matters with a view to solving them.

Don't give our lands to China: H'tota farmers

About 1,000 farmers today staged a protest outside the Administration Complex in Hambantota, against government plans to lease lands in the Hambantota district to a Chinese company.

NPC rejects Development (Special Prov.) Bill

The controversial Development (Special Provisions) Bill was unanimously rejected by members in the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) today.