MSD vehicle crashes on expressway

A double-cab carrying Ministerial Security Division (MSD) officers, allegedly speeding on the Southern Expressway, ran off the track at the 8km post between Kahatuduwa and Gelenigama and crashed into the partition fence after hitting a van.

No new casino licences - Govt

The government said that it would never issue new license to open betting centers in the country and already taken measures to shift all betting centers in the Colombo city into a special betting zone, the state owned SLBC said.

Talks on lifting tinted glass ban on vehicles

Discussions are underway between the Motor Traffic Department and the law enforcement authorities to lift the ban on tinted glasses in vehicles, an official of the Motor Traffic Department said.

Chappell in line to become chief coach of SL

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) may end up appointing former Australian captain Greg Chappell as its new chief coach.

Rainy weather to continue

The Meteorology Department today warned of heavy rains exceeding 150 mm in some places while temporary localized strong winds could also be expected during thundershowers.

Stranded undergrads rescued in Hantana hills

Police and the STF today rescued four university undergrads including a female student, who were stranded in the Hantana hills since yesterday, police said.

SLTB bus fares up by 7%

The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus fares would also be increased by 7% with effect from November 1, NTC Chairman Roshan Gunawardene said.

Maldives presidential poll stopped by police

Maldives police have stopped a fresh presidential poll that was to be held on Saturday, the archipelago's Election Commission said, despite a court ruling that the poll could go ahead

UNP CPC members meet to resolve crisis

All UNP members of the Central Provincial Council have been summoned to Colombo next week for a discussion to resolve the crisis with regard to the opposition leader’s post, Party General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said today. 

India keeps up suspense on PM's attending CHOGM

India on Friday kept the suspense on whether Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will attend the Commonwealth Summit in Sri Lanka next month in view of strong opposition by Tamil parties.

Two killed, 30 injured in lorry-van collision

A 16-year-old girl and a 27-year-old man were killed and some 30 injured in a head-on collision between a lorry and a van in Karamba on the Kalpitiya-Puttalam main road this evening. Pictures

Rains to continue

Heavy rains are expected in the next few days as a result of the low pressure conditions prevailing in the atmosphere over the country, Department of Meteorology said today.

One killed as vehicle plunges into Diyawanna

One person was killed and another injured when a car plunged into the Diyawanna Oya early this morning. The accident occurred on the Japan Friendship Road at about 3.00 a.m.

Boy drowns in swimming pool

A ten-year-old boy is reported to have drowned in a hotel swimming pool in Nindawur at Sammanthurai. Police said he had visited the hotel with his father

73 boat people sent back to SL

Three boat arrivals were reported from Oct 11 to 18, Operation Sovereign Borders Commander Major General Angus Campbell said.

Force Sri Lanka to end HR abuses: AI

Diplomats from Commonwealth countries meeting in London Thursday must push Sri Lanka to end its crackdown on human rights defenders, Amnesty International said

Ratmalana Airport to be used to park planes during CHOGM

The Ratmalana Airport would be kept ready to accommodate international flights during the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) Summit if and when it is needed, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka said yesterday

Packer confident in SL's future

Australian tycoon James Packer on Friday said he plans to pump Aus$400 million (US$384 million) into a five-star gambling resort in Sri Lanka, cashing in on the country's tourism potential

Sigh of relief for Lanka as US raise debt ceiling

The deal between US President and the Senate to increase the country’s debt ceiling has come as a sigh of relief for Sri Lanka which has invested an amount of its foreign reserves in US treasury bonds, a minister said yesterday

Video: BBS wants Defence Ministry to take over Archaeological Department

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) on Thursday accused the Archaeological Department of destroying artefacts and urged that they be placed under the purview of the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development.

DP to boycott CHOGM

The Democratic Party (DP) Leader Sarath Fonseka said today that his party would boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November stating the intention of holding the summit was not to benefit the people but to grab commissions from taxes paid by the public

No seniors charged for Noori terror

No Senior Police officers in charge of the Deraniyagala area had been charge sheeted yet for the alleged atrocities committed during 2005 and 2013, Police said today

Twins drown

Eight year old twins from Alpitiya drowned in Menik Ganga near the Sella Kataragama this evening, Kataragama Hospital sources said

Get ready for big rains

Showers with thunder and lightning with strong winds is expected in the country due an atmospheric disturbance, the Meteorological Department said today.

LTTE cadre pleads guilty in US for arms procuring

Seven years after he was arrested by the RCMP in Toronto, a Canadian man has pleaded guilty in New York to conspiring to buy anti-aircraft missiles for Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers

Video: Wigneswaran gets all

Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran took oaths before President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his ministry portfolios a short while ago, Media Spokesman to the President Mohan Samaranayake said PICTURES

Obama signs bill to raise debt limit, reopen government

After shutting down the U.S. government for 16 days and driving the nation toward the brink of default, a chastened Congress voted late Wednesday to reopen federal agencies, call hundreds of thousands of civil servants back to work and raise the $16.7 trillion debt limit

UK policy on Sri Lanka timid and inconsistent, say MPs

A UK parliamentary committee has accused the government of timid and inconsistent policy towards Sri Lanka, where it says there are "continuing human rights abuses"

Protests may force PM to skip Commonwealth meet

With voices of protest against India's participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo next month growing louder, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to skip the summit.

Highland milk powder price up

The price of a 400 gram packet of Highland milk powder has been increased by Rs. 15, the Milco Company said. Accordingly the new price of a 400 gram packet will be Rs. 325.