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.

Resignation not valid: SF

Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Sarath Fonseka had officially informed DNA MPs Arjuna Ranatunga and Tiran Alles that their resignation from the Democratic Party was not valid as such a party had not been registered yet.

Kadirgamar statue in Colombo

President Mahinda Rajapaksa instructed External Affairs Minister Prof.G.L.Pieris to make arrangements to erect the Lakshman Kadirgamar statue at the Kardirgamar Institute in Colombo, Presidential Spokesman Bandula Jayasekara said.

Udul released on personal bail

Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) stalwart Udul Premaratne who was arrested by the police yesterday after a clash in Boralasgamuwa, has been released on personal bail by the Nugegoda Magistrate Court today.

Villagers clash with police: 9 hospitalised, 4 policemen interdicted

Police said at least six residents and four policemen were injured following a clash between police and people living in the Yahalkale Estate in Moragahahena, Horana last night.

35 more asylum seekers sent back from Australia

A group of 35 Sri Lankan asylum seekers who had gone to Australia from the southern seas were sent back on Saturday night.

Young couple hacked in Kahawatte

A husband and wife in their twenties were seriously injured after they were hacked by unidentified men last night in Dimbulwala, Kahawatte, police said.

Accident kills soldier, injures four

One soldier was killed and four soldiers injured after their truck rammed into a house at Ahungalla early morning today, police said. Pictures..

Indian Prisoners in Welikada safe-Kantha

The 33 Indian convicts and the five remand prisoners in Welikada prison were safe, the Indian High Commission said on Saturday morning.

Udul Premaratne arrested

Former convener of the Inter-University Students’ Federation and Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) stalwart Udul Premaratne was arrested by the Boralesgamuwa police following a clash allegedly with a group of JVP supporters in Pepiliyana this evening, a party spokesman said.

Video: Reconsider the impeachment- BASL

  The Bar Association of Sri Lanka in an unanimous resolution expressed concern over the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice and called on the speaker and the President to reconsider it

Wimal meets Ranil

Minister Wimal Weerawansa held talks with UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe short while ago in Parliament to discuss on the abolition of the 13th Amendment to the constitution.Minister

CPC chairman hospitalised

The Chairman of the Central Provincial Council Saliya Bandara Dissanaike has been admitted to the Kandy Hospital following an alleged attempt to commit suicide, the  Director of the Kandy Hospital said.

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