Video: Prison riot: death toll rises to 27

Troops found 11 bodies of convicts Saturday raising the death toll in an overnight prison riot at the Welikada Prison to 27, Prisons Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera said. Pictures

“CJ can continue to hear cases”

On behalf of group of concerned attorneys, a senior counsel yesterday informed the Supreme Court that there is no legal or moral barrier for Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake to continue to hear cases while a motion

Water cut in Colombo today

Water supply to several areas would be interrupted from 9.00 am today (10) to 3.00 am tomorrow (11) due to the laying of new pipe lines and maintenance work, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board announced.

Death toll rises to 16

The Army Commandos, who stormed the Welikada prisons around 2 am today, took the full control of the prison despite heavy resistance from the armed inmates, military official said.

Welikada under siege

22.25 The situation is now gradually being brought under control 22.24 it is reported that two leading underworld figures led the riot 22:09 Random gunshots are still heard from around 21.59 Inmates are seen walking out from the prisons and belived to be surrendering 21.39 Police Spokesman Prishantha Jayakodi says the situation has been brought under control

Update: Prison riot continues

The inmates continue to pelt stones and clubs towards the road as well as at STF personnel. The reporter also said that some inmates had been carrying objects similar to guns while attacking the officials.

Sri Lanka still volatile - Navi Pillay

While expressing alarm at a new push by Australian immigration authorities to immediately reject a number of Sri Lankan asylum seekers UN’s Rights Chief Navi Pillay said that Sri Lanka was still volatile, despite the end of the civil war in 2009.

Tense situation in Welikada

A tense situation prevailed in the Welikada prison when STF personnel attempted to search the prison premises, police sources said.

Public trial will further damage judiciary: Ex CJ

Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, while saying he was strongly opposed to the charges contained in the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake being made public, said the Select Committee should not be given judicial powers because the exercise was purely of a disciplinary nature relating to a contract of employment.

Arjuna resigns from SF’s party

Parliamentarian Arjuna Ranatunga has resigned from the Democratic Party, led by Sarath Fonseka today. Meanwhile Tiran Alles also confirmed that he tendered his resignation as the secretary of the party in September.

Man arrested for pretending to be Namal

Police arrested a man who attempted to get a suspect in custody freed by giving a phone call to the police pretending the call to be from MP Namal Rajapaksa

Lankan student sentenced for sexual assault

A Sri Lankan student will spend at least 18 months behind bars for sexually assaulting a passenger while he was working as a taxi driver in Perth

Top LTTE figure in France shot dead

A prominent LTTE leader and leader of the Pro-LTTE Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC) in France Nadarajah Matheenthiran alias Parithy was shot dead in Paris, France as a result of internal rift, informed sources said

Elpitiya HQI commits suicide

The HQI of the Elpitiya Police Station, Chief Inspector L.L. Bodagoda committed suicide by shooting himself with his personal weapon a short while ago at his residence at Elpitiya, police headquarters said

CJ denies

Referring to media reports published on Wednesday, Chief Justice Dr. Shirani A. Bandaranayake has denied all allegations levelled against her

Committed to reduce smoking: Health Ministry

The Health Ministry said today that the government suffered a staggering loss of Rs.4 billion each year due to non-communicable diseases caused due to smoking and said the ministry was committed to reduce the habit of smoking

Audio: A budget for the super-rich - UNP

The main opposition UNP said today the budget was meant for the country’s super-rich and contained no relief to the ordinary people as evident by the exemption of taxes on sports cars and the permission granted to transfer funds deposited in foreign banks

MR invites Ranil and TNA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa concluding the Budget 2013 speech, extended an invitation to UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Tamil National Alliance and other opposition parties to join hands with him.

Another 60 refugees arrive

Another 60 refugees who were at refugee camps in South India arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport this afternoon. At least 27 women and 36 men of 27 families who had fled to India during the war were in the group

Dr. Jayalath hospitalized

UNP MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardana has been admitted to the Sri Jayawardanapura Hospital following a heart attack, the Director of the Hospital said

Live Blog: Budget 2013

President concluded reading the budget speech and the second reading of the 2013 budget will be held tomorow at 9.30 am. 15:28 Rs.1500 to be added as an allowance for state sector employees. 15:27 A National Wage Policy is to be formed by a new wage commission. 15:16 All persons above 65 years of age and have no permanent livelihood will receive a grant of Rs.5000. Rs.300 million is to be allocated for this.

MR congratulates Obama

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has sent a congratulatory message to US President Barack Obama on his victory in the US Presidential election, the Government Information Department said

Economy to expand 7.5% in 2013, inflation at mid-single digit

Sri Lanka's economy will expand around 7.5 percent in 2013, with 8 percent growth in the medium term, Sri Lanka's Central Bank said in a report, just ahead of the 2013 Budget being presented to the Parliament around 12.30 noon.

Case against UNP leadership over suspension of UNPers

Mount Lavinia District Court today issued notice of enjoining order on UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and others sequent to a case filed by several UNP parliamentarians and provincial councillors over the suspension of their party membership

More Lankans forced to return home

Another 30 Sri Lankan asylum seekers who arrived in Australia by boat have been sent home.Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says the men were "involuntarily" returned to Colombo on a charter flight on Thursday.

Thabbowa sluice gates opened

Some 18 sluice gates of the Puttlam Thabbowa Tank have been opened with immediate effect today morning, Puttlam Irrigation Department announced PICTURES

Singaporean arrested with Rs.3m foreign currency

A Singapore national was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport this morning when he was trying to flee to Singapore with Rs. 3 million worth foreign currency hidden in his laptop bag, customs officials said

UNP nominates Kiriella, Amaratunge for PSC

The United National Party (UNP) yesterday decided to nominate Senior Vice President and MP Lakshman Kiriella and Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga to the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC)

Castlereigh sluice gate opens

The emergency sluice gate of the Castlereigh reservoir was opened as its water level reached the spill level today. This sluice gate was opened three years ago prior to this

40 workers affected by food poisoning

At least 40 employees of a garment factory at Katunayake suffered from food poisoning this morning and six of them were admitted to the Negombo Hospital for further treatment, hospital sources said.