Duminda granted leave

Parliament today approved three months leave for UPFA MP Duminda Silva with effect from March 22

Enjoining order against UNP refused

The Colombo District Court today refused to issue an enjoining order against the UNP preventing the leadership from holding a disciplinary inquiry against the Deputy Minister Abdul Cader for voting with the government during the Impeachment Motion debate against the former CJ Shirani Bandaranayake in Parliament

SL concerned over Indian fishermen

While rejecting reports that Sri Lanka navy attacked a group of Indian fishermen off the Kodiakarai coast, the government today expressed concern over the large number of Indian fishermen fishing in the Sri Lankan waters

Mihin Lanka office gets threat call

A threat call was reportedly made on Thursday to the Air Travels office of Mihin Lanka, the domestic airlines of Sri Lanka connecting Tiruchi and Colombo, located at Cantonment in the city

US circulates draft resolution against SL

The US circulated a draft resolution in Geneva against Sri Lanka on Thursday asking Sri Lanka to ‘provide unfettered access to Special Rapporteurs’ and the high commissioner for human rights to push this through with ‘technical assistance.’

We don’t play the role of big brother-India

Indian government does not want to play the role of a big brother with respect to Sri Lanka but we want Lankan Tamils to live a life of dignity, external affairs minister Salman Khurshid said in the LokSabha on Thursday

US announces SL reconciliation awards

The U.S. State Department on Thursday announced that it would be awarding $500,000 each for two projects in Sri Lanka, one for increasing support and safety for journalists and a second for facilitating reconciliation on the island.

Congress attends DMK’s TESO meet

Despite the acrimony in Lok Sabha between the Congress and ally DMK over the upcoming resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Commission, both parties tried to reach out to each other at the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) meet held later on Thursday evening.

'There are other ways to provide info to UN’

Commenting about reports that hundreds of Sri Lankan families were blocked in Vavuniya by the authorities while traveling to Colombo, the United Nations on Thursday said that there are other channels to provide information to the UN if people feel they have information.

Video: Media have already taken action against Malinga-Keheliya

Cabinet spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the media had already taken action against Lasith Malinga’s behaviour and there was nothing left for his ministry to do.

Foreign borrowings through banks

In the backdrop of state owned National Savings Bank (NSB) going in for a US $ 1 billion international bond sale, analysts have pointed out that the government is using the country’s banking sector to cover its finances, particularly to reduce a massive budget deficit.

Bond sale to facilitate Govt. financing: UNP

Commenting on the decision by the National Savings Bank to seek an international bond sale of upto one billion USD, the main opposition UNP alleged that the entire transaction was to further facilitate government borrowings

British MP disappointed

British MP  Simon Danczuk who is in Sri Lanka now to push for the case regarding the murder of a British national in Tangalle in 2011, expressed disappointment over the refusal by ‘senior government ministers ‘ to meet him

SL can teach human rights to US and EU says CJ

Chief Justice Mohan Peiris has said that Sri Lanka could teach lessons on human rights to the US and  the EU although they are trying to teach human rights to Sri Lanka now in Geneva

Chavez,a strong advocate for the developing world-MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today described late President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Hugo Chavez Frias as a ‘strong advocate for the developing world’

PS politico remanded for threatening female soldier

The Opposition leader of the Galigamuwa Pradeshiya Sabha (UNP), Anura Manchanayake was remanded till March 18 for allegedly threatening a female soldier

SSP Vass promoted as DIG

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vass Gunawardane has been promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) with immediate effect, police sources said. 

54 Aussie- bound asylum seekers arrested

At least 54 Sri Lankan asylum seekers who attempted to illegally migrate to Australia were arrested off the Weligama coast this morning, Navy Spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said

SL 'intimidating' India: Jaya to Manmohan

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday alleged that Sri Lanka is attempting to "intimidate" India into not raising its voice against the atrocities on Tamils in that country by arresting Indian fishermen. 

Let Sri Lanka be judged on progress– Samarasinghe

Sri Lanka deserves to be judged on its progress in implementing the recommendations of its own reconciliation commission than pre conceived agendas against it, the government’s human rights envoy and minister, Mahinda Samarasinghe said

Update:Probe into alleged attack on foreigners

Police have started investigations into an alleged attack on two foreigners by UNP Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councillor Sandeep Samarasinghe last night, police said PICTURES

Indian PM, MEA in touch with Lankan Government

Against the backdrop of demands by Tamil parties that India should vote against Sri Lanka at the UN on human rights issue, Congress Party on Thursday said Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has made it very clear that any reports that come of violation of human rights is something that needs to be condemned.

Asian Athletics GP shifted from Chennai to Colombo

With the Tamil Nadu government refusing to host Sri Lankan athletes on political grounds, the third leg of the Asian Grand Prix scheduled to be held in Chennai on May 16 has now been shifted to Colombo.

Cricket board elections in quandary

The Director General of sports in a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket advised the board to reject the nomination of incumbent President Upali Dharmadasa, if his nomination papers did not include approval by the Minister

Three killed in Trishaw, bus collision

Three persons were killed and one injured when a three-wheeler and a private bus collided at Unawatuna, Galle this morning, police said.

NTK cadre attack Lankan airline office, arrested

A  Sri Lankan private airlines office was vandalised by a group of six Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) cadre at Kalavasal Madurai on Wednesday.

SL asylum seeker denied bail

A Sri Lankan asylum seeker charged with indecently assaulting a woman in her university accommodation will remain behind bars after being refused bail by a Sydney magistrate.

ACJU has no right to issue halal certificates: JHU

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said yesterday the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJ) had not obtained any legal rights based on the Qur’an or from the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to issue Halal certificates

Staggered elections cost Rs. 7 billion

The staggered elections conducted during the past ten years have cost as much as Rs.7 billion of public funds, according to a document tabled in Parliament yesterday

New regulations for private hospitals

In the wake of widespread medical negligence and mishaps at private medical institutions, the Health Ministry has decided to introduce far-reaching amendments to the Private Health Services Regulatory Council (PHSRC) Act of 2008 including the introduction of fixed price formula for medical care, drugs, medical equipment and tests