Lankan tamil refugees arrive by illegal boat service, one held

A Sri Lankan Tamil refugee, who arrived Rameshwarm by an illegal boat service, has been taken into custody for questioning and a massive hunt launched for other refugees, police said.

President returns to the country

President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in the country this morning after a four day official visit to Kenya. The Presidential media Office said.

Bizarre vanishing of museum artifacts

As many as 221 artifacts including old coins dating back to Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa eras, ancient swords and the belt worn by Nugawela Adikaram, had disappeared last year after an exhibition conducted at the Colombo National Museum

Three bodies found in Gandara

Bodies of a 29-year-old mother and her two children aged seven and nine were found hanging down from the roof of a house in Kapugama, Gandara this evening, police said.

SL, Kenya to share defence experiences

Sri Lanka and Kenya have agreed to enhance cooperation and the sharing of experiences especially in the areas of counterterrorism and defence, a joint communiqué said.

Buddha relics brought from SL stolen from Cambodian shrine

Cambodian police on Sunday said they were searching for a golden urn, brought from Sri Lanka, said to contain relics of the Buddha - including hair, teeth and bones - after it was stolen from a shrine. 

Mandela laid to rest in Qunu

Nelson Mandela was laid to rest in his childhood village of Qunu on Sunday, marking the end of an exceptional journey for the prisoner turned president who transformed South Africa.

'Take steps to avoid collapse of TNA Government'

Dr K Vigneswaran, who was advisor to two Sri Lankan Tamil Chief Ministers, A Varadarajaperumal and S Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, has urged the Northern Province Chief Minister, C V Wignewaran, and the provincial Governor, Maj Gen G A Chandrasiri, to have a dialogue,

I selected James Packer-Ravi Wijeratne

A leading businessman, Chairman of the Ranks Holdings (Pvt) Limited Ravi Wijeratne, who claims to be the prime mover of introducing casino to Sri Lanka said that he was the person who selected Australia’s James Packer and not the government. Full interview

DMK has struggled for SL tamil cause since early days: Karunanidhi

Refuting criticism that his party had done little for the Sri Lankan Tamils cause, DMK president M Karunanidhi on Saturday said it had struggled for the ethnic minority since the early days, with even his party led governments being dismissed in the light of the issue.

Accident kills three in Mundalama

Three persons were killed when their three-wheeler collided with the official vehicle of the Puttalam Police Superintendent in the Mundalama area, last night, police said.Pictures

I am going to be a bachelor again- Mahindananda

While claiming that he is becoming a single, Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage who is currently under a cloud for allegedly threatening his estranged wife, denied allegations levelled against him. Full interview

SL ready to work with Kenya-MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has pledged his government's commitment to work with Kenya in building a dynamic partnership that will benefit the people of the two countries.

MR visits UN headquarters in Africa

President Mahinda Rajapksa this morning visited the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), the only U.N. headquarters in Africa, the President's Office said.

UN FAO accused over SL kidney illness

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has been blamed for the spread of a kidney disease which has affected nearly half a million people in Sri Lanka.

Largest heroin haul seized at Hikkaduwa

Police narcotics bureau seized 10 kilos of heroin from a house at Hikkaduwa yesterday, which is said to be the biggest ever heroin haul detected in the Southern province

Drive with one hand and lose your licence

The Private Transport Minister told Parliament yesterday that steps would be taken to cancel the driving licences of those who drive with one hand on the steering.

Man who rode bike on expressway arrested

A man was arrested for riding a bicycle on the Katunayake expressway and released on bail after being produced in the Negombo Magistrate’s Court, police said.

Video: People don’t want ‘sound and fury’ - Akashi

Visiting Japanese special envoy Yasushi Akashi said today that it was not only the International Community but also Sri Lankans who are anxiously “waiting for action and not just sound and fury”.

Special traffic plan for Colombo Night Races

A special traffic plan will be implemented in the Colombo City when it is transformed into a race track for two days for the Colombo Night Races to be held tomorrow and on Sunday, the police said

TNA disputes appointment of DIG to North

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) today disputed the appointment of DIG Pujitha Jayasundare to the North

Video: PM must resign - UNP

United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Ajith P. Perera said today the Prime Minister should resign for allowing his ministry officials to misuse his post, signature and official seal to obtain Customs clearance for the largest-ever stock of heroin smuggled into this country

Sanga named ODI Cricketer of the Year

Kumar Sangakkara has been crowned as ODI Cricketer of the Year - 2013 by the International Cricket Council (ICC), while Mahela Jayawardane won the Spirit of Cricket Award.

Two killed in motorcycle tragedy

Two people including an Army Captain were killed in an accident near the Saman Dewalaya at Ratnapura this morning, police said.  They said the tragedy occurred when a motorcycle veeredoff the road and crashed into a a house on the Ratnapura-Panadura road

Two vehicles damaged in roof collapse

At least two vehicles were damaged when a section of the roof of the Welikada Plaza in Rajagiriya collapsed.

EU passes resolution on SL

The European Parliament Thursday evening passed a resolution calling on the Sri Lankan government to implement the recommendation of the Reconciliation Committee in full.

'I had absolutely nothing to do with heroin'

In a fiery scandal which erupted recently, the Coordinating Secretary to the Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs was alleged to have intervened to release a heroin container from the Customs

Jayalalithaa flays Centre on TN fishermen arrests by SL

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday hit out at the Centre's inaction on the frequent arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan navy and urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to personally take up the matter with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa without any further delay.

Police yet to act on controversial letter

Police are yet to take action against United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Gampola Urban Councillor Tharanga Vittachchi and Prime Minister’s ex-Coordinating Secretary Keerthi Sri Weerasinghe who are implicated in the letter asking that the container carrying heroin be released

Women drivers and conductors for SLTB buses

Deputy transport Minister Rohana Dissanayake said yesterday there were moves to employ women drivers and conductors in Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses so as to instill some form of discipline on the roads