Kahatagaha miners launch underground hunger strike

Some 75 workers at the Kahatagaha Graphite Mine in Dodangaslanda today launched a hunger strike 1,132 feet underground, against an alleged move by the government to privatize the Kahatagaha Graphite Lanka limited.  

VAT Bill complies with Constitution: SC

The Supreme Court has informed the Speaker that the VAT Amendment Bill complies with the Constitution, Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala informed Parliament today.  

‘AAVA’ claims responsibility for sword attack on Jaffna Policemen

A group calling themselves the ‘AAVA Gangsters’ has claimed responsibility for the sword attack on two police officers in the Chunnakam market area.  

Gunmen kill 59 in attack on police academy in Pakistan

At least 59 people were killed and more than 100 wounded when gunmen wearing suicide vests stormed a Pakistani police training academy in the southwestern city of Quetta and took hostages, government officials said on Tuesday.

I spoke according to my conscience: President

President Maithripala Sirisena, in an exclusive interview with Lankadeepa, said the speech he made at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) with regard to the FCID action on heads of forces was drawn from his conscience.

Chillie granted bail, two more cases filed

Singer Thilanka Vidusha also known as Chillie was granted bail after he was remanded two weeks ago for assaulting an elderly man.

Hartal in Jaffna today

Shops in the Northern Province have decided to close their business establishments today as a mark of protest against the deaths of two university student, Northern PC member M. K. Shivajilingam said.

India may relax visa norms for SL monks

Days after the visit of  Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Indian government is examining a proposal to relax the visa regime for Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka.

Player management a core issue – Sumathipala

Player management, or the lack thereof, by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) over the last three years had contributed to the current injury crisis being faced by the national team, SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala said yesterday, on the eve of the team’s departure for a tour of Zimbabwe.   

Founding UN values must be upheld to overcome problems: Mangala

The founding principles of the United Nations such as pluralism, human rights, respect for diversity and the principle of working together should be upheld in order to overcome the problems faced by the world at present, Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera said today.

Minister Range Bandara’s son arrested following accident

UNP Minister Palitha Range Bandara’s son Yasodha and three others had been arrested by the Anamaduwa Police this evening in connection with a road accident in which a 42-year-old man had been killed.

Take action against Arjun Aloysius: COPE

Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) today held former Central Bank (CB) Governor Arjuna Mahendran's son-in-law Arjun Aloysius and other directors of Perpetual Treasuries responsible for the controversial CB Bond Scam, UNP member of COPE and Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera said.

Four remanded for beating sexually abused woman

Four members of the administrative panel of the Jummah Mosque in Nallandaluwa, Puttalam were remanded indefinitely by Puttalam Magistrate Bandula Gunaratne today -- on charges of beating a woman, who had earlier been sexually abused, with a coconut spathe bowl (hanassa).

CSN’s broadcasting license cancelled

The broadcasting license of the Carlton Sports Network (CSN) Channel has been cancelled as it had failed to adapt to the regulations, the Government Information Department today said.  

Bond Scam: Handunnetti walks out of COPE meeting

Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Chairman MP Sunil Handunnetti walked out of today’s COPE meeting in protest over several UNP MPs allegedly influencing Auditor General to withdraw his statement from the COPE report on Central Bank (CB) Bond Sale Scam.

Ex-mayor, 3 others remanded for operating brothel

Batticaloa’s former mayor Sivageetha Prabhakaran, her husband E.  Prabhakaran and two others were remanded till November 7 today on charges of operating a brothel at her residence in Batticaloa.

‘Pearl of Norway’ arrives in SL

Sørlandet, the oldest of the three Norwegian Tall Ships and the oldest full rigged ship in the world still in operation has arrived in Colombo yesterday, the Royal Norwegian Embassy said.

Sanga, Mahela join EU to raise awareness on violence against women

The European Union (EU) delegation to Sri Lanka will partner with cricketing legends Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara to raise awareness on Violence Against Women (VAW), the Union said today.  

FCID is legal: Court

The Colombo Fort Magistrate today upheld that the incorporation of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) was legal and within the legal powers vested in the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Nishantha Ranatunga bailed out in threat case

Former Secretary of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Nishantha Ranatunga was today released on bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitya over charges of posing death threats to Colombo Cricket Association Secretary Aruna Wijaya de Silva during an election at SLC on December 18, 2015.

Bribery Commission receives complaint against Sajith

The Socialist Youth Union affiliated to the JVP today filed a complaint against Minister Sajith Premadasa with the Bribery Commission against a recently leaked video clip which purportedly showing him recommending jobs to a group of youth.

Cameron allocated £6m aid to SL after Lankan businessman funded his party

Foreign aid from England to Sri Lanka had been significantly increased after a Sri Lankan businessman oversaw donations of more than 1 million British pounds (£) to the Conservative Party, the Daily Mail today reported.

Jaffna Uni. students protest killing of two students

Jaffna University students launched a protest today over the shooting of two university students who are alleged to have disregarded orders to stop their motorcycle when asked to do so at a police roadblock.

Suspects in Mattakkuliya shooting identified

The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) has identified the suspects involved in the Mattakkuliya shooting which killed four and critically injured three yesterday.

Jayantha granted bail, Sarath re-remanded

National Freedom Front (NFF) MP Jayantha Samaraweera, who was in remand custody on charges of misusing a vehicle belonging to the Presidential Secretariat causing a loss of Rs. 5 million to the State, was released on bail by Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today.

Intervening in attempt at extortion led to attack: Govt.

The two Government Intelligence Service officers had been attacked at Chunnakam in Jaffna by some gangsters when they had intervened to prevent an attempt by the gangsters to extort money from a shop owner, the Government Information Department said yesterday.

Sarath Kumara arrested, remanded

Former Fisheries Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne had been arrested after he surrendered to the Negombo Police Station over an accident in which an individual was killed in 2002.

Jaffna Uni student killing: Tamil parties call for 'hartal'

In the aftermath of the killing of two Jaffna university students, six Tamil political parties have called for a ‘hartal’ (stoppage of civil activities) in the north tomorrow, a former MP said yesterday.

Beer drinking school girls suspended

Ten female students of a leading school in the Southern Province, who had consumed beer and behaved badly inside the classroom, had been suspended, the School Disciplinary Unit of the Southern Province Eduction Department said.  

Herath named national skipper for Zimbabwe tests

At 38, Rangana Herath becomes country’s oldest cricketer to captain the national side after regular skipper Angelo Mathews was ruled out of the Zimbabwe test series with a calf tear.