Paid leave for voting

All employees are entitled for paid leave to cast their vote at the March 29 elections to the Western and Southern Provincial Councils, the Government Information Department said today.

Britain joins call for UN to probe on SL

Britain is to join the US and three other countries in pushing for a full international inquiry into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka after the government there failed to satisfy international calls for a such an inquiry, Downing Street announced on Sunday.

National drug policy: draft bill to be presented to President today

The long- awaited legislation that provides for the introduction of a national drug policy in line with the recommendations of Prof. Senaka Bibile has been drawn up, and a copy of it will be presented to President Mahinda Rajapaksa today, a spokesman said.

Video: Three killed in fiery disaster

Three members of a family were killed and three injured after one family member set fire to a house in Kataragama last night, police said. UPDATE

Twice-punished student ends up in hospital

A Grade VII student of a school in Nawalapitya who was punished by his teacher was subsequently caned by the principal, warranting admission to hospital.

Lankan refugees get lessons on self-defence

Some of their sisters fell to bullets; some others took to arms. Five years after the war ended in Sri Lanka, these women refugees from the island nation are now learning self-defencewith the help of an NGO.

Video: Still no sign of missing Malaysia flight

As the hunt for the missing Malaysian Air jumbo jet gained momentum Sunday in the South China Sea and Malaysian intelligence agencies were investigating potential terrorism, hopes were all but gone for the 239 passengers and crew.

Long line to enter new highway

The first phase of the Kaduwela-Kottawa Outer Circular Highway (OCH) had been open to the public since 12 noon today and there was a long queue of vehicles waiting to enter the new highway since morning.

Golden family nabbed at BIA

A 48-year old woman accompanied by her daughter (20) and son (17) were arrested with jewellery worth Rs. 6 million in their possession, at the Bandaranaike International Airport today.

20 injured in bus mishap

At least 20 passengers had been injured when a bus skidded off the road, knocked an embankment and toppled on the Nuwara Eliya Road this morning, Police said. Pictures

Student shot dead by robber gang

A 19-year-old student Nipun Anuranga was shot dead by an unidentified group in the Udugampola area in Walpola,  Gampaha last night, Police said.Pictures

Video: SL win Asia Cup title for fifth time

Sri Lanka today regained the Asia Cup trophy with a comfortable five-wicket victory over defending champions Pakistan, riding on Lasith Malinga's five-wicket haul and opener Lahiru Thrimanne's fluent century, at the Shere Bangla National Stadium Mirpur, Dhaka on Saturday.

Video: Kottawa-Kaduwela Highway opened

The first phase of the Outer Circular Highway from Kottawa to Kaduwela was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Pakistan bat first in Asia Cup final

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat in the final of the Asia Cup against Sri Lanka in Dhaka a short while ago.

Update: Plane crashes in South China Sea

A Malaysia Airlines flight carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew crashed in the South China Sea on Saturday, Vietnamese state media said, quoting a senior naval official.

Ranatunga irked by SLC stance on ‘Big Three’

Terming the stance of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) against the ‘Big Three’ as disappointing, the former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga said it could have an adverse impact in the longer run.

No Lankans on board missing flight

The Sri Lankan High Commission in Malaysia has confirmed that there were no Sri Lankan passengers on board the Malaysia Airlines flight which lost contact with air traffic controllers early today.

Malaysia Airlines loses contact with plane carrying 239 people

A Malaysia Airlines flight carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing lost contact with air traffic controllers early on Saturday, the airline said in a statement, the plane likely missing in Vietnamese airspace.

India yet to decide on UNHRC resolution

Indian External Affairs Ministry on Friday said India was yet to take a final call on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on Sri Lanka.

Beef, mutton and pork banned in Gampaha

The slaughtering of cattle, goats and pigs, selling and transporting of beef, mutton and pork will be banned in the Gampaha District from today as several head of cattle with foot and mouth were detected in the area.

SL women have achieved many milestones-First Lady

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, in her message for International Women’s Day, said that Sri Lankan women had achieved many milestones had set many valuable examples to women in most societies.

Draft resolution violates SL’s constitution provisions-SL

Sri Lanka says the draft resolution on Sri Lanka deposited with the Human Rights Council by a core group comprising - the USA, UK, Mauritius, Montenegro and Macedonia, violates the constitutional provisions of Sri Lanka.

Ada and Leo Burnett win Gold for Sri Lanka

Leo Burnett Solutions Inc. (LBSI), the local office of the global advertising network Leo Burnett Worldwide once again brings recognition to Sri Lanka by bringing home the Gold Lotus in the promotion category for the best use of Print/Conventional Outdoor for the Ada

Video: Three arrested over 36-Kilo heroin haul

The Customs Revenue Task Force (RTF) yesterday arrested two shipping agents and a wharf manager in connection with the detection of 36 kilos of heroin worth Rs.360 million with a street value of between Rs.6.5 million and Rs.8.5 million.

Two Lankans charged for possessing forge bank cards

Two Sri Lankan men were charged in the Sessions Court in Malaysia today with 72 counts of possession of fake international bank cards.

Traffic congestion in Colombo

Traffic congestion is being reported in the exit lanes from Colombo on Parliament Road, Bandaranaike roundabout near Inguru Kade Junction and Havelock Road due to heavy rains experienced in Colombo, police said

Woman drives car at 160 kmph on Southern Expressway

A car, which was being driven at 160kmph on the southern expressway,is reported to have veered off the road before toppling overat a point between Galanigama and Dodangoda this morning, Police said.

SL’s success, an inspiration for Afghan peace efforts-Karzai

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, who concluded his three-day official visit to Sri Lanka today, said Sri Lanka’s success in bringing about peace and stability in the country, ‘is a source of inspiration for Afghanistan’s peace and reconciliation efforts.’

UK wants SL to sign UN declaration

Britain today urged the Sri Lankan government to sign the UN Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.

SL businessman denied bail in fraud case in US

After listening to a prosecutor paint a bleak picture of Sri Lankan born Deepal Wannakuwatte’s chances of beating charges of orchestrating a $150 million fraud, a federal magistrate judge on Thursday ordered the Sacramento businessman back to jail without bail as a flight risk.