CAA to raid milk stores at any time of the day

A gazette notification will be issued soon to enable the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to raid milk powder stores at any time of the day, Cooperatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando told a parliament media briefing today

SL temple photo wins “Best Smartphone Photo’ contest

The 'Best Photo Taken on a Smartphone' contest, launched by Celebrity Cruises, encouraged amateur photographers to submit their holiday snaps and has announced that a shot of the Gangaramaya Viharaya Temple, taken in Colombo, Sri Lanka, has taken top place

Military spokesman now at the MCNS building

With the abolition of the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS), the military spokesman’s office which comes under the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has been moved to the MCNS building at Colombo 3

High Court finds in favour of SL Tamil woman

Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison will have to consider the case of a Tamil Sri Lankan woman in indefinite detention after the High Court ruled his department made a mistake

MR in Kenya

President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, this evening, beginning a four-day state visit, the President’s Office said

Update: 110 Indian fishermen arrested

Sri Lanka Navy today arrested 110 Indian fishermen and 15 Indian trawlers engaged in illegal fishing in the eastern seas of Sri Lanka, the navy said

Minister’s foot in mouth over Basil ad

Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne was in a spot in Parliament today, when he claimed that the enlarged photograph of Minister Basil Rajapaksa was included in a full page newspaper advertisement as part of the Mattala International Airport’s publicity campaign

Heroin container: Ministry Secretary resigns

The Coordinating Secretary to the Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs, who had allegedly intervened to release a heroin container from the Customs, had tendered his resignation to Prime Minister and the Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs D.M. Jayaratne from December 9

Melee in Homagama; Budget defeated

Adding to the list of UPFA defeats in budgets of local government bodies, the budget of the Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha was defeated 11- 2 with the Chairman of the council hospitalised following an assault by a member of the gallery

Church warns of 'foreign intervention' in Sri Lanka

The Catholic Church today warned Sri Lanka's government of foreign intervention unless it worked towards reconciliation and addressed allegations of war crimes during the war against Tamil separatists

Pakistan's Naval Chief arrives tomorrow

Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila, NI (M) will be arriving in Sri Lanka tomorrow on a bilateral visit alongwith a three members’ delegation

Navy step up heat on poaching fishermen

The Navy said today that 15 Indian fishing vessels along with fishermen have been taken into custody for poaching in Sri Lankan waters

Reveal Govt. stance on letter by Maha Nayake Theras: UNP

United National Party (UNP) media spokesman Gayantha Karunathilake asked the Government to reveal its stance on the letter sent to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by the Maha Nayake Theras of the four Nikayas asking that casinos be banned in Sri Lanka

Police issues guidelines for Sri Pada season

The Police today introduced a special set of guidelines for devotees who go on Sri Pada pilgrimage which starts on December 16.

Man knocked down by a train at Bambalapitiya

A man selling ‘Kola Kenda’ in Bambalapitiya was run over by a train at around 8.15 a.m. today, police said. They identified the victim as 40-year-old Mohammed Thuwan, a resident of Raddoluwa. Pictures

SL should follow Mandela’s example: Britain

British Deputy Prime Minister Nicholas Clegg said Sri Lanka should emulate South Africa’s truth and reconciliation process as, “there can be no better way for Sri Lanka to heal its wounds and bring peace and unity to its entire people other than by following Mandela’s example.”

SL, TN fishermen talks by month-end

After months of prodding by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to set up a talks table between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lankan fishermen, the Centre has finally stirred into action and the proposed meeting might take place by this month-end

Gem and gold worth Rs.64mn seized

Custom Officials arrested a Sri Lankan gem exporter at the Bandaranaike International Airport today while attempting to smuggle gems and gold valued Rs. 64 million to Chennai.

Father remanded till end of daughter’s exam

A father who was arrested on charges of having repeatedly assaulted his wife and being cruel to his 16-year-old daughter who was sitting the GEC O/L examination was today ordered to be remanded until the examination ends on December 20

Used vehicle importers in a crisis: VIA

The Vehicle Importers Association (VIA) today alleged that the government had created a monopoly for Brand new vehicle importers through this year’s budget by scrapping the concessions which had been given to the used vehicle importers earlier

Video: Even China says SL govt. corrupt: Ranil

Even China, the country that provides the largest amount of loans to Sri Lanka had charged that the Sri Lankan government was corrupt, main Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said at a seminar held on the 2014 budget at the Jathika Sevaka Sangama Headquarters today

Alawwa PS budget defeated again

The 2014 budget of the Alawwa Pradeshiya Sabha was defeated for the second time today by a majority of one vote

Contaminated petrol damages 19 vehicles

At least 19 vehicles experienced technical problems resulting from the petrol pumped at the newly opened Menikhinna filling station, police said.

Facilitate more UN special reps to visit SL-EU

The European Union today called on the Sri Lankan government to extend further invitations to facilitate outstanding visit requests by UN special mandate holders, including the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.

Gamini Navarathne actg. IGP

Inspector General of Police N.K. Illangakoon today left for Malaysia to participate at the Royal Malaysian Police Server function in Malaysia

Indian arrested in Vallamkulam

An Indian national was arrested yesterday by the Illippukadavai Police in Vallamkulam for overstaying his visa and violating immigration laws and selling clothes illegally, The Police said

Lankan worker rejects paltry compensation

A Sri Lankan worker who lost his leg while working refused Monday to accept SR5,000 as compensation from his Saudi sponsor

Police draw blank on Noori terror inquiry

A solitary Police constable was interdicted and 13 other police officers including a chief inspector charge-sheeted at the conclusion of the investigations into the conduct of police officers of the Deraniyagala Police Station during the alleged ‘era of terror’ unleashed by former Deraniyagala PS Chairman and his political cohorts

MR accommodates Paba’s circuit bungalow proposals

Actress turned Parliamentarian Upeksha Swarnamali told Parliament today that President Mahinda Rajapaksa accepted two of her three budgetary proposals including the one to establish five circuit bungalows in the country for the benefit of artistes

Jayalalitha snag in fishermen release: Deputy Minister

The influence of Jayalalithaa Jayaram, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was clouding the bilateral discussions between Sri Lanka and India to release Sri Lankan fishermen and their vessels from Indian custody, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development said today