CB buys NY property for US$5 million

The Central Bank transaction for the purchase of a property in New York has not been properly accounted for, Parliament was informed yesterday

SL sapphire ring dazzles in new world record

An exquisite Sri Lankan sapphire and diamond ring by Van Cleef & Arpels featuring a rectangular-cut sapphire weighing 43.16 carats set a new world record, selling for US$ 1,560,000 (HK$12,084,000; £979,000) on November 23

Mihin has accumulated loss of Rs.8.5 bn

The cash-strapped budget airline ‘Mihin Lanka’ has suffered a loss of two billion rupees during this financial year alone and an accumulated loss of a staggering Rs.8.5 billion since its inception in 2007, the Auditor General reveals

Video: SL child’s pic in Gujarati ad creates stir

In the midst of electioneering for the assembly polls in Gujarat, the main opposition party Congress faced an embarrassing situation when it was found that in its advertisement on malnutrition in the state, the party had used a picture of a Sri Lankan child

Video: 'Gangnam Style' overtakes Beiber’s ‘Baby’

South Korean pop sensation Psy’s “Gangnam Style” on Saturday became YouTube’s most-watched video of all time, registering more than 803 million views to overtake “Baby” by Canadian heartthrob Justin Bieber

Scurrilous pamphlets on CJ

A bundle of scurrilous pamphlets containing pictures of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, former National Savings Bank Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam and Judicial Services Commission Secretary Manjula Tillekaratne were found at the entrance to the Supreme Court premises this morning

Three bodies found from Armour Street

Three bodies including that of a two and half year-old child were found from a house in Armour Street, Colombo, a short while ago, Police said

Video: Fire at Colombo Kachcheri

A fire has broken out at the Colombo Divisional Secretariat (Kachcheri) building at Dam Street a short while ago, the Colombo Fire Brigade said. Several fire brigades have been sent to the scene, it said

138 private buses on strike

Pettah-Kottawa private buses (138 route) also joined the strike action by the private buses on the 174 and 255 routes, the Private Bus Owner's Association President Gemunu Wijeratne said today

Skeletal remains near Matale hospital

Several skeletal remains were found at the site of the proposed bio-gas unit of the Matale hospital.

Video: Road repair for night races

Severe traffic congestion is being reported from Fort to Pettah because one lane on the Galle Face Road near the old parliament has been closed for carpeting.

Protest at Kegalle CTB Depot

Kegalle CTB Depot Employees are staging a protest over the delay in the payment of their monthly salary, which was due from October this year

Accused Aussie paedo priest flees to SL

A former Catholic brother wanted in Australia on more than 250 child sex charges was reported to have fled New Zealand for Sri Lanka before his extradition could be secured.

Pro LTTE posters removed

Some pro LTTE posters which were pasted by an unidentified group in two places in Uppuweli area, Trincomalee have been removed by the security forces this morning

Lankan couple arrested for offering a bribe

A Sri Lankan couple allegedly offered Dh10,000 in bribe to an immigration officer at the Dubai International Airport to allow the woman to depart the country in spite of an entry and exit ban issued against her by the authorities

Missing lady doctor found

A female Anesthetist from Matara hospital who went missing while on her way to Galle on Friday was found in Anuradhapura, Police said

Bus collision injures 14

At least 14 people were injured when two buses carrying staff members of two private companies collided head-on at Tittapattara in Kirindiwela last evening, police said

US to talk to TNA

Ahead of the next session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, the United States (US) had decided to hold talks with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for a review of action taken by the government of Sri Lanka in conformity with the resolution adopted early this year, officials said today

Floods kill five, displaces thousands

Adverse weather conditions had left five people dead in several areas during the last two days while several districts have been affected by floods the Disaster Management Center said today

Nigerian's arrested for cheating

Two Nigerian nationals and a Sri Lankan were arrested by the Chilaw Police for sending fake texts messages to gullible persons stating that they had won a car from a lottery and cheating them of cash and other belongings.

No action for spreading religious hatred on Facebook

The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team (SLCERT) said that no concrete action could be taken against those who spread religious and racial hatred on Facebook despite efforts being taken to liaise with Facebook and curb posts conveying religious and racial hatred.

Bangladesh factory fire kills 'at least 120'

The death toll from a fire in a clothes factory in Bangladesh has leapt to at least 120, officials say. The fire broke out late on Saturday in the nine-floor Tazreen Fashion factory in the Ashulia district on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka

Blast injures one in Trinco

An explosion in the Sampur area in Trincomalee injured a 38-year-old female resident in the area, last night the Sampur Police said.

Chinese woman in mobile business

A Chinese woman, who had allegedly engaged in selling mobile phones in the Kandy area after arriving in Sri Lanka on a tourist visa, was arrested by the Tourist Police.

Lady Doctor missing

A 28 year-old female doctor employed at the Matara hospital has been reported missing since last evening, the Police said.

Arrested principal released on bail

The Principal of St. Servatius College, Matara who was arrested last Thursday following a complaint lodged by the ‘Bodhu Bala Sena’ organization against alleged attempts of religious conversion of students about two years ago, was released on bail after being produced before the Matara Magistrate.

More families affected

The number of families affected due to the heavy rains has increased upto 271 in Monaragala and Hambanthota areas.

Two killed due to floods

Two persons were killed while one person went missing last night in the Galle district, as a result of heavy rains prevalent in the area.

Over 150 families affected by floods

Over 150 families have been affected by floods in the Polonnaruwa and Hambanthota districts due to heavy rainfall prevalent in the areas, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) said.

Army Chief sues two newspapers for slander

Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya yesterday filed action in the Jaffna District Court against the Uthayan and Valampuri Newspapers that are published in Jaffna, claiming Rs 100 Million from each of the two entities as damages for publishing what he called highly defamatory articles concerning him in their July 11 issue