Woman with Gold worth Rs.3 million arrested at BIA

A Sri Lankan woman arrived from Dubai, UAE was arrested today while attempting to smuggle in gold worth Rs.3 million  at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Customs media spokesman Dharmasena Kahandawa said.

COPE report on Oct 20

The much awaited report of Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) which contain its observation on the controversial bond issue by the Central Bank is to be presented to Parliament on October 20, informed sources said today.

Existing laws inadequate for child safety: Akila

The Existing laws and regulations in Sri Lanka are inadequate for the protection of children’s rights and to ensure their safety in the society, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said .

SL should attend SAARC when new dates announced: GL

While criticizing the decision made by the government to boycott the 19th SAARC Summit, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs G. L. Peiris said that Sri Lanka should certainly attend the SAARC summit in Islamabad, Pakistan when the new dates were announced.

Suspected underworld leader flees police

Well known underworld leader in Athurugiriya ‘Arjun’ today escaped the clutches of the police who were on the verge of arresting him.  

Over 44,000 kg of waste tea found in Wellampitiya

More than 44,000 kg of waste tea was taken in to custody by the Special Task Force (STF) from a warehouse in Kohilawatta, Wellampitiya yesterday.

29-year-old stabbed to death by brother-in-law

A 29-year-old man was stabbed to death last night in Neluwa allegedly by his brother-in-law, police said.

Ex-LTTE cadre arrested in Vavuniya

An ex-LTTE cadre who had allegedly attacked residents of a war heroes housing scheme in Kokeliya, Vavuniya was arrested by the police today.

New dates for SAARC Summit to be announced soon

Days after Sri Lanka became the fifth country in the eight-member grouping to pull out of the SAARC Summit, in a press release, the Pakistan foreign office said, “a new set of dates for holding of the 19th Saarc Summit at Islamabad will be announced soon, through the Chair of Saarc (Nepal).”

SL could face power shortage in 2018: PUCSL

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) yesterday sounded a warning that unless the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) implemented the approved generation expansion plan on time Sri Lanka would face a power crisis by 2018.

Counter-terrorism law to replace PTA: Ranil

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the first draft of the counter-terrorism law which would be placed in the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), would be available for discussion by next week, New Zealand media reported.

NPC Dy. Chairman dies of heart attack

Deputy Chairman of the Northern Provincial Council Antony Jeganathan died of a heart attack this morning, Hospital sources said.

NZ and Sri Lanka beef up diplomatic ties

New Zealand and Sri Lanka will establish high commissions in each other's countries, the Prime Minister John Key says.

Vandalising Buddist Shrine at K'kulam: CJ steps down from Bench

Chief Justice K. Sripavan yesterday declined to be a member of the Bench hearing the fundamental rights petition on the vandalisation of a Buddhist Shrine at Kanagarayankulam in Mankulam.

HPC to scrutinise eligibility of 54 Heads of Govt. Institutions

The Parliament High Posts Committee (HPC) will scrutinise the eligibility of 54 officials appointed as Heads of Government Institutions, sources said yesterday.

SAARC Summit postponed indefinitely

The SAARC Summit set to be held in Islamabad in November has been postponed indefinitely, the government announced on Friday, after India along with four other member states of the regional grouping decided against attending the meet.

MR says his phone is tapped

Former President and Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa today said that his phone was tapped and that was not a problem for him as his approach was straightforward even during telephone conservations.

CV’s actions not beneficial but detrimental to Tamils: SF

Minister Sarath Fonseka said today the actions of Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran would not yield any benefit to the Tamil people but would cause them more problems.

Avant Garde’s Ukrainian Captain re-remanded

Avant Garde Captain Gennady Garvlov (40), remanded on charges of possessing and transporting illegal weapons was yesterday re-remanded till October 14 by Galle Chief Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura.

Two youths drown in a water hole off Negombo

Two youths drowned today while bathing in a giant hole that dug to get soil in Udangawa, Kochchikade, Negombo this afternoon, police said.

RTI Commission established

Mahinda Gammanpila a former Ministry Secretary was appointed as the Chairman of the Right to Information (RTI) Commission by President Maithripala Sirisena today.

‘Secret’ letter to Prez, PM from Malwatu Mahanayake

The Malwatu Mahanayake the Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera today handed over a ‘secret’ letter to Constitutional Reform Committee Chief Lal Wijenayake to be transmitted to the President and the Prime Minister.  

SL says atmosphere not conducive to hold SAARC Summit

In the wake of four member-countries including India pulling out of the 19th SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad on November 9 and 10, Sri Lanka said today the atmosphere in the South Asian region was not conducive for the holding of the Summit.

Hashish worth Rs.160 mn seized in Rajagiriya

More than 11 kilos of Hashish worth Rs.160 million has been taken into custody in Rajagiriya by the Special Investigations Unit of the Colombo Excise Department last night, an official for the Excise Department said.

Avant Garde case: Gota, Senadipathi, 5 others granted bail

Former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Avant Garde Maritime Services Chairman Nissanka Senadipathi and five others were today granted bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya in the case filed by the Bribery Commission on corruption charges.

Corporal’s Body found at Kotmale Power Plant

The body of a 41-year-old Army Lance Corporal was today found outside the Kotmale Hydroelectric Power Plant signal room where he was on duty.  

Chanuka Ratwatte and four others re-remanded

Chanuka Ratwatte and four others, who were arrested by the FCID in connection with an alleged misappropriation of Rs. 4.2 billion government funds, were further remanded till October 7 by Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne.

Court refuses to issue arrest warrant on Udayanga

Colombo Fort Magistrate today refused the CID’s request to issue an arrest warrant through Interpol on one time Sri Lankan ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunge over the inquiry conducted on the alleged financial loss caused by purchasing Ukraine-built MIG-twenty seven aircrafts in 2006.

Avant Garde case: Gota and 6 others appear in Courts

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Nissanka Senadipathi and five others appeared in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court over the inquiry conducted under the Corruption charges filed by the Bribery Commission.

Take action against Perpetual Treasuries: Bandula to Govt.

UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardane yesterday questioned the government as to what action it would take in connection with the excessive profit of Rs.5.1 billion recorded by Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) last year by trading Government Bonds.