No Lankan casualties in Italy earthquake

No Sri Lankans were affected by the 6.2 magnitude earthquake which struck central Italy today, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

Sri Lankan student in UK jailed on fraud charges

A Sri Lankan student and an Indian shop worker have been jailed after they helped launder almost £200,000 stolen from South West Communications in Exeter, UK, Express and Echo reported on Tuesday.

Police seek public help to find abducted businessman

Police today released a picture of the29-year-old Mohammed Sakeem Sulaiman, a businessman who went missing last Sunday (21) night, seeking public assistance to find him.

Fmr SDIG Senanayake re-remanded

Former Senior DIG Anura Senanayake was further remanded till September 07 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris today.

Kalawana SLFP organiser steps down

UPFA Parliamentarian Janaka Wakkumbura said he would resign from his post as the SLFP organiser for Kalawana, Ratnapura in accordance with a decision taken by the SLFP Kalawana Central Committee.

Update: Earthquake leaves at least 21 dead in central Italy

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake has struck central Italy, leaving at least 21 people dead and many others trapped under rubble, reports say.

Two women, man arrested with 400 cigarette cartons

Two women and a man were arrested while trying to smuggle in cigarette cartons, valued at Rs.2.8 million, into the country this morning, Deputy Customs Director Parakrama Basnayake said.

Portable horns, hooters banned at match venues –SLC

Sri Lanka Cricket has banned spectators from bringing in 'Portable Horns' or ‘Hooters’ to match venues.

Coal Controversy: USD 3mn loss in public funds?

The controversial Coal Tender process has taken a different turn with the Power and Energy Ministry deciding to continue to purchase coal from Swiss Singapore despite damning observations by the Supreme Court.

Ministry Sec. denies: Individual vehicle importers barred from Finance Ministry

The newly formed individual vehicle importers, who were affected due to the recent tax increase said yesterday that they were barred from entering the Finance Ministry office over any vehicle importation related issues by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake since June 17.

SL sailors not apprehended: Consulate

The eight Sri Lankan crew members of the ship Al Khalidia which was apprehended in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are not under custody but were provided accommodation in Khorfakan pending salary dues and repatriation, Sri Lankan Consulate General in Dubai said.

Govt. docs to update the Mahasangha Sabha on ETCA

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) said today it would update the Mahasangha Sabha of the Ramanna Nikaya on the proposed Indo-Lanka Economic and Technology Cooperation (ETCA) on an invitation to do so.

Building Buddhist temples, placing statues under Bo-trees: Have negated reconciliation efforts

Government Spokesman and Minister Rajitha Senaratne said building Buddhist temples, placing Buddha statues under Bo-trees and at junctions by the security forces after defeating the LTTE in the North-East had not done any good other than to negate the government's reconciliation efforts.

One killed by wild elephant, three escape

A 60-year-old man was killed by a wild elephant in a chena in Sooriyawewa in Embilipitiya this evening, police said.

Separate institute to administer Hambantota Port Industry Park

The Government has decided to set up a separate institute to administer the work of the proposed Hambantota Port Industry Park, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Parliament today.

Kithsiri Ranawaka remanded till Sep. 6

Former Director of Tourism Development Authority, Kithsiri Ranawaka who was arrested by FCID over allocating Authority’s funds of Rs. 5.7 to an election promoting campaign during Uva Provincial Council Election in 2014, was today remanded till September 6 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne.

Another top US official in SL

The US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, William E. Todd arrived in Sri Lanka today.  

SL backs UN talks to eliminate nuclear weapons

Sri Lanka would support the convening of a conference next year to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons leading towards their total elimination, Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha said.

Money politics still mar democratic elections in SL: election body

Money politics, weak political parties and violence still mar democratic elections in Asian countries including Sri Lanka, Asia Network for Free and Fair Elections (ANFREL) chairperson Damaso G. Magbual stated today.

FCID initiates investigation on SLC

FCID today informed Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court that it had initiated a broad investigation over alleged financial misappropriation reported at the Sri Lanka Cricket Board since 2010.

Angelo Perera in squad for second ODI

Sri Lanka have made one change to the squad for tomorrow’s second One Day International against Australia with Angelo Perera coming in for injured fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep, captain Angelo Mathews said today.

Fmr. JMO’s anticipatory bail application: Court notices respondents

Considering the anticipatory bail application filed by Former Colombo Chief Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Ananda Samarasekera, requesting bail anticipating arrest over the missing body parts of late Wasim Thajudeen, Colombo Additional Magistrate Aruni Attygalle noticed the OIC of the CID Homicide Division to respond on August 30.

Lankan sexually assaults 6-yr-old girl in Jerusalem

A Sri Lanka expat worker in Jerusalem, Israel has been charged for sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl in a home he was hired to clean, Israel National News reported on Monday.

Speaker signs OMP Bill

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya signed the Bill to set up the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) a short while ago, the Speaker’s Office said.The amended draft Bill to set up the OMP was passed in Parliament on August 11 without a vote being taken.

Nine cases filed against Sarana fixed for trial

Nine cases filed against former Chairman of Development Lotteries Board, Sarana Gunawardena on charges of misappropriating state funds when obtaining vehicles on rent for the National Lotteries Board, while being the Chairman, were fixed for trial for December 6, by the Colombo Additional Magistrate Aruni Attygalle today.

Even MR's family members may be removed: WP CM

President Maithripala Sirisena has taken upon himself the duty of purging the SLFP of destructive elements and in the process even Mahinda Rajapaksa family members may their positions as party organisers, Western Province Chief Minister Isuru Devapriya said yesterday.

Threats will only motivate us: MR

The threats would only be directed to the formation of new parties, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.

SriLankan pilot's licence suspended

The licence of the pilot - who was to operate the SriLankan flight from Frankfurt to Colombo on Friday and caused a delay after failing a breathalyzer test - was suspended with immediate effect by the Civil Aviation Authority today.

Drug kingpin arrested in Colombo

An alleged drug kingpin and one of his accomplices were arrested with 1.5 kilogrammes of heroin at Wellawatte this evening by Police Narcotics Bureau officers, Police said.

Supporters clash in Negombo; one hospitalised

A clash between supporters of two politicians in the Negombo area today has left three people injured of whom one had been hospitalized.