Report on UN’s own action in SL this week

The United Nations said yesterday that the UN Chief would receive the report of his Internal Review Panel on United Nations Action in Sri Lanka later this week.

Video: Moves to bring prisons under Defence Ministry - Karu

UNP parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya said today that he was surprised to hear the Commissioner of Prisons saying that the prisons should be brought under the Defence Ministry

Student clash in Karapitiya Medical Faculty

At least four people were hospitalised following a clash between two students groups in the Karapitiya Medical Faculty, Galle this evening, police said

LIOC net profit up over 300%

Lanka IOC PLC (LIOC), a unit of Indian Oil Company saw net profit for the September quarter (2Q13) soar over by 300 percent Year-on-year (Yoy) to Rs.1.1 billion amidst higher finance income and foreign exchange gains, the interim financial accounts released to the Colombo Stock Exchange showed

One of the escapees captured

One of the five inmates who had escaped from the Welikada prison during Friday's mayhem was captured at Dehiowita, Police said

SL maid rescued

A 25-year-old Sri Lankan had been rescued after allegedly being held against her will by her sponsor for almost 18 months, Bahrain Daily News reported.

Dissanayake discharges himself

Central Provincial Council Chairman Saliya Bandara Dissanayake who was admitted to the Kandy Hospital last Saturday following an alleged suicide attempt had left the hospital at his own discretion today, the Director of the Kandy Hospital said.

13th A: UNP says amend it but don’t discard it

The main opposition United National Party (UNP), the architects of the 13th Amendment, which resulted in the provincial council system, said today this amendment should be amended to rectify any shortcomings but it should not be abolished

Explosive match fixing revelation involving SL

A Test match played between England and Sri Lanka at Cardiff in May 2011 - which was sensationally won by England - was fixed, an award-winning sports journalist Ed Hawkins in his new book titled 'Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy' revealed.

More Lankan boat people sent home

The federal government has sent more Sri Lankan asylum seekers home as a new boat arrived in Australian waters. Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said the 30 men were returned to Sri Lanka from Christmas Island on Tuesday

India secures consular access to Welikada prisoners

Sri Lanka granted India consular access to its prisoners at the Welikada prison, the site of bloody clashes that left 27 dead and over 40 injured on Friday. High Commission officials made a physical verification of the 39 prisoners and said that they were all unharmed

Indian nabbed with Armadillo Scales

An Indian who attempted to smuggle a rare species of Sri Lankan Armadillo Scales weighing more than 2 kilos to India was nabbed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by the customs Biodiversity protection unit last night

Joint TU battle by UNP, JVP

In a dramatic political development, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said yesterday it was prepared to work with the main opposition United National Party (UNP) in launching a combined trade union struggle to win the demands of the public and private sector employees

Why India silent -TNA

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), yesterday, questioned the silence of India on the rift within the government of Sri Lanka over the attempt to abolish the 13th Amendment to the Constitution

High spirits!

All kinds of liquor including whisky and brandy produced locally using foreign sprits have been increased due to the 25% tax imposed on imported sprits at the recent budget, the Distilleries (Lanka) Company said.

HRCSL team to probe Welikada incident

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) is preparing to send an investigation team to look into the Welikada prison incident which claimed 27 lives, Human Rights Commissioner Dr. Prathibha Mahanamahewa said yesterday.

Media ordered to hand over riot visuals to CID

Print and electronic media organisations were today ordered to hand over to the CID the unedited copies of the visuals of Friday’s Welikada Prison riots.

Pakistanis nabbed with Rs 8 m worth heroin

Three Pakistani Nationals and a Sri Lankan were arrested with more than two kilograms of Heroin worth over Rs.8 million in Bambalapitiya by the Police Narcotics Bureau this afternoon, police said.

Elderly woman hacked to death

A 60 year-old woman was allegedly hacked to death by burglars who broken into a house at Unagasdeniya Junction on Attanagalla Road this afternoon, police said.

Vijitha Herath to represent PSC

The Democratic National Alliance(DNA) has decided to appoint Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath as the representative to the Parliament Select Committe, to investigate the impeachment motion against the Cheif Justice, official sources  said.

Video: Economic hardships behind people smuggling

The Australian Government today reiterated its stance on illegal immigrants with visiting Australia’s immigration Regional Director (South Asia) Jose Alvarez saying that “Australia will not take people who do not engage in its international obligations”.

JJ still in hospital

UNP parliamentarian Jayalath Jayawardena who was admitted to hospital last Thursday after a heart attack is recovering fast, Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital Director Dr. Shavendra Gamage said today.

No mobile phones in parliament

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa has requested all parliamentarians not to bring mobile phones to the parliament chamber as it was unpleasant.

CJ withdraws from Ceylinco cases

Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake announced in open Court that she will no longer hear cases related to the Ceylinco group of companies.

Submission of motion to annul the 13th Amendment postponed

On instructions of its lawyers, the National Freedom Front has decided to postpone submitting a motion to Supreme Court calling for the annulment of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, a spokesman for the NFF said.

DIG Ranawana improving

The health condition of DIG Chandrasiri Ranawana, who was injured in the Welikada Prison riot, is improving, National Hospital Director Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

New Rs.1, 000 coin

To mark the 60th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of Japan, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has arranged to issue a silver commemorative coin of a face value of Rs.1,000.

Phone calls under scruntiny

An inquiry is looking into the mobile communications of Special Task Force (STF) and Prison Department officers to asses the elements which instigated the prison riot minutes after the STF concluded a massive search operation in the Chapel Ward and the L- Hall inside the Welikada Prison Complex on Friday.

Gota in China

China and Sri Lanka today firmed up their defence relations during a meeting of their top officials who pledged to make efforts to boost relations between the two countries and their militaries.

UNP-JVP working together: Ranil

The UNP was gradually building rapport with the JVP and would work together whenever a need arises, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.