Flight to Chennai takes off

The Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) announced the takeoff its  first flight to Chennai a short while ago after some of the flights were suspended because of the Cyclone ‘Vardah’.

US military delegates in SL on a week-long discussion

A delegation of defence experts left Sri Lanka following a week long discussion from the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota on Sunday, the US Embassy announced today in a statement.

Chennai –BIA flights still affected by Vardah

Two flights to Chennai had been delayed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning due to the Vardah Cyclone, the Duty Manager at the BIA said.

Govt. to relax exchange control regulations

The Government will introduce new legislation, by end January next year, relaxing the  strictures placed on exchange control, Finance Minister Ravi  Karunanayake said yesterday.

Speeding politico's daughter halted after chase

A prominent politician’s 20 year-old daughter, who drove her defender jeep violating traffic laws, was caught by two policemen attached to the Nittambuwa Police station, after giving chase for three kilometers at the Pasyala area on the Colombo-Kandy main road, police said.

H'tota Port employees have no legal docs to validate employment: Minister

Some 90% of the port employees who were protesting at the Hambantota Port had been appointed by the ‘Nil Balakaya’ youth organisation headed by MP Namal Rajapaksa during the previous regime, Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said today.

TN leaders knew Prabhakaran would kill them to rule Eelam: Menon

Leaders of Tamil Nadu, across the political divide, privately but effectively supported the Indian government’s policy of opposing efforts by the US and Norway to rescue Velupillai Prabhakaran so that his Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) lived to fight another day, says Shivshankar Menon, India’s former National Security Adviser (NSA) in his book; “Choices: Inside the Making of India’s  Foreign Policy”.

Hambantota Port workers continue satyagraha for 5th day

The ‘MV Hoyanger’, which was the other vessel to be taken control of by the Navy after the Hambantota Port employees seized it last week, is still berthed at the pier under naval security, Navy spokesman Akram Alavi said today.

160 killed in Nigeria church collapse

Death toll in the church collapse in Nigeria's Uyo has risen to 160 and the number is likely to rise. While cranes are still at work trying to lift the collapsed metal girders and corrugated iron sheets under which hundreds of people were trapped, the mortuaries in the city are overflowing with the dead bodies, the International Business Times reported.

Tajikistan President arrives in SL

Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon arrived in Sri Lanka this evening with a delegation of 12 officials including Tajikistani Foreign Minister for a three-day official visit. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport to welcome the Tajikistan President.

1,725 AWOL members of tri-forces seek legal discharge

A total of 1,725 tri-forces personnel including four officers, who are considered as Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) have reported to their respective service centres seeking legal discharge as of December 10, the Defence Ministry said.

UNP’s policy is selling public assets: Namal

MP Namal Rajapaksa yesterday claimed that selling public assets regardless of its consequence was a cornerstone of UNP’s policy and added that they had never built the Hambantota harbour and the Mattala airport to be privatized.

Christmas tree back on track

The construction of the world’s tallest Christmas tree at the Galle Face Green has been resumed today after it was put on hold two weeks ago, the Ports and Shipping Ministry said.

SriLankan cancels flights to Chennai

All SriLankan flights leaving for Chennai from the Bandaranaike International Airport have been canceled until tomorrow morning due to the cyclone Vardah.

Cyclone Vardah: Fishermen warned

The Meteorology Department today warned the naval and fishing communities living by the Northern, North-eastern and Gulf of Mannar sea areas to refrain from engaging in naval and fishing activities today due to the severe cyclonic storm “Vardah” which is located about 400 km away from Kankasanturai coast The cyclone is likely to move westward towards India, the Department said. 

Fruit vendor shot dead in Meetiyagoda

A 45-year-old fruit vendor was shot dead inside his fruit stall at Meetiyagoda in Ambalangoda by an unidentified gunman arrived on a motorbike this morning.  

Brothel raided in Pelawatta, 8 arrested

Seven women and a male doctor were arrested by the Nugegoda Police last evening on charges of operating a brothel under the guise of a spa at a luxury house in Pelawatta.  

Two flights diverted to BIA from Chennai Airport

Two flights, one Emirates and one Srilankan, scheduled to land at Chennai Airport had been diverted to Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning because of the impact of cyclone ‘Vardah’ in Chennai.

Silver, Bronze for SL at World Chess event

Harashana Tillekaratne of Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala won the silver medal in the Under 13 age group at the World Schools Chess Championship that is being held in Sochi, Russia.

Tamil NGOs in Malaysia oppose SL President's visit

Several political parties and Indian non-governmental organisations in Malaysia have threatened to hold demonstrations if the Government allowed Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena to make a visit to the country.

SAITM: Court ruling on Jan.30

Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella said a Court ruling was expected on January 30 when the petition filed by two students with regard to the registration of the Malabe private medical college SAITM by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) is taken up for hearing.

Bill English elected as New Zealand prime minister

New Zealand's ruling National Party appointed the experienced Bill English as the country's new prime minister on Monday following last week's shock resignation of his popular predecessor John Key.

JVP wants action against navy commander

JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti today urged the Government to take action against navy commander for allegedly attacking a journalist at Hambantota last morning.

H'tota assault; Journo violates basic media ethics-Govt

Government Information Department Director General Ranga Kalansooriya said that the journalist, who was allegedly assaulted during an incident in Hambantota, had violated basic ethical practices when covering sensitive conflict situations.

Southern Expressway earns record income of Rs. 17.6 mn

The start of the extended weekend was auspicious for the Southern Expressway which recorded the highest income for a single day which was Rs. 17.6 million on Saturday (10). The holidays, which began yesterday, will end on Tuesday (13), which also a Poya Day.

Journalist makes complaint of assault

Journalist Dileep Roshan lodged a complaint at the Hambantota  ASP’s Office alleging that a fat person wearing a short trouser and a blue shirt scolded him in filth and assaulted him and he later identified the assailant as the Navy Commander.

Basil leaves for US

Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa had left for the United States yesterday for medical purposes, a Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna spokesman said today.

Defence Secretary asks report from Navy

Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi said today that he had asked the Navy to submit a report regarding the allegations where the Navy Commander is alleged to have threatened a journalist during a protest held at the Hambantota harbour on Saturday.

We took swift measures: Navy

The Navy took swift measures to disperse the port employees who staged a protest campaign at the Hambantota Port premises yesterday, the Navy said.

Water supply interrupts in Kaduwela

The water supply in Kaduwela was disrupted today after the bursting of the pipeline carrying water to Colombo from the Kalatuwawa Water Treatment Plant.