Port City Project- Two more hectares in lieu of losses incurred

The Government is reported to have proposed the allocation of two more hectares of land to the Port City Project to off-set loss of US$143 million caused by the suspension of work after the new government assumed office.

SLFPers taking part in today's Pada Yatra are traitors: CM

Members of the SLFP who participate in the Pada Yatra today will be considered to be traitors, Southern Province Chief Minister Shan Wijayalal De Silva said yesterday.

Pada Yathra to begin from Galaha Junction

The Joint Opposition said today that they would commence their scheduled Pada Yathra from Galaha Junction tomorrow morning while respecting the court order not to conduct the protest march within the Kandy city limits.

Six former army corporals acquitted

The former army corporals, who were charged with killing 24 Tamil civilians in Kumarapuram in the Trincomalee District in 1996, were acquitted by the Anurdhapura High Court today.

Tissa Attanayake’s forged document case - Court sends reminder to AG

Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today directed that a reminder be sent to the Attorney General’s Department to expedite proceedings in the forged document case filed against former United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Tissa Attanayake.

Lasantha's killing: Suspect identified by driver

The suspect taken into custody in connection with killing of Sunday Leader Chief Editor Lasantha Wickramathunga has been identified by the man who was driving Mr.Wickramatunga's vehicle at the time he was killed.

One week in jail for nude Aussie

An Australian, arrested on charges of running naked on Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Turf during the rain delay on the opening day of the first test match between Australia and Sri Lanka, was sentenced to one week's simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs.3,000 imposed by the Kandy Magistrate today.

Man walks away with island resort in $49 raffle

An Australian man has won the raffle of a lifetime, taking home an entire Pacific island resort for the price of a $49 ticket.

Canadian FM arrives in Sri Lanka

Canadian Foreign Minister Stéphane Dion arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) today on a two-day official visit. He is being accompanied by an eight-member delegation.

Russian Naval Ship ‘Igor Belousov’ arrives

A Russian search and rescue vessel, Igor Belousov arrived today at the Colombo Port upon a goodwill visit.

Boat service from Colombo Rowing Club to National Hospital

A new boat service will be launched soon near the Colombo Rowing Club and the National Hospital, providing a new mode of transport for people to get to the hospital, Minister of Megapolis Patali Champika Ranawaka said today.

Man arrested with 4000 packets of heroin

A man was arrested with 4000 packets of heroin in Athurugiriya Town this morning on information received by the Mirihana Special Crime Investigation unit, police said.

JO ordered to start its protest march outside Kandy Town

The Kandy Magistrate today ordered the Joint Opposition to conduct their protest march outside the Kandy Town.

Murali inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame

Record-breaking off-spinner Muralidaran will become the first Sri Lankan player to be inducted in ICC Hall of Fame.

Muzammil re-remanded till Aug.10

National Freedom Front (NFF) spokesman Mohammed Muzammil was today further remanded till August 10 on charges of misappropriating Rs.6.1 million by misusing a vehicle attached to the Presidential Secretariat.

Vigneswaran claims rights to Moragahakanda project

Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Vigneswaran yesterday claimed rights to the Moragahakanda project as it supplied water to the Northern Province.

Lankan migrants in UAE forced to work as slaves

Some 100 migrants from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are stranded in Abu Dhabi after their employer refused to renew their work permits, Reuters reports.

Foreign judges- My decision will prevail: MS

Amid different shades of opinion being expressed on the involvement of foreign judges in the proposed judicial mechanism to inquire into allegations of human rights and accountability issues, President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have said his decision would prevail at the end.

Woman bites molester's lip

A part of the lower lip of a man had been bitten off when he allegedly tried to sexually abuse his 65-year old mother- in -law, Kirindiwela Police said.

SLC funds used to set up questionable institution: COPE

Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Chairman Sunil Handunnetti said an institution has been set up under the name Sri Lanka Cricket Aid Guarantee Company Limited with a capital of Rs.15 million belonging to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Moragahakanda-Kaluganga project was started by us: MR

The initial steps of the Moragahakanda-Kaluganga project was started under the Mahinda Chinthanaya and it was under one of our main programmes, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

Consumer rights group tells Speaker - Inferior cooking oil used in MPs' meals

A consumer rights organization has informed Speaker Karu Jayasuriya that an inferior quality of cooking oil was being used in the parliamentary kitchen to prepare food for the MPs and requested him to investigate the matter.

PM’s remarks on media - Silence by Western Missions a shocker: JO

The joint opposition said today it was shocked by the ‘deafening’ silence of the Western missions over the statements made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last week threatening newspaper editors.

BIA closed for renovations for 3 months

The main runway of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) would be closed for three months from January 5 next year for renovations, Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said today.

MOD is in the process of introducing pension scheme

Ministry of Defence (MOD) said today that they were in the process of introducing a pension scheme for retired disabled tri-force members and police personnel but said an exact time frame cannot be revealed at this level.

SLC doesn’t know Cricket- Arjuna

While admitting that he wouldn’t have accepted the consulting role to Cricket Australia former Sri Lankan Cricket Captain Arjuna Ranathunga said that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is to blame for eliminating coaching opportunities to locals, compelling them to find employment overseas.

“Port City” to become “Financial City”

The Government will change the name, “Port City” to “Financial City” to underline the fact that China would not be given outright ownership to the block of land, Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando said today.

No SLFP CC approval to extend UNP-SLFP agreement- JO

Neither the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Central Committee (SLFP CC) nor the Executive Committee had approved the extension of the agreement entered into with the United National Party (UNP) for five years, SLFP MPs of the joint opposition (JO) said today.

France church attack: Priest killed in hostage-taking

A priest has been killed in an attack by two armed men at his church near Rouen in northern France, police and French media have said.

Doctors who treated Ven. Sobitha Thera to be questioned

Colombo Chief Magistrate allowed the special panel of Colombo National Hospital doctors who conducted an inquiry into the death of Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera to question the doctors who treated the Thera in Sri Lanka.