President Maithri has given hope to Tamils: Velayutham

The election of Maithripala Sirisena as the Sri Lankan President has offered a hope to the Tamils in Sri Lanka and they are able to move freely without the Army’s interruption, said K. Velayutham, Sri Lankan Minister of State for Plantation and Industry.

Mohan Peiris to create public opinion

Subsequent to President Maithripala Sirisena’s recommendation that the appointment of Mohan Peiris as the Chief Justice was null and void, President’s Counsel Mohan Peiris was expecting to bring the issue through the Parliament and create a public opinion, sources close to Mr. Peiris said yesterday.

President says helicopters not for him

President Maitripala Sirisena, in a televised address to the nation, said he that would not make use of helicopters except to attend to urgent duties.

US hands India evidence linking Pakistan terror

The documents handed over by the US to India in connection with the probe into the plot to carry out terror strikes on American and Israeli consulates in the South have  established communication between Sakir Hussain, undergoing jail term in the case, and 'Shahjee', a Pakistani national introduced to the accused allegedly by a Pakistani diplomat working in Colombo.

Withdraw proposal to send refugees back to SL: MDMK

Erstwhile NDA ally MDMK today urged the Centre not to go ahead with the proposal for sending back Sri Lankan Tamil refugees to their country, claiming that the move is aimed at preventing action against the island nation government in the UN Human Rights Council.

Protest in Talawakelle

A tense situation had been reported in Talawakelle following a group of people blocked the railway line halting the Colombo-Badulla train this afternoon.

Customs reveals million rupee textile scam

In a shocking revelation, Sri Lanka Customs said it had unearthed a massive scam of evading millions of rupees as taxes by two BOI Approved companies in the textile industry that had imported over 300 containers during the last few years without paying duty.

Video: Bakers want more to make price cuts

Bakery owners today came up with fresh demands if they were to maintain price cuts for their products as announced in the mini budget of the government on Thursday.

Canteen owners cut prices

The canteen owners have announced that prices would be reduced from tomorrow. Accordingly the price of a packet of lunch, Kottu, would be reduced by Rs. 10

Oil leak at Orugodawatte

Nearly one hundred persons have taken oil in containers from the spot where the oil leak took place in Orugodawatte, some employees attached to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) charged today.

Indian fishermen problem goes to central government

An Indian Parliamentary Standing Committee said it would submit a report to the Centre on the problems faced by fishermen, including attacks allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy, to enable the External Affairs Ministry find a diplomatic solution to the vexed issue.

Gotabhaya hands over two baby elephants: Dy Minister

Former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has handed over two baby elephants that were kept in his care to the zoo, Deputy Minister of Wildlife Wasantha Senanayake said.

Parliament to be dissolved by April 23-Ranil

   Prime Minister Ranil Wickramsinghe has announced today that the Parliament will be dissolved by April 23 this year. 

Sharma in SL

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma who arrived in Sri Lanka this afternoon is due to meet the External Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

My brothers asked not to attend rugger practice-Namal

Hambantota UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa said that his two younger brothers-Yoshitha and Rohitha-who were members of the Sri Lanka Army and Navy rugger teams, were asked not to attend rugby practice without citing any reasons.

SriLankan Airlines air hostess dies in Qatar

A female cabin crew member of the SriLankan Airlines was killed and three others- two flight attendants and an air hostess-were injured when a vehicle on desert safari met with an accident in Doha, Qatar on Friday evening.

Biswal due here on Monday

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal will travel to Sri Lanka on February 2–3, the US Embassy in Colombo announced.

Canada welcomes reinstatement of Shirani as CJ

Canadian Government said it welcomed the reinstatement of Shirani Bandaranayake as Chief Justice of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court.

Audio: Hybrid car prices will go up due to tax revision

Vehicle Importers Association Chairman Mahinda Sarathchandra said yesterday that prices of vehicles below 1000 cc would come down only by Rs. 25, 000 in the wake of the 15% tax reduction announced in Thursday’s mini budget while all hybrid cars would go up by as much as Rupees one million.

Pudukuduiruppu and Maritimepattu PS polls on Feb. 28

Elections to the Pudukuduiruppu and Maritimepattu Pradeshiya Sabhas in the Mullaithivu district will be held on February 28, Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said.

India, Lanka Discuss Voluntary Repatriation of Lankan Refugees

India-Sri Lanka today held talks on voluntary repatriation of Sri Lankan refugees in the country, within days of deciding to "re-engage" on the issue during a meeting between their foreign ministers.

Sripavan sworn in as CJ

The senior most Supreme Court Judge K. Sripavan was a sworn in by President Maithripala Sirisena as the new Chief Justice of Sri Lanka.

Grade 5 scholarship cut off marks released

The cut off marks for the grade 5 scholarship examination were released a short while ago by the education ministry.

Packer's Crown pulls plug on SL casino plan

James Packer's Crown Group says it will not go ahead with a proposed plan to develop a $400 million luxury hotel and resort in Sri Lanka, following a decision by the government in Colombo to scrap tax concessions for the project.

Video: Even Ravi K. has to pay Mansion Tax: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayke should be aware that he too would have to pay the newly imposed ‘Mansion Tax’ of Rs.1 million.

Parliament adjourned for 20 minutes

Parliament sessions were adjourned for 20 minutes a short while ago following a special statement made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremeisnghe on the reinstatement of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayak

Audio: We’ll not tax owners of old houses: Harsha

Policy Planning and Economic Development Deputy Minister Harsha De Silva said today the Mansion Tax would not apply to owners of old houses which they had inherited but on the rich who had built huge mansions without any paying any taxes to the Government.

10,000 police transfers postponed

The transfer of some 10,000 police personnel from February 1 has been postponed to May 1, 2015, police said.

Father and son killed in fire

A 42-year-old father and his 2-year-old son were burnt to death at Walathapitiya in Sammanthurai when their house caught fire last night.

UK MP hopes press freedom will be boosted under new govt.

UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State for Sri Lanka, Hugo Swire, who travelled to Jaffna today, expressed optimism that press freedom will grow under the new government.