Origin of drowned men not confirmed: SL mission in UK

The five men who drowned off Camber Sands in East Sussex, England have not yet been identified as Sri Lankans, the Sri Lankan High Commission in the UK said this afternoon.

President rejects alleged corruption reported in Aussie media

President Maithripala Sirisena today rejected the news report that appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald website that he and his adviser allegedly demanded a political "donation" to be paid by the iconic Snowy Mountains Engineering Company (SMEC) when he was the Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian services in 2009.

JO urges local inquiry into Aussie reports

The joint opposition today requested President Maithripala Sirisena to call for a local investigation regarding the news reports in the Australian media involving the name of President Sirisena over a bribery investigation conducted on a company there.

Army leaves Kudiyiruppu Camp

The Army has evacuated the Kudiyiruppu Camp which was in the hands of the army for the past 26 years.

President's office will issue statement on Aussie media reports: Lakshman Yapa

The Presidential Secretariat will issue a full statement in the days to come on the news reports published in Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation among the Australian media on an alleged attempt to obtain a financial donation from an Australian company for political work by a coordinating secretary of President Maithripala Sirisena when he served as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Irrigation in 2009

Travel ban on five individuals over businessman’s killing

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris today issued a travel ban order on five individuals, who are alleged to have been involved in the abduction of the Bambalapitiya businessman whose body was found in Mawanella last night.

Five Lankans drowned in London

Five men who drowned off Camber Sands in East Sussex, England were a group of Sri Lankan friends visiting from London - but beachgoers today urged police to reveal more about their mysterious deaths.

Dilshan will retire from ODIs

TM Dilshan will retire from one day international (ODI) cricket after the third ODI between Sri Lanka and Australia on August 28 in Dambulla.

No decision to remove army camps in North: Army Commander

While denying the statement made by a parliamentarian, Army Commander Lieutenant General Crishantha de Silva said that there was no decision to remove any Army camp in the North.

Body of elderly man found in lodge at Kotahena

The body of an elderly man was found in a lodge at Kotahena last night, Police said.

Helicopter with two ministers makes emergency landing in N’ Eliya

A helicopter carrying Ministers Sajith Premadasa and Naveen Dissanayake and Deputy Minister Indika Bandaranyaka is reported to have landed in a vegetable farm at Katumana in Nuwara Eliya due to thick mist this morning.

Scottish engineer due in court in SL over nightclub brawl

A Scot is due in court in Sri Lanka over a nightclub brawl with the son of a former government minister in the country in 2014.

Special commodity levy on potatoes increased

The Special commodity levy on a kilogram of imported potatoes has been increased by Rs. 5 with effect from today, the Finance Ministry said.

Death toll reaches 247 in Italy earthquake

At least 247 people were killed after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck central Italy Wednesday, according to Italy's Civil Protection Department.

Couple arrested with heroin worth Rs. 10 mn

A husband and wife were arrested with more than 100 grams of heroin worth Rs.10 million in Borella this morning, police said.

Smith rests, Warner skippers Aussies in Sri Lanka

Australia's Steve Smith has been rested to focus on next month's tour of South Africa leaving David Warner to lead the side for the remainder of the Sri Lanka series.

JO to present proposal in Parliament demanding LG polls

The Joint Opposition would today present a proposal in Parliament demanding immediate local government elections, which has been already delayed by one year and three months, the Joint Opposition said yesterday.

12 killed in attack on American University in Kabul

Twelve people were killed in an attack on a university in Kabul, the Afghan capital, a spokesman for the Chief of Kabul Police tells CNN.

Body recovered in Mawanella suspected to be of missing businessman

A man's body believed to be that of the missing businessman, Mohamed Sakeem Sulaiman, was found on the Hemmathagama Road in Rukulagama in Mawanella yesterday evening, police sources said.

My father brought in Sinhala only Bill to give country back its identity: CBK

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga yesterday said her father had brought in the Sinhala only Bill in 1956 not as a racist move but as a means of giving back to the country its identity after 450 years of subjugation by foreign rulers.

Preliminary studies could have reduced defects in mini hydro-power plants: Gunawardene

An accurate preliminary study had not been conducted before building a majority of mini hydro-power plants in the country and therefore, they have defects, senior environmentalist and environmental lawyer Jagath Gunawardena said.

Kiriella leaking news: JVP

COPE Chairman JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti charged in Parliament yesterday that Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella had leaked information to the media about contradiction of evidence by the officials of the Central Bank regarding the bond scam, and it amounted to influencing ongoing investigations.

Speaker declines Sunil to question Navin

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today declined to allow JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti from directing a Supplementary Question at Plantation Minister Navin Dissanayake on his assertion that he would quit his Ministerial post if the Finance Ministry proceeded with action to transfer the Tea Board funds to the Consolidated Fund.

SL beats Australia, level ODI series 1-1

Skipper Angelo Mathews today led from the front with his allround showing to help Sri Lanka register a comprehensive 82-run win against Australia in the second one-day international to level the series at 1-1 in Colombo.

Thajudeen murder: Phone call details deleted

The CID informed court today that details pertaining to the phone calls received from Presidential Secretariat and Temple Trees to Narahenpita OIC Damien Perera on the day Wasim Thajudeen was found dead, had been deleted from the Presidential Secretariat records.

Embilipitiya Case: CID slow in action, says counsel

The CID under the IGP had not shown equal urgency in taking the remaining suspects into custody compared to how quickly the Police Commission reinstated the suspect ASP Chaminda Dharmawardana, who was released on bail, the counsel representing the aggrieved party said court today

Cabinet approval given to Central and Ratnapura highways: Gayantha

Cabinet approval had been given to call bids to select a contractor for the Central Expressway Project and to call for technical and financial proposals for the Ratnapura Expressway project, Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said.

Rs. 1,000 Mn vehicle fraud: ACCSU writes to ACCS

The All Ceylon Customs Service Union (ACCSU) haswritten to the Director of the Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat (ACCS)reminding him of a complaint itmade about a vehicle fraud at the Customs resulting in a Rs.1,000 million loss to the State.

Myanmar hit by 6.8 magnitude earthquake; tremors in Kolkata, Bangkok

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake has hit central Myanmar, and was felt in Thailand, Bangladesh and India, reports say.

Signing of OMP Bill without changes, dangerous: JHU

The endorsement of the Bill to set up the Office of the Missing Persons (OMP) sans submitted amendments was a grave error, which could lead to negative repercussions, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) charged today.