Charith asks SLC if he is “sacked” or “relieved of duties”

Sri Lanka cricket team manager Charith Senanayake’s term in charge of the Sri Lanka team has effectively come to an end with the SLC Ex-Co deciding to keep him out of the forthcoming Bangladesh tour, but Senanayake said yesterday he needs a clarification from SLC if he is “sacked” or he has been “relieved of the duties.”

Foreigners caught operating a brothel in Kollupitiya

Nine suspects including two Thai women and a Chinese woman were yesterday arrested on charges of having operated a brothel in Kollupitiya

C’ wealth denies confirmation of location

Spokesperson for the Commonwealth Secretariat, yesterday denied that Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Kamalesh Sharma “ made any statement with regard to Sri Lanka as the host venue of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November 2013”.

SL not to pursue new IMF loan

Sri Lanka has decided not to pursue a new loan from the International Monetary Fund as the global lender has indicated it may not be in a position to consider budget support to country, the central bank said on Tuesday.

Census on light vehicles in Colombo

A census on all light vehicles entering the Colombo city is currently underway until 12 noon today to find ways of reducing traffic in the city. The process is causing some traffic congestions in most of the areas, police said.

Strategic balance in Indian Ocean should not be altered -SL

Sri Lankan High Commissioner to New Delhi, Prasaad Kariyawasam in a wide ranging interview with India’s Rajya Sabha TV said that Sri Lanka’s relationship with China should be based on the premise that the “strategic balance in the Indian ocean is not altered”.

Mother seeks justice

Giving evidence at the inquiry into the death of a five-year-old girl at the Colombo Nawaloka Hospital, the mother today pleaded in Court not to let the investigations into the death of her daughter is covered up by the money power.

UNP led Vipakshaye Virodhaya is the sole opposition-Ranil

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today said that there can’t be any other opposition movement other than the UNP-led ‘Vipakshaye Virodhaya’.

Engage constructively with SL-Gota

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa today asked western governments to engage constructively with Sri Lanka as international pressure especially by western nations misled by LTTE sympathisers would have an adverse impact on the country’s economy.

Pope Benedict in shock resignation

The Pope is to resign at the end of this month in an entirely unexpected development, the Vatican has confirmed.

President in Jaffna

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on a two day visit to the Jaffna Peninsula on February 12 and 13th would inspect the development work carried out in the North of the country and Chair the District Development Council meeting, Presidential Spokesman Mohan Samaranayake said.

Sharma confirms summit location

Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma who met task force Chairmen and External Ministry officials today in Colombo confirmed the location of the summit as Colombo and reviewed the ongoing preparations for the holding of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), official said.

SL migrant forms new party in Aussie

A Sri Lankan migrant has launched a political party that runs on an anti-multiculturalism platform.

Coconut case withdrawn

The complainants of the “Coconut robbery” case, against the 13 year old student, today withdrew the complaint against the girl by way of a motion submitted to the Horana Magistrate court

Lanka should honour UN recommendations on rights: Narayanasamy

India would support any resolution brought forward by United Nations against Sri Lanka if the island nation does not honour recommendations of the world body on human rights issues, Minister of State in the PMO V Narayanasamy said here on Sunday

Local politico goes nuts over school

Making a complaint with Horana police, the principal of Horana Sri Medhankara Maha Vidyalaya had complained that the statement made by the school girl alleging that she picked coconuts in order to raise funds to paint the school buildings was due to the influence e of an area politician

SL team manager Charith Senanayake sacked

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Executive Committee decided on Saturday to sack Sri Lanka team manager Charith Senanayake from his position with immediate effect and appoint former cricketer Michael de Zoysa in his place

Drop in science results

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane, yesterday, faulted university academics for what he described as ‘setting question papers outside the scope of the science and math syllabuses’, for the last G.C.E. (Advanced Level) Examination

TNA join hands in protest

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) will team up with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) next Friday to stage a hunger strike demanding the release of lands acquired for the High Security Zones, party officials said yesterday

Anti-Ranil team to contest at PC polls-Range

UNP Puttlam District MP Palitha Range Bandara said that steps would be taken to have an anti-Ranil UNP group to contest the forthcoming Wayamba and Central Provincial council elections.

GL stresses need for int’l empathy

External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris stressed the need for empathy and goodwill on the part of the international community as Sri Lanka moved forward to consolidate the benefits of stability for all its people.

Robbery at Indian dy HC secretary’s house

Valuable equipment belonging to the Secretary of the Deputy High Commissioner for India, in Jaffna had been robbed at his house, police said. A complaint has been made to the Jaffna crimes prevention unit regarding a robbery.

Don’t distort image of Lanka: SL envoy

Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha has called on Sri Lankans living abroad "to contribute towards moderating the negative narratives propagated against Sri Lanka – by clarifying genuine concerns and debunking the falsehoods".

Commonwealth pushes SL on judicial independence

The Commonwealth Secretary-General opened talks with Sri Lanka on Sunday by pushing for judicial independence on the island, as Canada renewed calls to boycott the bloc's summit in Colombo later this year.

VIDEO: Tamil areas developed tremendously: Minister

Sri Lanka is determined to devote majority of resources in developing Tamil dominated areas in the emerald Island on social and infrastructural levels, an Indian news report claimed.

Lankan woman run over, dies in Kuwait

A Sri Lankan woman in her 30s died when she was run over by a speeding vehicle on the Coastal Road near Mangaf, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.

Suspension on ‘Vishwaroopam’ removed in SL

The temporary suspension on Indian actor Kamala Hassan’s controversial film ‘Vishwaroopam’ has been lifted by the Sri Lanka Public Performance Board after editing two scenes in the film.

Audio: 5000 MT substandard diesel rejected

A shipment of 5000 metric tonnes of diesel imported by the Lanka-India Oil Company (LIOC) was rejected by the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal Limited (CPSTL) for not adhering to the quality of standard, official said.

Lankan maid, driver held for kissing

A Sri Lankan expatriate was arrested recently in Ishbiliya for having an adulterous relationship with a Sri Lankan woman.

President returns

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to Colombo on Saturday after praying at the Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati. VIDEO