Nelson Mandela dies at 95

South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela has died, South Africa's president says. Mr Mandela, 95, led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison

SL women shun ‘women only’ buses, trains: Minister

Women in Sri Lanka do not like to travel in ‘women only’ buses and therefore moves to introduce such buses for their convenience had been shelved, Transport Minister Kumara Welgama told Parliament today

SL to launch Satellite in UNESCAP project

Sri Lanka will become a member of the elite ‘Satellite Club of Nations’ when it launches its first satellite in two years under its ambitious ‘Small Satellite  Mission’ programme, Technology and Research Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said

Lankan Journalists detained at Mumbai airport

Two Sri Lankan journalists who were on an assignment to India had to undergo harassment by an Indian Immigration officer at the Mumbai International Airport when they were detained and questioned despite possessing a valid visa and other documents

Arrested while altering dates of medicines

Two suspects were arrested by Police Walana Crime Division while pasting new labels on expired pharmaceutical drugs packets at Narahenpita today, Police said

CAA seizes milk powder worth Rs.80mn

The Flying Squad of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) seized 257,658 milk powder packets worth Rs.80 million, each weighing 400 grammes stored illegally at a private warehouse in Seeduwa short while ago.

CAA rejects gas price increase request

A request by private gas companies to increase domestic (LPG) gas prices have been turned down by the Consumer Affairs Authority

Ghost train reaches Ratmalana

A train engine, which was at the Demtagoda Railway Yard had automatically started at around 1.45 am today and preceded without a driver before it was stopped between Ratmalana and Mt. Lavinia, railway authorities said. UPDATE

SL regrets Singh cancellation

Sri Lanka has described as “unfortunate” Manmohan Singh’s absence from last month’s Commonwealth meeting in Colombo and denied information about a visit by the Prime Minister announced by finance minister P. Chidambaram last week.

SL couple desperate to save newborn

A Dubai-based Sri Lankan couple is seeking help to pay the mounting hospital bills of their newborn son undergoing treatment for a respiratory problem

Mahela recognized for his spirit

Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has been nominated for the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award for this year for walking before being given out while he was on 91 in a Test match against New Zealand

Video: Australia tougher than ever on illegal boat arrivals

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Scott Morrison, today said anti-people smuggling measures the Australian Government had introduced, including a ban on permanent protection visas for people who arrived before July 19 this year, demonstrated the strength of the Government’s resolve ???

Rs.2.5mn missing from Bank ATM

Ambalangoda police initiated investigations on a complaint lodged by the Ambalangoda Peoples bank over fraudulent alleged robbery of Rs.2,513,900 from the bank’s ATM this evening, police said

Snap naval ties with SL: Karunanidhi

DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday urged the Centre to annul the agreement with Sri Lanka for naval cooperation to control piracy and terrorists in the Indian Ocean

Bindu-Saman incident amicably settled

The incident where popular Singer Saman De Silva was allegedly assaulted by Southern Provincial Council Minister Bindu Weerasinghe during a musical show in Borella last Saturday night was amicably settled at the Borella police station today Pictures

Video: Women are the worst affected: Rosy

While claiming that the 2014 budget was an attempt to please the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Rosy Senanayake said today the women in Sri Lanka were the most affected from the budget

Int'l community patience on SL could wear thin-US

The US has warned Sri Lanka that the patience of the international community could wear thin if the Rajapaksa Government does not take steps to address the issue of human rights, accountability and reconciliation process.

NPC Opposition leader arrested over Delft murder

Northern Provincial Council EPDP Opposition leader K. Kamalendran was arrested by the CID over the murder of the Delft Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said

Another Ethanol stock recovered

More than 74, 000 litres of Ethanol worth Rs. 82 million were taken into custody by the Customs officials at the Orugodawatte container yard this morning, customs media spokesman Lesly Gamini said

Navy chief admiral plays down training to SL Navy

With a political storm raging in Tamil Nadu over India’s military ties with Sri Lanka, Navy chief Admiral D K Joshi on Tuesday clarified that there was “no scaling up of any activity” with the island nation, but added a rider that training the neighbouring country’s military personnel was to India’s advantage.

Video: PC Minister should apologise to all SL Artistes: SLASA

The Provincial Council minister who assaulted popular singer Saman de Silva should apologise to the entire school of artistes in the country, Sri Lanka Singers Association (SLASA) Joint Secretary Madumadhawa Aravinda said.Pictures

Military presence is the main problem-CM to UN envoy

The biggest problem faced by the Northern Province residents was the presence of the army, which was pivotal in creating other problems, Northern Province Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran had told the visiting UN Special Rapporteur Dr. Chaloka Beyani.

SL remains committed to conduct impartial probe-Army

The military today said that the government remains committed to conduct impartial and comprehensive criminal investigations and domestic inquiries into any complaints and information received, relating to alleged perpetration of crimes by members of the armed forces and the police.

SL ranks 91 in corruption index

Sri Lanka ranked 91st place on Transparency International’s corruption perception index for 2013, according to a report released on Tuesday

BBS in favour of private campus

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Organisation today said that it was in favour of establishing private universities in Sri Lanka and said the move would stop Sri Lankan monies going out of the country

Duminda Silva’s former driver surrenders

Four people, including parliamentarian Duminda Silva’s former driver, who are suspected in the killing of an Athurugiriya night club bouncer surrendered to the police a short while ago, sources said

Hulugalle continues to head NGO secretariat

Director General Lakshman Hulugalle said today that he will continue to head the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Secretariat.

Major shakeup at Law College

The conduct of several officials within the Law College are currently under scrutiny for alleged malpractices committed in the ‘administrative and examinations procedures, following the suspension of former Principal W. D Rodrigo, the Daily Mirror learns.

Six Lankan fishermen arrested

Six Sri Lankan nationals have been arrested and their boat seized by the Indian Coast Guard off Andhra Pradesh coast for allegedly illegally entering and fishing in Indian waters

KSA demands probe into diplomat’s death

The body of the Saudi diplomat who was found dead inside a swimming pool in an apartment complex in Colombo on Sunday will be flown to Jeddah on Tuesday