Stray dogs removed from E03

Stray dogs that were loitering along the Colombo-Katunayake Highway had been caught and taken away prior to its opening, an animal organization said today. Pictures

E03 after 6 p.m.

The Colombo-Katunayake Expressway declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning would be opened for public from 6 p.m. today, an official said.

PM should announce boycott of C’wealth meet: DMK

Describing as “extremely shocking and disappointing” External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid’s reported remarks assuring his participation in the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka next month, DMK today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to categorically announce India’s boycott of the 53-nation group’s meet.

John at the E03 opening

Chief Opposition Whip and UNP District Leader John Amaratunga who was the only UNP MP to attend the opening ceremony of the Colombo-Katunayaka Experssway (E03) today, said he participated in the event because it was something which was started by the UNP.

Pakistan Naval ships due here

Two Pakistan naval ships PNS NASR and Khaibar will arrive at Colombo Port today on a four-day goodwill visit, As part of goodwill, Pakistan Navy ships frequently make port calls on Sri Lanka and

MR declares open Colombo- Katunayake expressway

The Colombo- Katunayake expressway was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa a short while ago

Pakistan to sell JF-17 fighter jets to SL-report

Pakistan has decided to start sale of state of the art JF-17, Thunder combat planes developed by the collaboration of China to several other countries including to Sri Lanka from next year, Pakistan’s The Nations news agency reported.

Khurshid will attend CHOGM

India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will represent India at the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) summit, though the Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging boycott of the meeting because of human rights abuses in Sri Lanka.

HR violation takes place in every country-Envoy

“Human rights violation takes place in every country in the world. We have our share of it and we are making effort to correct them,” Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Prasad Kariyawasam said in New Delhi said.

BCCI terminates 'Pune Warriors'

The Indian Premier League's 2014 season will see eight instead of nine teams competing after the BCCI on Saturday terminated the Sahara Group-owned Pune Warriors India (PWI), sources told CNN-IBN.

SL ranked 55th in Global Gender Gap report

Sri Lanka is ranked 55th among 136 countries across the world in terms of gender gap, according to the Global Gender Gap Report 2013 released by the World Economic Forum on Friday

Accident kills three in Puttalam

At least three persons including an infant were killed and five others injured when a van carrying the victims had collided with a parked lorry at Karuwalagaswewa on the Puttalam-Anuradhapura main road in the early hours today, police said.

CHOGM: No comments by SL on TN resolution

While stating that Sri Lanka is looking forward to hosting the Indian Prime Minister at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November, the External Affairs Ministry yesterday declined to comment on the resolution passed by Tamil Nadu urging him to cancel his visit.

Video: Govt. not disclosing CHOGM expenditure: UNP

United National Party (UNP) Badulla district parliamentarian Harin Fernando today accused the Government of not revealing the funds allocated for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and urged the government to reveal this to the people.

Video: Lessons to be learnt from SA on reconciliation: GL

At the South Africa-Sri Lanka joint dialogue on reconciliation, External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris said lessons on reconciliation could be learnt from South Africa because the country successfully went through a transition beyond apartheid

Lieutenant injured in freak accident

A lieutenant was hospitalised when he was injured after a mortar struck his spine at the Special Forces (SF) training school in Maduru Oya. Pictures

Opposition backs Jayalalithaa's resolution

In a show of solidarity, political parties in Tamil Nadu Assembly and outside supported Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s resolution against India’s participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka, The Hindu reported

Tamil people have rejected separatism- Wigneswaran

Northern Provincial Council (NPC) Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran, in his inaugural address today said the Tamil people had rejected separatism and violence in any form and this should be clearly understood by people in the South.

Polish national arrested with 200,000 Saudi Riyal

Customs officers arrested a polish national at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning allegedly having in his possession Saudi Riyals 200,000 worth Rs.7 Million

3 arrested for running brothel

Three suspects were arrested on charges of operating a brothel under the pretext of it being Ayurvedic Massage Clinic at Udahamulla area in Mirihana, police said

Water-cut in parts of Colombo and Rajagiriya

Due to maintenance work, a 12-hour water-cut in some parts of Colombo and Rajagiriya will come into effect from Friday 8 pm to Saturday 8 am, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said

Elections Commissioner’s dead letter

A mason’s assistant received a disturbing warning letter from the Commissioner of Elections instructing him to furnish a declaration of assets before October 31, 2013 for having contested the recent central provincial council elections as a candidate of the New Democratic  Party.

Inquiry on alleged sexual misconduct in Haiti begins

The five-member Court of Inquiry (CoI), convened by the Commander of the Army to investigate into a recent alleged sexual misconduct by a member of the Sri Lankan UN Peace Keeping Mission contingent  in Haiti (MINUSTAH), has begun in close co-operation with UN Military Police in Leogane, Haiti

Video: India will be isolated if PM skips CHOGM-SL

Sri Lankan High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam has said that India will be isolated if Prime Minister Manmohan Singh doesn't attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting ???

Conspiracy to kill me- Mangala

Following a complaint by UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera about a plot to assassinate him, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa ordered the IGP to provide security to all MPs in an impartial manner

TN passes resolution demanding India boycott CHOGM

The Tamil Nadu legislative assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution urging the Union government to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting slated to be held in Colombo in November???

LPBOA await Govt. nod to operate on new expressway

Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne said the government had not informed them   whether private buses would be allowed to operate on the Colombo Katunayake Expressway which is scheduled to be opened on Sunday???

Video: Poor taxed while casinos enjoy tax holidays: UNP

UNP parliamentarian R. Yogarajan said today the government had imposed a 40% tax on ordinary people while giving a tax holiday to casino operators

Court calls for report on Azath Salley

Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage today directed the Colombo Crimes Division to submit a report why legal action has not been taken against Central Provincial Councillor Azath Salley and his sister.

Vaas Snr. to be indicted in the High Court

The Attorney General today informed the Appeal Court that former DIG Vaas Gunawardene would be indicted in the High Court on charges of having abducted and assaulted Malabe student Nipuna Ramanayake