UK expresses serious concern on Weliveriya incident

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of Britain Alistair Burt express serious concern on the violent disruption of the protest in Weliweriya. In a statement posted on the government website, Burt urged the Lankan government to ensure a swift and transparent investigation into the incident.

Vaas' son arrested

Ravindu Vaas Gunawardena -- the son of former DIG Vaas Gunawardena -- was today taken into custody by the CID from a safe house in Pepilyana. He is being held under detention orders for 72 hours

Audio: Mervyn blasts those who kept mum on Weliweriya

Minister Mervyn Silva said he knew who kept silent over the Weliweriya issue and vowed to reveal their names if and when necessary

SL man sentenced for extorting French woman

A Sri Lankan man was yesterday sentenced to six-months imprisonment suspended for five years by a Colombo Court, after pleading guilty to extorting Rs.3000 from a French woman who arrived on a tourist visa

UPFA Peliyagoda UC member arrested for assault

A UPFA Peliyagoda Urban Council member was arrested for allegedly assaulting two people in Peliyagoda yesterday, police said

Compensation for Weliweriya victims

Compensation is to be paid to the family members of those who died and injured in the Weliweriya incident on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Government Information Department said

Gunfire was directed at the soldiers –Govt.

The government said in Parliament today that a section of the protesting crowd in Weliweriya hurled petrol bombs at soldiers, prompting them to take action for self-defense and the safety of public property

UNP wants foreign probe

Main opposition UNP today demanded an international investigation into the incident in Weliweriya, where three civilians were killed and more than 30 others injured

Video: Bodu Bala Sena condemns Weliweriya killings

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) today condemned the attack which took place at Weliweriya and said the problem could have been resolved in a much more civilized manner as there was ample time to resolve it

Don’t allow army to probe-Amnesty

The Sri Lankan authorities must not allow the army to investigate itself over allegations of excessive use of force by its members after three protesters demonstrating over access to drinking water were killed over the weekend, Amnesty International said.

Indian fishermen further remanded in SL

A court at Mannar in Sri Lanka today extended to August 16 the remand of 21 fishermen from this coastal town and Mandapam, who were arrested by the island nation's naval personnel on July 6.

Berty’s coordinating sec. suspended

The Provincial Education Ministry has today suspended Former Cheif Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake’s coordinating secretary Wijeratne Herath for allegedly threatening North Central Province Education Director Nirmala Ekanayake

Rajapaksa didn’t secretly finance ‘Madras Cafe’: John Abraham

Actor John Abraham has refuted rumours that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa secretly invested in his upcoming political spy-thriller Madras Cafe

Shiral going independent

UNP Western Provincial Councillor Shiral Lakthilaka announced at the council session a short while ago that from today he would act as an independent member of the council

Another sentenced to death

An accused who stood indicted for murder was found guilty and sentenced to death by the Kegalle high court today. The person was arrested for murdering his wife by injecting poison in 2004

Walallawita PS chairman released on bail

The Chairman of the Walallawita Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) who was arrested on charges of bribery, has been released on bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today

Accident injures 6 in Mathugama

An accident involving two buses and a van was reported in the Pantiya area along the Mathugama, Kalutara main road this morning injuring six people, police said

Boycott CHOGM in Colombo: DMK tells Congress

The DMK has made the Centre's response to its demand for boycotting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) central to its dealings with the Congress

NZ milk powder clearance suspended

The Health Ministry today instructed the Customs to immediately suspend the clearance of milk powder containing Whey Protein on health concerns in the wake of China and Russia announcing a ban on milk powder imports from New Zealand

Video: Man and machine brought to hospital

A 28 year-old man, who had wedged his hand in a meat mincing machine at a Chinese restaurant in Colombo, was rushed to the National Hospital with the machine intact this evening, hospital sources said  PICTURES ???

Video: Bollywood controversy over Sri Lanka war film

Bollywood is stepping into controversial terrain with the new spy thriller, "Madras Cafe", which represents the conflict period in Sri Lanka raising concerns among India's large Tamil population ???

Ransom demand by ex-DIG: Investigations continuing

Former DIG Vaas Gunawardhana was produced in the Mahara Magistrate’s Court today on charges of having threatened and demanded a ransom of Rs.3 million from Sarath Kumara Edirisinghe alias ‘Singappuru Sarath’, who is a secretary of Minister Mervyn Silva.

Video: Army spokesman’s tall tales on Weliweriya: UNP

The United National Party (UNP) today demanded the resignation of Army spokesman Ruwan Wanigasuriya over the ‘childish and inappropriate statements' he had made on the Weliweriya clash???

China bans milk powder from New Zealand over botulism fears

China has stopped imports of all milk powder from New Zealand and Australia, New Zealand’s trade minister said on Sunday, after bacteria that can cause botulism was found in some dairy products and raised safety concerns that threatened a $9.4 billion annual dairy trade. 

Accident kills two in Kaluaggala

Two passengers in a three-wheeler were killed when the three-wheeler collided with a van and a bus in Kaluaggala area on the Colombo - Avissawella main road last night, police said

Three dead, three injured in accident

Three persons including a child were killed and three others critically wounded after a CTB bus, which had been heading towards Mahawela from Tangalle, crashed into a trishaw at Pahathjawa, Tangalle. Update

UNP undermined by double games: Sajith

The United National Party (UNP) is being destroyed by certain members who publicly call for unity within the party while secretly undercutting others to safeguard their party posts, party front-liner Sajith Premadasa said.

Met. warning: Heavy showers

Meteorology Department warned today that heavy showers up to more than 100mm in could occur in the Western slopes of the central hills. Pictures

Attacks on fishermen: Karunanidhi seeks Centre's intervention

DMK president M Karunanidhi today sought the Centre's intervention to end increasing incidents of apprehending of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and also their request to fish near the island nation for a select period due to dwindling resources.

Video: Weliweriya death toll rises to three

A 29-year-old man who was also injured in the clashes at Weliweriya is reported to have died while being treated at the National hospital bringing death toll to three, hospital sources said???