25 Indian fishermen in custody

Twenty five Indian fishermen were arrested and their five fishing trawlers seized in the seas off Mannar North last evening, Navy spokesman Kosala Warnakulasuriya said

Manmohan to resign

Ruling out third term for himself, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Friday that he will hand over charge to a new Prime Minister after the elections in a few months and said that “We will announce the Congress PM candidate at an appropriate time”

Water cut in the offing?

If the islandwide dry weather continues the water supply may be interrupted, says the National Water Supply and Drainage Board. The board requests consumers to use water sparingly as the water available in reservoirs and rivers is limited.

US the biggest threat to world peace in 2013 – poll

The US has been voted as the most significant threat to world peace in a survey across 68 different countries. Anti-American sentiment was not only recorded in antagonistic countries, but also in many allied NATO partners like Turkey and Greece

One killed in clash at Moratuwa

One person died in a clash between two groups in Rawatawatta, Moratuwa this evening, Police said

W’pitiya OIC’s wife in court; remanded till Jan.8

The Wellampitiya Police OIC’s wife who was arrested on Wednesday on charges of peddling heroin was yesterday produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Magistrate Thilina Gamage and detained till January 8Pictures

Cabraal says figures not ‘massaged’

Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal today dismissed allegations that statistics provided by state institutions mainly the Central Bank and the Census and Statistics Department were distorted or ‘massaged’ to suit Government rhetoric on development

JHU to sue PM

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said today it would sue Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne for slander and demand one billion rupees in damages if he failed to apologise in public for making derogatory remarks on JHU Leader Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera

ADA website launched

The ADA newspaper published by the Wijeya Newspapers’ group launched its Sinhala breaking news website today. Log onto www.ada.lk for the latest news

Fishermen continue demonstration for release of arrested fishermen

More than 1,000 fishermen of Pamban continued their demonstration for the third day in that town, demanding release of the 18 fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan naval personnel on December 29 last year

Mangala’s residence break-in: suspect remanded

Panadura-North Police today arrested the man who is suspected of having broken into UNP parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera’s residence at Galkanuwa in Keselwatta, Panadura on Monday night.

Pilgrims asked not to climb Sri Pada during day till Jan.5

The Sri Pada Chief Incumbent has requested pilgrims to refrain from climbing Sri Pada between 6.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. from today till January 5 because of ongoing development work

Factory workers in hospital after New Year party

More than 120 employees of a garment factory at Boralugoda, Ingiriya were hospitalized due to a food poisoning at a New Year get-together in the factory last night, Hospital sources said PICTURES

End of the road for Malinga?

Sri Lanka’s cricket administrators, selectors and everyone who matters including the country’s political hierarchy have finally run out of patience with Lasith Malinga’s indifferent performances since of late for his country’s national team EXCLUSIVE

Rs.22mn gold seized at BIA

A Sri Lankan who attempted to smuggle three gold pieces worth nearly Rs.22 million to Chennai was arrested at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) early this morning, Customs spokesman Leslie Gamini said

Mohan Samaranayake resigns as Rupavahini Chairman

Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Chairman Mohan Samaranayake submitted his resignation yesterday on the instructions of Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

UNP to discuss Maithri Gunaratne nomination

The United National Party (UNP) today said that its Leadership Council would hold talks with Southern Provincial Councilor Maithri Gunaratne on Sunday about his nomination for the upcoming Southern Provincial Council election, upon a request made by him

Video: Wellampitiya OIC and wife nabbed for drug peddling

Wellampitiya Police OIC M. D. Munasinghe and his wife were arrested by police on the night of December 31 for allegedly peddling Heroin. When the police checked the official quarters of the Wellampitiya OIC they had recovered 26.5 grammes of heroin.

UNP’s ‘Raththaran’ joins the Govt.

UNP Southern Provincial Councillor Krishantha Pushpakumara alias Raththaran today said that he has decided to leave the UNP and contest the forthcoming Southern Provincial Council election as a Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) candidate

Six Indian and 12 SL fishermen released

Sri Lankan Coast Guard (SLCG) yesterday handed over six Indian fishermen and two fishing trawlers to the Indian Coast Guard off the coast of Kankesanturai, SLCG spokesman Rohan Joseph said

Video: ‘Bribery Chief received kickbacks’- Petition handed over

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today handed over a petition against the Chief of the Bribery Commission, Jagath De Silva Balapatabendi to the Bribery Commission, alleging that he received kickbacks after having sat on a Supreme Court bench, which released a consignment of vehicles.

Video: Stage collapse causes bloody ‘Five Star’ calamity

The VIP platform on which a son of the President and many other VIP’s were partying at the Colombo Hilton had collapsed around midnight injuring scores of revelers during the New Year’s Eve party UPDATE ???

SL denies ‘house arrest’ of Canadian MP

Sri Lanka today denied reports on ‘house arresting’ of Canadian NDP MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan and said that the MP was moving freely according to her schedule.

Critics of SL have a misguided notion: President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa in an interview with the Daily Mirror yesterday said that those who crticise the Human Rights record of the country are either those who have not visited the country or those who are the voices of the LTTE

SL to sign labour agreement with Saudi

As part of a comprehensive plan to streamline the domestic service sector, Saudi Arabia has decided to sign agreements with six labor-exporting countries including Sri Lanka to recruit domestic helpers.

Power failures in several areas

Power disruptions were reported in several areas from 7.30 pm today in Central, Southern,Sabaragamuwa, North Western and Eastern provinces due to a  technical fault at the Laxapana power station, CEB sources said

Three escapee Lankans return from S.Sudan

Three Sri Lankans, who survived the political turmoil in South Sudan while working in a Hotel there, arrived in Sri Lanka today

Posh ‘choc’ shop in Col-7 sealed

The store of a prominent upmarket chocolate shop situated in Colombo 7 was raided and sealed today by the Public Health Inspectors for storing and selling expired products

Saudi royal faces death penalty for murder

A Saudi prince who murdered a fellow Saudi may be executed, a newspaper reported on Sunday, in a rare example of a member of the kingdom's ruling family facing the death penalty.

Two more PS budgets defeated

The 2014 Budget presented by the UPFA-led Hingurakgoda Pradeshiya Sabha was defeated for the second time today by a majority of three votes with six members voting against and three voting in favour