German man drowns in Waskaduwa beach

A 76-year-old German national was drowned while bathing in Waskaduwa beach in Kalutara yesterday.

UNP ready for any election: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have told the United National Party (UNP) Working Committee that his party was ready to face any election.

Strong winds, heavy showers expected as cyclone “Vardah” intensifies

Strong winds and heavy showers were expected in the sea areas off the Northern and Eastern coast of Sri Lanka until 12th December due to the influence of the cyclonic storm “Vardah”, the Meteorology Department said today.

Lankan peace process was not correct for Colombian case: Santos

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, who will be handed this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to achieve a peace agreement with the FARC guerrillas, says that although the Sri Lankan model was extensively studied they did not think it was the correct procedure for Colombia.

Ministerial Sub-Committee appointed to achieve sustainable development goals

The Cabinet has decided to appoint a Ministerial Sub-Committee to define and to achieve the success in the vision of sustainable development goals of Sri Lanka for 2030, Presidential Media Division said.

Salary hike on MPs will further burden Treasury: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday though the Members of Parliament were not satisfied with their salaries, increasing their salaries would create a problem given the unfavourable situation in the Treasury.  

Tense situ at Hambantota port

Tense situation prevailed at Hambantota port this morning when the navy tried to free the two ships seized by workers who were staging a protest at the port.

Seven SSPs promoted as DIGs

Seven Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) have been promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) with the approval of the National Police Commission.

73-year-old woman sits for GCE (O/L) exam

Underlining the widely believed view that the pursuit of knowledge knows no age limit, a 73-year-old woman sat for the Information Communication Technology (ICT) subject at the GCE (O/L) examination yesterday at Ilma College, Matara.

PM, Sampanthan discuss constitutional reforms with MR

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, joined by Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan, met a joint opposition’s delegation led by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday and discussed constitutional reforms.

SPC minister vows to resign after budget defeat

Southern Provincial Council Agriculture Minister U.G.D. Ariyathilaka says he will resign after his ministry budget defeated at the Provincial Council.

Head on collision claims two lives at Ruwanwella

Two on board of a three wheeler were killed this evening when the vehicle crashed head on with a lorry that was transporting timber near the Rajasinghe Central College in Ruwanwella.

One dead, another injured when motorbike hits train at Padukka

A woman was killed and a man sustained serious injuries when the motorcycle they were riding on slammed against the Avissawella-bound train from Colombo at a railway crossing in Liyanwala, Padukka this evening.

How did govt. earn US$1.1 Bn from 'white elephant'? Namal

UPFA Hambantota District MP Namal Rajapaksa today asked how the Hambantota Port, which was branded as a ‘white elephant’ by the United National Party (UNP) when in the Opposition, had now become a paying concern good enough to be sold to a private company.

Some SLFP ministers conspiring against Govt: Mujibur

UNP parliamentarian Mujibur Rahuman said today there was suspicion whether some SLFP ministers with the connivance of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa were conspiring against the Government.

800 kg of cocaine detected on India-bound ship in Colombo Port

About 800 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated value of Rs.12 billion was detected on board an Indian-bound vessel docked in the Colombo Harbour today following a tip off received by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB).

South Korea Parliament votes to impeach President Park Geun-hye

South Korea’s Parliament today voted to impeach President Park Geun-hye, an aloof conservative who took a hard line against North Korea and rose to power with strong support from those who revered her father, the military dictator Park Chung-hee, the New York Times reported.

Yahapalanaya is no joke: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said today Yahapalanaya was not a joke and he was serious about good governance and that the government had committed itself to fight corruption.

Thowheed Jamaath's secretary released on bail

Thawheed Jamaath's General Secretary Abdul Razeek, remanded on charges of defaming Buddhism and reprimanding Ven. Gnanasara Thera in filth, was today released on bail.

Grade-5 Scholarship cut- off marks released

The Examination Department announced that the cut off marks for the Grade 5 Scholarship Exam 2016 has been released and could be obtained from www.moe.gov.lk

Interpol says can't issue warrant on Lanka e-news editor

The CID today informed the Gampaha Magistrate that they cannot obtain an Interpol warrant on Lanka e-news editor Pradeep Sandaruwan Senadeera since charges have not yet been filed in court against him.  

Man arrested with glyphosate at BIA

A 48-year-old man was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) last evening while attempting to bring in 1,200 packets of D-ERA pesticide containing glyphosate which is banned in Sri Lanka.

Agreement signed with Chinese Merchants to develop H'tota Port on PPP Model

A Framework Agreement was signed with China Merchants Port Holdings Company Limited yesterday for what the government called ‘revitalization’ of the Hambantota Port on a Private –Public Partnership (PPP) model.

UN findings on use of torture: Govt. to take due note

In response to the UN Committee Against Torture’s (CAT) findings that torture is a common tactic adopted by the police in Sri Lanka, the government yesterday said it would take due note of the UN panel’s recommendations in working to improve accountability, prevent torture, to take legal action against those who commit torture and in carrying out the necessary institutional reforms.

Debate on COPE report will be given priority: Minister

State Minister of Finance Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana said the COPE report on the ‘Treasury Bond Issue’ would be taken up for debate on priority basis at the very first session of Parliament in 2017 and a special fast track judicial procedure would put be put in place to conclude the legal process and punish the culprits as early as possible.

H'tota port sale agreement with China: NFF wants deal scrapped

The National Freedom Front (NFF) yesterday urged the Secretary to the Ports and Shipping Ministry to refrain from signing the agreement to sell the Hambantota Port to a Chinese company which was scheduled to be signed yesterday and warned him of the consequences, threatening that he would be the first person answerable before the FCID when a new government comes to power.

Authorities should brief leaders on why FTA failed: Expert

Against the backdrop of high authorities speaking in favour of the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), an international trade practitioner said yesterday that the relevant authorities should brief the country’s leadership on the reason for the current and past market access issues, and the trade imbalance under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) already in operation.

Minister, Dy. Minister argue over religious reconciliation

Buddha Sasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa and Deputy Minister M L A M Hisbullah confronted each other in Parliament yesterday over the subject of religious reconciliation.

Jayalalithaa’s death a relief to SL: Warnasinghe

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said yesterday that while they had expressed their condolences over the death of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa her death was a great relief to Sri Lanka.

Google searches for sex; SL tops list again

Sri Lanka has topped the list of countries which searched for the word ‘sex’ using Google in 2016, with 100 percent search interest.