Wigneswaran-Sampanthan talks fail to end crisis in TNA

The three-hour one-to-one meeting between the Northern Province Chief  Minister C.V.Wigneswaran, and the leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), R.Sampanthan, held on Friday, had failed to resolve the crisis in the TNA.

Special traffic plan for vehicles entering Colombo

Police stations in several areas have been directed to put into place special regulations and traffic plans for vehicles entering Colombo today (December 27), the Police said.

Nawaz Sharif to visit SL next month

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit Sri Lanka next month during which the two sides will sign several agreements including a pact on combating money laundering and terrorism financing, officials said yesterday.

Four killed, three injured in accident

Four persons were killed and three others were injured when a van collided with a tipper truck on the Colombo- Kandy Road at Nelumdeniya in Kegalle today, Police said.

E01: Use Kadawatha and Athurugiriya exits tomorrow

Motorists travelling to Colombo on the Southern Expressway (E01) are advised to use the exit points at Kadawatha and Athurugiriya to avoid possible vehicle congestion, mainly at the Kottawa exit point, tomorrow, the RDA officials said.

306 arrested for drunk driving

A total of 306 drivers had been arrested for Driving Under Influence (DUI) in a special operation launched island wide from Wednesday, the Police said. They said 118 drivers were arrested on Wednesday, 83 drivers on Thursday and 105 drivers on Friday.  

2,500 deaths due to accidents this year

More than 2,500 people have been killed in 2,360 road accidents during the first 11 months of this year, according to the National Council for Road Safety (NCRS).

Prices soar in Kataragama

An increased demand for accommodation, meals and other items in the Kataragama area following an unexpected influx of devotees during the long holidays has created a scarcity of these needs, with unscrupulous businessmen exploiting the situation charging arbitrary prices.

Term of LG bodies extended by 6 months

The term of office of the local government bodies which was scheduled to expire on December 31 would be extended by six more months, President Maithripala Sirisena said today.  

Jaffna fishermen demand compensation package

Fishermen from Jaffna have demanded that the Sri Lankan government frame a comprehensive scheme to safeguard their interests when they experience huge losses caused by poachers.

Businessman arrested with jewellery worth Rs. 11 mn at BIA

A Sri Lankan businessman was arrested early this morning at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for attempting to smuggle jewellery worth Rs. 11 million from Singapore.

Liquor licence fee hike may be withdrawn

The budget decision to increase the licence fee on liquor production to Rs.150 million is to be withdrawn, government sources said.

Geetha to chair Galle DDC

Actress turned politician Geetha Kumarasinghe was likely to be appointed as the Chairperson of the Galle District Development Committee, well informed sources said today.

WP CM to take over Warnasinghe’s portfolio

Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya said he would take over the Ministry of Health, which was under Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Spokesman Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe after the budget submitted by him was defeated by 45 votes to 23 last Tuesday.

Christmas Eve accidents lower this time

A total of 219 accidents had been reported to the General Hospital on Christmas Eve -a 5 percent decrease from the last Christmas Eve, Hospital sources said today.

TNA gets joint chair posts at DCCs

Main Opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R. Sampanthan had been appointed as the Co-Chairman of the Trincomalee District Coordination Committee (DCC), TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran today said.

Indian PM in surprise Pakistan visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Pakistan on surprise visit to meet Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif today, BBC reported.

ISIS threatens to kidnap Iraq’s beauty Queen Shayma Qasim

A supporter of the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) threatened to kidnap Miss Iraq, the first to be crowned since 1972, if she did not join the group’s ranks, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Kusal’s B Sample positive, may face 4-year ban

The B Sample of cricketer Kusal Janith Perera had also tested positive for banned substances and therefore, he might face a 4-year suspension from cricket, Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said today.

SL invites Saudi Arabia to set up oil refinery in H’tota

Sri Lanka has invited Saudi Arabia to set up a petroleum refinery in Hambantota, Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran has told the media in Riyadh.In addition to meeting the needs of Sri Lanka, he said such a refinery could tap markets in neighboring countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

E01 earns Rs.16mn in 24 hrs

The Southern Expressway earned a record breaking income of Rs.16 million during the last 24 hours, Highways and Higher Education Ministry said. It said the usual income of the E01 within 24 hours was only Rs.11 million.

570 prisoners released for Christmas

Five hundred and seventy inmates in prisons across the country were released today on a presidential pardon as a part of Christmas celebrations, the Prisons Department said.

Christmas teaches us lessons of kindness, charity: President

President Maithripala Sirisena in his Christmas message said Christmas symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ who assumed a powerful voice, teaching us lessons of kindness and charity that have lasted for more than 2000 years.

Birth of Jesus marked with love to all mankind: PM

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ whose life was marked by love, forgiveness and mercy to all mankind, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in his Christmas message.

Is Hirunika following her father's footsteps?"

Nava Sama Samaja Party Leader Vickramabahu Karunaratne yesterday raised doubts whether MP Hirunika Premachandra followed the footsteps of her father who he identified as a hoodlum in Kolonnawa, as she attempted to resolve disputes among mobs.

Importers welcome tax reversion on electric cars

The Vehicle Importers Association of Lanka (VIAL) today welcomed President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to withdraw the 2016-budget proposal to increase the import tax on electric vehicles by 50 percent.

We could have saved Rizana: Ranjan

Rizana Nafeek, the young housemaid who was executed in Saudi Arabia could have been saved if the current government was in power in 2013, Deputy Social Empowerment and Welfare Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said today.

HIV positive cases on the rise

The National STD/HIV Control Programme today said the number of HIV positive cases were on the rise with 2,241 HIV such patients and 21 AIDS related deaths reported in the country as at October this year.

Body of child washed ashore

The body of a three-year-old boy was washed ashore at the Dehiwela beach this evening, Police said. They said the mother of the boy had lodged a complaint with the Wellawatte Police this afternoon that the boy had gone missing from their house in Wellawatte.

Water board workers threaten TU action

The Water Supply Joint Trade Union Alliance today threatened to launch a trade union action from December 26 to 28 for not paying their annual bonus payment.