Election as planned: Amaraweera

While claiming that nearly 1.1 million people had been affected with 23 deaths and 8 missing by today from the worst floods and earth slips experienced in the country since 1956, Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera expressed hopes that the Presidential Elections would not have to be postponed despite requests from certain quarters.

Floods: 24 killed, eight missing

More than 24 persons had been killed and eight persons were reported missing as a result of adverse weather conditions prevailing in the country during the last few days, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today.

The 1.5 millionth tourist arrives in SL

Sri Lanka Tourism today welcomed the arrival of 1,500,000th tourist for the year 2014 at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Fire breaks out on Italian ferry off Greece

An international rescue effort was under way in high winds after a car ferry carrying 466 passengers and crew caught fire while sailing from Greece to Italy and its captain ordered its evacuation, officials said on Sunday.

Muthu remanded till Dec. 30

Deputy Minister Nishantha Muthuhettigama, who was arrested this morning had been remanded till December 30 by the Negombo Magistrate’s Court, the Police said.

Muthu arrested on arrival

Deputy Minister, Nishantha Muthuhettigama who left for Singapore, having an arrest warrant on him, had been arrested by a Special CID team upon his arrival at the Banadaranaike International Airport, Katunayake this morning, the Police said.

Video: SLMC for Maithri

?Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has decided to support Opposition Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena at the forthcoming Presidential Election, Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem announced a short while ago.

AirAsia flight missing with 162 people onboard

An Air Asia flight from the Indonesia city of Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control, reports say.

​A/L Island best students

Hiruni Udara of of Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matara and Pakiyarajah Darukeesan of Hindu College,  Jaffna have topped the island in the GCE Advanced Level Examination in 2014, Bio-Science and Maths streams respectively.

35 Sri Lankan maids await deportation

A total of 35 stranded Sri Lankan housemaids will be sent home from Jeddah beginning next week, the Sri Lankan Consulate in Jeddah said. “This is the last group of stranded housemaids handed to Tarheel for repatriation home,” Consul General Adambawa Uthuma Lebbe said.

A/L results released

The results of the G.C.E. A/L examination-2014 have been released, the Examinations Department said. The results could be obtained via www.doenets.lk

Train services on Northern line resumed

Train services on the Northern line, which was disrupted due to floods and earth slips, were resumed this morning, Railway Department said.

President visits flood affected areas

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today visited the areas affected by floods in Anuradhapura and inspected the relief measures provided for the displaced people in the area, presidential Media Unit said.

Investigation on non-arrest of Muthuhettigama

Police Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has launched an investigation as to why deputy minister Nishantha Muthuhettigama was not arrested following a claim by an individual that he informed the 119 call centre, police said.

UNP provincial councillor to support MR

United National Party (UNP) Central Provincial Council member Chithra Manthilake pledged her support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa today at president’s House in Kandy, president’s media unit said.

Death toll rises to 15: DMC

At least 15 people were killed and 12 others went missing due to the torrential rains lashed in most parts of the country, the Disaster Management Centre said.

Video: Police probe on exchange control offences

The CID said it was currently investigating the detection of some Swiss Francs one million and US$ 200,000 in a house in Mount Lavinia to ascertain whether it involved a breach of Exchange Control laws.

Three Govt. members go to Singapore

Deputy Minister Faiszer Musthapha, ruling party heavyweight Monitoring MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena, and Deputy Minister Nishantha Muthtuhettigama are currently in Singapore having left the country today.

Video: I will return in a day or two: Muthuhettigama

Deputy Minister Nishantha Muthuhettigama who spoke to the Media over the phone from Singapore said he would return to the country in two days.

Video: Ranil, Maithri give statements to CID

The CID has recorded statements from Opposition Presidential Candidate Mathiripala Sirisena and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday, following a complaint made to the Inspector General of Police by Mr. Wickremesinghe.

Earth slip kills five in Rilpola

Five people were killed when they were buried under amound of earth this morning at Rilpola in Badulla.

Video: SF's party PC member joins govt.

Democratic Party Gampaha District Provincial Councillor Rajitha Hapuarachchi joined the government during a news briefing held at the UPFA headquarters in Colombo.

Four killed in earth mound collapse

Four people were killed in Karunapura and Hegoda areas in Badulla when an earth embankment collapsed on their houses.

Up Country train service disrupted

Train services on the main line were disrupted since last night due to the earth slips and rock falling, the Railway Control Room said. The train services on the Batticaloa-Trincomalee line terminated at Polonnaruwa  because of the  railway line submerged at several locations.

Heavy rainfalls today as well-Met

The low pressure area has intensified into a depression and located just off the southeast coast of Sri Lanka, giving very heavy rainfalls to the country today, the Met. Department warned.

Muthuhettigama flies to Singapore

Deputy Minister Nishantha Muthuhettigama who was issued with a warrant over the  Wanduramba incident, has left for Singapore through the VIP entrance of the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday midnight, sources said.

Video: Wimal accuses media over Sirikotha clash

Minister Wimal Weerawansa today accused the media of being biased in their reports on the clash that erupted before the Sirikotha Wednesday morning when a protest was staged by a group named ‘The Federation of National Organizations’ that is said to be affiliated to his party – the National Freedom Front (NFF).

Maithri demands Rs. 2.5 bn from Tissa

Common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena has demanded Rs. 2.5 billion from Health Minister and former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake for presenting a forged document.

Another challenge from Wimal

Minister Wimal Weerawansa challenged the common opposition to reveal whether the content of the agreement revealed by former UNP General Secretary were true without just terming it a forged document.

‘Secret’ doc can nullify MR’s Presidency if re-elected: Sarath

The bogus ‘secret’ document publicized by former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake being used in President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s campaign, is an offense that enables President Rajapaksa to be ousted from power if he is re-elected, former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva said today.