Audio: Fonseka lashes out at Army hierarchy

Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka lashed out at those in command in the Army for the alleged inaction to arrest the culprits involved in the assault on an Army intelligence officer.

SL seeking support of friendly congressmen to defeat US resolution

Sri Lanka is lobbying the support of friendly US congressmen to defeat a resolution tabled in the House of Representatives by seven congressmen demanding an international inquiry into alleged violations of the international humanitarian law during the war in Sri Lanka, officials said.

1,778 committed suicide this year: Police

In a shocking disclosure, police said so far this year some 1,778 suicides had been reported to have taken place in Sri Lanka. Police said among them were 41 boys and 77 girls below the age of 16 and 397 women.

Lawsuit against MR dismissed

United States District Judge For The Southern District Of New York Naomi Reice Buchwald deferred to the Suggestion of Immunity issued by the U.S. State Department and dismissed the lawsuit brought by Vathsala Devi, the wife of Col. Ramesh.

MR visit will not be changed-state govt.

The proposed visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse to Sanchi next week for laying foundation of a Buddhist University is mired in controversy with MDMK strongly opposing it even as the Madhya Pradesh government has stated that his schedule will not be changed.

Top police officers transferred

Several senior police officers including four DIGs have been transferred with immediate effect on the basis of service requirements, police said.

Video: Malaka never assaulted an army officer-Mervyn

Minister Mervyn Silva said that his son Malaka Silva did not assault any army officer as reported.“My son had never assaulted an army officer; he would have assaulted a man, but definitely not an army officer,” the minister said.

Fresh call from US to reduce military in North

Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State, Robert Blake today called on the Sri Lanka government to reduce the presence of military in North and accelerate implementation of LLRC action plan.

Mahela to lead Delhi Daredevils

After leading Delhi Daredevils in four of the five IPL editions, Virender Sehwag has sought to step down from the skipper's post and the new captain will be Mahela Jayawardene, who will lead the team in next month's Champions League T20.

LTTE gold sneaking into India

Spurt in gold smuggling from Colombo after the ethnic war got over in Sri Lanka has forced some officials in Indian customs intelligence to believe that a lot of illegally-held gold is being smuggled out of the island nation.

Video: Australia to send asylum seekers to Nauru

Australia will send the first group of asylum seekers to an offshore processing centre in Nauru this week, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says. Mr Bowen has formally signed a document authorising the move and will table it in parliament later in the day.

Visiting Sinhalese do not face difficulty-Jaya

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today defended her action of sending back home Lankan football players, indicating it was a symbolic gesture to express opposition to the delay in Tamils getting justice but said her government is "determined" to ensure that Sinhalese visiting the state as tourists and pilgrims don't face any difficulty.

Negative perception was changed-C’wealth

General Secretary of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Dr. William F. Shija who led a delegation to Jaffna said yesterday that he had really had a change of his negative perception of Sri Lanka after visiting the war affected area.

Video: Keheliya explains failure to arrest Malaka

Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said on Thursday that Malaka Silva, the son of Minister Mervyn Silva who was wanted in connection with the assault on an Army major had not been arrested while he was at the Kelaniya Temple as the police would have felt that arresting him in the sacred precincts of the Kelaniya Temple was not proper.

Blake expresses interest in Northern economy

The United States Assistant Secretary of State Robert O. Blake who is on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka met External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris on Thursday and expressed interest in the economy of the North.

Traffic in Ward place

Heavy traffic is reported from Ward place and roads leading up the University Grants Commission due to a protest by university students currently being held opposite the UGC, our reporter said

The government has become a joke: UNP

The Government has become a joke by trying to show the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) delegates that a nonexistent rule of law and democracy prevails in the country, the main opposition United National Party (UNP) charged today.

7 grenades found in tank

At least seven hand grenades were recovered from the Udayarweli Tank in Puttlam while the tank was being dredged.

Wasp attack hospitalises 31

Thirty one tea pluckers who were working at an estate in Haputale have been hospitalised following a wasp attack, Police said.

Court of Inquiry appointed to probe assault on Major

A court of inquiry has been appointed by the Army to probe the assault on an Army Major allegedly by Malaka Silva, son of Minister Mervyn Silva,  the Army said

UNP supporter dies in post-election clash

A man who was injured in a post-election clash between two groups of UNP supporters in the North-Central Province died last morning while undergoing treatment at the Anuradhapura Hospital.

Accolades for Paralympic bronze medal winner

President Mahinda Rajapaksa promoted Paralympic bronze medal winner Pradeep Sanjaya to the post of staff Sergeant and gifted him Rs. 4.5 million rupees and a block of land.

Man nabbed with gold biscuits

A 47 year-old businessman who was due to leave for Bangalore, India was nabbed by the customs at Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday when he was allegedly attempting to smuggle 12 gold biscuits worth Rs.10 million hiding them in his person.

Two SL maids get 2- year jail term

The Dubai Court of Appeal upheld two-year jail terms for three Sri Lankans who attacked an elderly woman in her daughter’s house and stole jewellery worth Dh200,000.

Attack on Lankans proves costly for airlines

After the recent attack on Sri Lankan pilgrims in Thanjavur, the load factor in flights from Colombo has drastically reduced. At a time when Sri Lanka was planning to increase its services to Colombo by three more flights in its winter schedule,

TNA ready to offer CM post to SLMC

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has decided to offer the chief ministerial post in the Eastern Province to the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) for the first half of the term of the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) if the two parties agree to form a joint administration, the party said.

SL must honour its promises-C'wealth

The Commonwealth charged that if the Government of Sri Lanka failed to deliver on its promises to the international community regarding reconciliation, then the very credibility of the Commonwealth would be challenged.

No deficit of democracy in SL – Sharma

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Kamalesh Sharma, said yesterday that he saw no deficit in democracy in Sri Lanka.

SLMC empowers Hakeem to decide

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC)which is still undecided on which party to support to form the Eastern Provincial Council administration has empowered its leader to take an appropriate decision in this regard, reliable party sources said.

TN adopts tough stand against Douglas

Adopting a tough stand against Douglas Devananda, a Sri Lankans minister facing a murder case in Chennai since 1986, the Tamil Nadu government has said he must come to court and face trial.