Minister paints wrong picture – Dharmadasa

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Upali Dharmadasa rejected a media release issued by the Sports Ministry yesterday alleging that Dharmadasa had requested the Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage to renew the SLC TV contract with Ten Sports for another seven years without calling for tenders

Opposition, Govt. clash in House over Tangalle murder

The main opposition expressed its dismay in Parliament yesterday after the government declined to answer a question regarding the killing of a British national on Christmas eve in 2011 in Tangalle, and causing grievous injuries to his Russian girlfriend

Lanka expects all C’wealth countries to attend CHOGM

The Sri Lankan government is expecting all Commonwealth countries, including Canada to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November this year, despite calls by Human Rights Watch for countries to boycott the event

Robbery was to pay back loan: Officer in Hijaab

Police said the Army Captain who had attempted to rob the Kandy Branch of the National Savings Bank disguised as a woman dressed in a Hijaab admitted that he had attempted to rob the bank of Rs.1 million because he had an outstanding loan of Rs.800,000, which he was unable to pay

BoC branch attacked in Chennai

An unidentified group on Thursday afternoon ransacked the Bank of Ceylon branch in Egmore and attacked its employees. The attack is suspected to be orchestrated by a Tamil group in protest against the visit of Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India on Friday

Govt. and Ulamas reiterate -‘halal certificate’ voluntary

{jcomments off}The Government and the All Ceylon Jaamiyathul Ulama (ACJU), reiterated today, that obtaining of the halal certificate is voluntary and the entire process is based on International specifications

MR tells ministers to inquire into school girl arrest

Cabinet media spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said today the President had instructed the Ministers of Education and Justice to inquire into the case of the 13-year-old schoolgirl who was arrested for stealing 10 coconuts

Minister rejects SLC Chairman’s proposal

The Sports Minister Mahindanda Aluthgamage rejected Sri Lanka Cricket Chairman’s proposal that the agreement with Ten Sports be extended for a further eight years without calling for tenders.

Navy nabs 57 illegal migrants

At least 57 suspected illegal asylum seekers were arrested by the Navy this morning, 10 nautical miles east of Kalkuda, the Navy said today. The suspects are being transported to the Trincomalee harbour

Maldivian student granted bail

A 24-year-old Maldivian student who was produced at the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today on charges of having had a ganja cigarette in his possession was released on crown bail

Thinakural distributor attacked

A Thinakural Newspaper distributor was allegedly attacked by a yet unidentified gang this morning at Puttur in Jaffna, Achchuveli Police said PICTURES

Hazardous smoke-emitting vehicles to be banned

The Motor Traffic Department (DMT) has taken steps to ban vehicles with high smoke emissions in an attempt to reduce air-pollution in the City of Colombo

Tuition master, five others granted bail

The science tuition master and his five accomplices charged with the leaking of the GCE 2012 O/L science examination paper were released on bail today by the Kaduwela Magistrate

Minister wants many Mapilas for the SLTB

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama has said that he wanted the services of a Mapila snake (a black mamba) to get the SLTB out of the current mess as the country’s main transport system is plagued with corruption and waste

HRW wants to change C’wealth venue

The Commonwealth should shift the venue of its November 2013 Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from Sri Lanka unless its government makes prompt, measurable, and meaningful progress on human rights, Human Rights Watch said today

Two Indian chanting mantras arrested

Two Indians were arrested at Skandapuram in Kilinochchi while soliciting money by chanting mantras, Kilinochchi police said yesterday. They said the suspects had been overstaying their visas in violation of immigration laws

Tamil outfit protests against MR's visit

Activists of the Naam Thamizhar Iyakkam, protesting against the Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Tirupathi visit on February 8, picketed an express train at the Puducherry railway station on Wednesday

US trade mission to visit Sri Lanka

A multi-sector US trade mission, the first since the end of the Sri Lankan conflict, will travel to Colombo on Feb.7 and 8 after visiting India

SL may be in a tight spot in April

Sri Lanka may face a tight situation at the April meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in London with the likelihood of the country being included in the Agenda for the meeting, informed sources said yesterday

Govt. to make statement on religious tensions

Responding to a question asked by Opposition United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, the government said it would make an announcement in Parliament today on the religious tension between the Sinhalese and Muslims

Karunanidhi condemns MR’s speech

DMK president M. Karunanidhi Wednesday condemned Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for ruling out greater political autonomy for Tamils in the island nation, and urged the Indian government to wake up to reality.

GL against inclusion of SL in CMAG agenda

The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday protested against the inclusion of Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) agenda claiming that it is contrary to Commonwealth rules.

Captain arrested in Hijaab

An Army Capatin dressed in a Hijaab and armed with a toy pistol and knife attempting to rob the Kandy branch of the National Savings Bank was arrested by the Kandy Police this morning

FR case on CJ’s appointment: CPA wants full bench

The fundamental rights petition filed by the Centre for Policy Alternative (CPA) challenging the appointment of Mohan Peiris as Chief Justice was put off by the Supreme Court on a request made by the petitioner for a full bench

Indian sculptor assaulted

Three persons have been arrested for assaulting an Indian sculptor who was working on Asia’s largest granite statue which is under construction in Moneragala

Beware of bogus lottery SMS alerts

The Police have warned the general public to beware of bogus lotteries or lottery scams that are operated through SMS services

SL supported CIA in torture program-report

Sri Lanka permitted use of its airspace and airports for flights associated with the US’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) extraordinary rendition operations in 2003, New York based Open society Foundations said in a report.

Unravel secret of mass grave: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday charged that at least 200 youth killed during the 1987/89 insurrection were buried in the mass grave found in Matale and urged that UPFA and UNP politicians and the military personnel responsible should be brought to book

PHIs to boycott Dengue Prevention Week

Sri Lanka Public Health Inspector’s (PHI) Union has decided to boycott all field duties during ‘Dengue Prevention Week’ commencing February 06 to 13, 2013

Video: No tsunami threat to Sri Lanka

The National Tsunami Early Warning Center said the 8.0-magnitude earthquake which struck off the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific today posed no tsunami threat to Sri Lanka ???