Anne Ranasinghe passes away

Renowned poet Anne Ranasinghe, who escaped from Nazi Germany to England and became a Sri Lankan citizen in 1956 after marrying a Sri Lankan professor, passed away last Saturday at her residence in Rosemead place.

Avant- Garde sails to India, to be sold as scrap metal

The Avant-Garde vessel left for India on Saturday (17), after the Galle Chief Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura ordered its release to the Sri Lanka Shipping Company on a bond of Rs. 35 million last month.

SL loses Rs. 9,000 mn to Indian fishermen each year

The Sri Lankan fishing industry incurred a loss of Rs. 9,000 million each year due to illegal fishing by Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters, the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry recently said.

Russian military plane crashes with 39 onboard

An IL-18 aeroplane belonging to the Russian defence ministry has crashed in Yakutia in Siberia with 39 people on board.

SL maid left Singapore as a businesswoman

A Sri Lankan woman, Nilushika Jayaweera came to Singapore to work as a maid in 2001 and 15 years later, she left as an entrepreneur.

3 arrested with Rs. 11.6mn foreign currency at BIA

Three foreigners, who attempted to smuggle foreign currency worth Rs. 11.6 million to Qatar, have been arrested by the customs officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport last night.

LG Polls: EC to ready staff

Amidst talks about the local authorities’ elections early next year, the Elections Commission will start compilation and updating of details about staff members to be recruited to poll related duties in the future, it is learnt.

Minister’s son flees early morning accident scene

A police probe is on concerning a minister's son who had allegedly knocked down a motorcyclist with his Prado, causing the latter to break his leg and a rib at Park Street Junction on Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha early this morning (18).

Chavakachcheri accident victims’ bodies airlifted to Ratmalana

Bodies of 11 victims of the accident  that occurred in Chavakachcheri Jaffna were airlifted to the Ratmalana Airport today.

Police record statement from BBS Gen. Sec.

Police today recorded a statement from Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galaboda Atthe Gnanasara Thera for allegedly insulting Islam.

Media orgs. should keep tab on their journos- Arjuna

Minister Arjuna Ranatunga on Saturday said that media organisations in the country should keep a proper tab on their reporters in order to prevent incidents similar to that in Hambantota.

Ranil to visit Tirumala temple on Dec 22

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will visit the Lord Balaji temple at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh, on December 22, an Indian news agency PTI reported today.

Lunch packet price to increase by Rs. 10

The price of a lunch packet will be increased by Rs. 10 from tomorrow, Canteen Owners Association said today.

Duminda Dissanayake threatens me: Gota

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa claimed that Minister Duminda Dissanayake had earlier threatened him to hand over the Chairmanship of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to incumbent President Maitripala Sirisena.

Three killed motorcycle collision in Arangala

Three young people had been killed in a head-on collision of two motorcycles at Arangala in Malabe on the Godagama- Colombo Road last night, Police said

Prevent SL from enacting law to fine Indian fishermen: Vaiko

Decrying Sri Lankan Government’s reported move to bring in a new law to impose fine ranging from Rs. 7 lakh to Rs. 7 crore on Indian fishermen poaching in their waters, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko has urged the Centre to prevail upon the Lankan government and prevent it from enacting such a legislation.

TNA, NPC want powers of governors reduced

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) had requested the government to reduce the power vested in the governors of the Provincial Councils.

Lankan family who sheltered Snowden in Hong Kong ‘at risk of deportation’

The Sri Lankan asylum seekers who sheltered the American whistle-blower Edward Snowden in Hong Kong might be at risk of detention and deportation as their lawyer was not able to meet a final deadline imposed by the Immigration Department to file documents.

10 killed, several injured in bus-van collision

At least ten people including three women were killed and several others injured when a van collided head on with a bus at Chavakachcheri in Jaffna this afternoon.

Ukraine woman found dead in Gampaha

A 66-year-old Ukraine woman was found dead in a house at Medagama in Gampaha yesterday, Police said.

Malaysia pledge support to Sri Lanka

Malaysian King Sultan Muhammad said he had directed the Malaysian Government to give every required support to Sri Lanka.

He wanted more than a mere 'thank you'

A 26-year-old Japanese woman who was in the country as a tourist had complained to Galle Police that a steward of the hotel she was staying at had sexually abused her.

Govt. open for suggestions on Mattala Airport: Eran

Days after signing the framework agreement for restructuring the Hambantota Port, the government remains open for suggestions for the development of the Mattala International Airport, State Enterprise Development Deputy Minister Eran Wickramaratne said yesterday.

Govt. in search of lands to set-up more industrial zones

The Government has decided to look for suitable lands for the proposed industrial zones in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western Provinces and to secure them within three months.

WB pledges USD 1,340 mn aid to Lanka

The World Bank has pledged assistance worth US $ 1340 million to Sri Lanka which will be on a dual format, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake announced today.

Ruwan refutes MR’s accusation over Navy

State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene today refuted former President Mahinda Rajapakse's accusation that the navy was sent to sabotage the Hambantota protest and it was a deliberate act to tarnish the Navy's image.

To sell the H’tota Port the Govt. called it a white elephant: MR

Because the government was keen to sell the Hambantota Harbour that it claimed it was a white elephant, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

US accuses SL investor of money laundering

A Sri Lankan investor Rienzi Edwards was charged by the US Justice Department in connection with a fraudulent high-yield investment scheme that resulted in the theft of over $50 million from investors in the United States and around the world, the US attorney's office for the Southern District of New York said in a statement.

Govt. selling national resources to foreign countries: Dullas

The Sri Lanka Police, the Justice Ministry and the Prisons Department will be the only state-owned institutions if the government continues to administer the country till 2020, the joint opposition said today.

Namal at FCID

MP Namal Rajapaksa reported to the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) this morning to give a statement over a land matter.