'Malu Sarath' arrested

A millionaire businessman alias 'Malu Sarath' who is alleged to have played a major role in smuggling people to Australia by boat was arrested today at Kiribathgoda by the Matara police

C4 steps up Sri Lanka campaign

Channel 4 News and documentary maker Callum Macrae are to travel to Sri Lanka to cover the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) as they continue to highlight war crimes committed against the country’s minority Tamil population.

Indian Minister against selling warship to SL

Voicing opposition to Centre's proposal to supply two naval warships to Sri Lanka, Shipping Minister of India G.K. Vasan has said he would urge Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to sell the vessels.

Food products containing whey protein released

The Ministry of Health today said that the 104 samples of food products containing Whey protein which were inspected by the Medical Research Institute (MRI), did not contain Clostridium Botulinum bacteria

DNA tests incriminate Tangalle PS chairman, two others

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday informed the Tangalle Magistrate that the DNA samples found at the crime scene in the Tangalle tourist resort where British Red Cross worker Khuram Shaikh was murdered and his girlfriend gang raped on the Christmas Eve 2011

Don’t delay anti-tobacco gazette: Mahanayakes

The four Mahanayake Theras of the Tri-Nikayas have come together to push for the government and other concerned parties to have the gazette advocating tobacco companies to place anti-tobacco warnings over 80 per cent of cigarette packets, issued without further delay

DCD in four varieties of NZ milk powder- ITI

A recent report issued by the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) reveals that four brands of milk powder imported from New Zealand were contaminated with DCD

SL hopes to draw on China's experience-Gota

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa,who is in China on Tuesday said that Sri Lanka hopes to draw on China's experience and constantly expand exchanges with China

Naval ships to SL: Jaya shocked

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa expressed shock over media reports quoting Union minister for state in Prime Minister's Office, V Narayansamy that the Union government was in the process of supplying two naval warships to Sri Lanka

SL among the least happy nations

Sri Lanka has been ranked 137 among 156 nations in the UN-sponsored World Happiness Report, in which Denmark was deemed to be the happiest nation in the world

TNA MP denied entry to Rameswaran festival

TNA Batticaloa district MP Seeniththam by Yoheswaran on Tuesday claimed he was denied permission to participate in a Ganesh Chathurthi procession in Rameswaran, India.

Wadduwa OIC under investigation

A special inquiry is being carried out against the Wadduwa Police OIC for allegedly taking sides when investigating a complaint. Meanwhile a tense situation prevailed in a hotel in Wadduwa when two groups of shareholders had an augment over shares.

Abbott to attend CHOGM

Australian Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka.

Video: Vote for govt. if you approve its ‘controversial’ action: UNP

The United National Party (UNP) today said the people may cast their votes for the ruling party, United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in the upcoming provincial council elections if they are not troubled by the difficulties caused by the government ???

Wimal’s supporters arrested

Five supporters of a National Freedom Front (NFF) candidate were arrested this morning while they were allegedly pasting posters at Mundala in Puttalam, police said

President congratulates Tony Abbott

President Mahinda Rajapaksa called and congratulated the new Prime Minister Elect of Australia Tony Abbott this morning. President’s Spokesperson said.

SL seeks more Saudi tourists

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh is aggressively promoting Sri Lanka as a tourist destination and plans to double Saudi tourist visits from 19,500 to 40,000 in the next three years

No additional foreign security for CHOGM delegates

No additional security contingents would be accompanying the visiting Heads of State during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Colombo in November, External Affairs Ministry Secretary K. Amunugama said today

Power cut from Sept. 12 to 24

The electricity supplies to several areas in the Western Province - south and Southern Province would be terminated for a duration of two hours at a time operating rotationally in different areas from September 12 to 24 starting 8.30 am to 10.30 pm in order to facilitate the construction work of the Colombo Outer Circular Highway. See full schedule inside

Dhammadeepa Council to nurture religious amity

The newly-formed Dhammadeepa Council led by the Venerable Mahanayake Theras of the three Nikayas and the Diyawadane Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa said today it would formulate a national plan to end religious tension in the country in a manner that was favourable to all religious groups. 

India confirms warships to SL

While claiming that the agreement to provide warships to Sri Lanka was signed several years ago, India today said if Tamils were to be harmed by those warships, it would take suitable action

Probe on police officers made to kneel down

Police Headquarters today launched an investigation into the incident where police officers attached to the Kattankudi Police Station were allegedly forced to kneel in the presence of a senior police officer last Sunday, acting police spokesman Ajith Rohana said

Troops educated on wildlife protection

Troops deployed in the close vicinity of forest reserves and wildlife sanctuaries in the South were educated on the protection of wildlife and the conservation of forests reserves, the Army said.

Video: Govt. using Pillay as excuse to remove DS statue: UNP

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) today accused the government of attempting to remove the statue of late Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake that is at the Independence Square by using UN Human Rights Chief Navanethem Pillay as the excuse for doing so

Some 14.5% of Lankan men admit to rape

According to a UN survey on ‘violence against women’, a little more than 14.5 % or more than one in 10 men in Sri Lanka had admitted to having committed at least one rape FULL REPORT

IPL 7 may move to Sri Lanka

The next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) - or at least some matches of the T20 tournament - may be played outside India. Sri Lanka or Bangladesh, or both, could be the likely host, a top cricket board official said

Contraband seized at customs

A stock of 626 packets of illegally imported cigarettes and three refrigerators valued at around Rs. 3,280,000 had been seized by custom officials at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Customs Media Spokesman Leslie Gamini said today

More than 100 hospitalised for food poisoning

More than 100 people, including children, who took part in a Pooja at a Kovil in Dik-Oya, Hatton this morning had taken ill due to food poisoning and were admitted to the Dik-Oya Hospital, hospital sources said

MV Farah III sold as scrap

The wrecked Jordanian registered ship ‘MV Farah III’, lying at Mullivaikkal, in Mullative has been sold to a private party for scrap, and being demolished now, sources said

Two suspicious containers in RTF custody

Two more suspicious containers believed to contain drugs have been seized by the Customs Revenue Task Force (RTF) for further investigation upon their arrival from Karachi in Pakistan