Fishermen's meeting postponed to Jan 27

With Sri Lanka seeking time to finalise the list of representatives for the much-anticipated fishermen's associations meeting aimed at resolving the vexed issue of fishing rights in the Palk Straits, the Tamil Nadu government on Saturday said the discussions would be held on January 27 and not on Monday as announced originally. 

Australian PM’s special envoy meets Navy Chief

Australian Prime Minister's special envoy for Operation Sovereign Borders, Major General (retd) Jim Molan called on Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage at the Naval Headquarters in Colombo today. 

HR Chief’s report will give an assessment on SL-UK

While claiming that the UNHRC Chief’s report ahead of the HR Council will give an assessment of Sri Lanka’s progress, Britain has reiterated that if a credible domestic process has not begun properly by March it would use its seat on the UN Human Rights Council to call for an international investigation against Sri Lanka.

TN Courts order release of 61 SL fishermen

Two courts in Tamil Nadu have ordered the release of 61 Sri Lankan fishermen arrested between July and November in 2013

Postal voting applications from Jan. 20

Applications for postal voting for Western and Southern Provincial councils will be accepted from January 20 to February 7, Elections Secretariat said

SF meeting in Balapitiya disrupted by police

A tense situation arose at the Balapitiya town today when police attempted to stop a Democratic Party meeting held with the participation of its leader and former army commander Sarath Fonseka

CBK meets Mahanayake

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga called on the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter Most Venerable Thibbotuwawe Siddhartha in Kandy today

One dead 68, injured in bus collision

One person was killed and 68 injured when a Colombo –Maduru Oya private bus collided head on with a Colombo-Kurunegala SLTB bus at Pasyala this afternoon, police said. Update

Pakistan PM invites MR

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has extended an invitation to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to visit Pakistan, Pakistan based news agencies reported.

Nimal's long journey to Australia has an ending at last

A Sri Lankan refugee who was involved in a six-month long standoff with Indonesian authorities in 2009 has finally arrived in Australia.

Scholarship: Appeals accepted till Jan 31

Appeals with regard to the student admissions to national schools based on 2013 Grade 5 scholarship examinations would be accepted until January 31, the Education Ministry said

Albino Turtle carcass to be brought to zoo

The Balapitiya Magistrate today directed the Kosgoda police to hand over the carcass of an albino turtle that had been preserved at the turtle hatchery in Kosgoda to the Dehiwala zoo, and have it destroyed after the investigations

Britain allowed ex-SAS officers to train SL forces

Former SAS officers were allowed by the British government to train security forces in Sri Lanka around the time of the 1980s Golden Temple massacre, recently released government documents show

Rubasinghe, new Rupavahini Chairman

Wimal Rubasinghe has been appointed the Chairman of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), Government Information Department said

Australia assists people-smuggler arrested

Alleged people-smugglers have been arrested in Vietnam and Sri Lanka with the help of Australian intelligence.

Kshenuka Seneviratne new Foreign Secretary

The Additional Secretary of the External Affairs Ministry Kshenuka Seneviratne was appointed the new Foreign Secretary following the retirement of the former secretary, External Affairs Ministry sources said

One arrested with three rare geckos

A person was arrested for allegedly transporting three geckos of a rare species in bottles in Embilipitiya town by the Embilipitiya police yesterday, police said

Hirunika should cooperate with other organizers: Faizer

Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha yesterday said he will continue his political activities in  Colombo Central despite the appointment of Hirunika Premachandra, the daughter of late ruling party politician Baratha Lakshman Premachandra as an SLFP’s co-organizer for the area

Indian night club dancers deported

The female five Indian dancers who had overstayed their visas and been arrested in a night club in Borella were black listed and deported, the Emigration and Immigration Department said

US to extend support to SL Bar Association

The United States said that it was supporting the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, through which it expects to help further the efficacy of the legal system and the administration of justice here.

US ready to work with SL

The United States said that it was interested in working together with Sri Lankan Government on addressing humanitarian issues

Video: SF targets 25 seats at PC polls

Democratic Party (DP) Leader Sarath Fonseka said today that his party was targeting at least 25 seats at the upcoming  Western and Southern provincial Council elections

Albino turtles to be handed over to the Zoo

Wildlife officials were today directed by Court to hand over the albino turtles that were being bred by Chandrasiri Abrew in his hatchery at Kosgoda to the Dehiwala Zoo

Prayer centre attack: Court orders suspects’ arrest

The Galle Additional Magistrate Gunaratne Kumara today ordered the police to arrest the 24 suspects identified by the Police as those involved in the attack on two prayer centers in Hikkaduwa.

Video: UNHRC to be used as publicity stunt: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today alleged that a publicity stunt had been planned by the ruling UPFA to get political advantage at the coming Provincial Council elections using the resolution on Sri Lanka

Ravana Balaya wants two Bishops arrested

While claiming that the Bishops of Mannar and Jaffna have provided ‘false’ information to US Ambassador-at-Large Stephen J. Rapp on the Sri Lankan civil war, the Ravana Balaya Organisation today urged the Inspector General of Police to arrest them

Traffic at Dean’s Road

Heavy traffic congestion is reported in the Town Hall area due to a protest carried out by health workers near the Health Ministry blocking Dean’s Road, Police said

Lanka can help in fighting pirates: Neomal

Sri Lanka’s experience in eradicating the threat of the Sea Tigers could be of great use in fighting piracy in the Indian Ocean and providing security cover to vessels of the Gulf countries, Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera has told the Oman Tribune

PC poll nominations from Jan. 30 to Feb. 6

Nominations for the Western and Southern Provincial Council Elections would be accepted from January 30 to February 6, the Department of Election said today

Two Chinese nationals arrested

Two Chinese Nationals aged 36 and 38 were arrested by customs this morning at the Katunayake Airport while attempting to smuggle foreign currency valued at more than Rs. 7 million concealed in their hang bags to China