Fishermen warned of SL-made IED afloat near coast

Following an intelligence alert that an explosive material made by former Sri Lankan navy officials is afloat near Tamil Nadu’s coast, fishermen have been warned not to touch anything in the sea and coastal security has been beefed up accordingly.

50 more SL asylum seekers sent home

The federal government has sent more Sri Lankan asylum seekers home, bringing the total number of Sri Lankans "involuntarily" returned to 282.

Second reading of budget passed

The second reading of the Budget 2013 was passed in Parliament a short while ago, with a majority of 103 votes. 156 voted in favor and 53 voted against.

Pesticide residue in Parliament ‘Kohila curry’

All raw food including vegetables that is being brought to Parliament are to be subjected to extra scrutiny from today after it was found out that one curry which was to be served to MPs had been contaminated with pesticides.

Eight asylum seekers agree to return to SL

A further eight Sri Lankan asylum seekers who arrived in Australia by boat have agreed to return home.

Special team to probe into gas leak

A special committee is due to be appointed to carry out investigations on the gas leak in the Sapugaskanda oil refinery that resulted in two deaths yesterday, Petroleum Minister Susil Premajayantha informed the parliament today. 

SLRC loses Rs.131M because of Carlton Network: Ravi

  The Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) has lost Rs.131 million by transferring broadcasting rights to Carlton Sports Network (CSN) and thus giving up the sole broadcasting rights of sports programmes, United National Party (UNP) front-liner Ravi Karunanayake told Parliament yesterday.

Gives up masonry for groping

  The Morawaka police arrested a mason who is alleged to have posed off as a gynaecologist and visited homes in Morawaka and Banagala where he had examine women who wanted to be examined whether they were pregnant.

SF says conditions of his release not met

Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka told Daily Mirror the conditions he stipulated to Tiran Alles for his release from prison had not been met.

Restriction on transfer of vehicle permits removed

The three-year restriction imposed for transferring duty-free vehicle permits for public servants has been removed with effect from today, the Customs said.

Two men fined for gross indecency

A Colombo Court today imposed a fine of Rs.1,500 each on two men who pleaded guilty to the charge of engaging in homosexual acts inside a public lavatory at the Fort Railway Station.

Poisonous gas kills two, hospitalises nine

Two persons died and 9 others were hospitalised due to inhalation of poisonous gas at the Sapugaskanda oil refinery a short while ago. Dr. Anil Jasinghe Director of the General Hospital said that one person was dead on admission

More students admitted to hospital

More than 100 students of Nugawela Boys' School in Kandy were admitted to the Tittapajjala Rural Hospital.as a result of what is believed to be an allergic reaction, school sources said

Video: Rs.500m worth intoxicant pan parag nabbed

More than Rs. 500 million worth banned intoxicant ‘pan parag’, imported from India through Dubai has been nabbed by the Sri Lankan Customs a short while ago

Bus plunges into precipice

At least 25 were hospitalised after a private bus had plunged into a precipice in Agarapathana area in Dikoya this morning, Police said. Injured were admitted to the Dikoya hospital

2 died in three-wheeler accident

A 75 year-old mother and her son aged 52 died after their three-wheeler plunged into a precipice of 300 feet in Bandarawela yesterday. Police said

61 students hospitalised

At least 61 students in Walagamba primary school, Weligepola in Balangoda have been admitted to the Weligepola hospital due to a sudden illness, police said

Stunning SLC lapse could cost millions

Officials of the financially-struggling Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have made another colossal blunder by failing to insure the heavily rain-affected current tour of Sri Lanka by the New Zealand team, sources told “Daily Mirror”

If my children want Lamborghinis I’ll buy them some:Mervyn

Minister Mervyn Silva said that if his children wanted Lamborghinis, he would buy them some.

Ban to act on UN report on UN’s actions

After receiving the United Nations report on the world body’s actions during the final months of the 2009 war in Sri Lanka and its aftermath, UN Chief Ban Ki-moon said that, as an immediate first step, he would organise a senior-level team to give “careful consideration” to the report’s recommendations and advise him on the way forward.

100 Tamil girls join the Army

In a landmark event, nearly 100 Tamil girls will join the Sri Lanka Army on Saturday at a ceremony which is to be held at Bharathipuram in Kilinochchi.

Cobra woman charged with cruelty to animals

The Kollupitiya police today filed a charge sheet against the woman who was arrested on charges of having kept a cobra in a room at a Kollupitiya night club.

Video: CSE to scrap Milanka, open more branches

Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) today said that it plans to scrap the Milank Price Index (MPI), to avoid a duplication that has arisen as a result of the recent introduction of the S&P SL20 Index with effect from January 1, 2013 

Prageeth case: Warrant on IP for not being in court

Homagama Magistrate has issued a warrant on Colombo Crime Division (CCD) Inspector M.P. Sudesh Wijesinghe for not being in court to give evidence in the magisterial inquiry on the missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda

No talk by Tiran for two years

DNA MP Tiran Alles had created a world record by refraining from speaking in Parliament for two years. Opposition UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament today

DNA MP to act independently

Democratic National Alliance (DNA) MP Ajith Kumara said today he would from now on function as an independent member of parliament

Video: China's new leaders: Xi Jinping heads line-up

Xi Jinping has been confirmed as the man chosen to lead China for the next decade.

Video: Vehicle prices going up

The Excise Duty on all vehicles had gone up by between Rs.200,000 and Rs.500,000 in the 2013 Budget thus greatly increasing the prices of all vehicles, said Mahinda Sarathchandra the chairman of the Vehicle Importers’ Association.

Call for Cameron to boycott SL

UK Prime Minister David Cameron is being urged by MPs to consider boycotting next year's Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka in protest at its human rights record

Govt. to discuss 13th A with all parties

The government yesterday expressed its readiness to discuss the repealing or amending the 13th Amendment to the Constitution with all political parties including the Tamil parties