Karaoke fire in Korea kills 3 Lankans

Nine people were killed, including three migrant workers from Sri Lanka, and 25 others injured when a fire raged through a karaoke facility in Busan, police said Sunday.

Over 50 injured in wasp attack

More than 50 persons including foreigners were injured after they were stung by wasps at the historic Sigiriya fortress today, leading the authorities to temporally closed the fortress for tourists, police said.

Parliamentarian found guilty

60% of problems resolved-MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that more than 60 percent of the problems of the people in the northern and eastern provinces have been resolved.

Accident kills two motorcyclists

Interpol help may be sought

Global police agency Interpol could be brought in to search for the flatmate of a Sri Lankan woman found dead in her home in mysterious circumstances. Police are still investigating exactly what killed Achala Aracchchige, who it has been speculated could have had chemicals poured over her.

Report on SL submitted

A multi-party Parliamentary delegation that visited Sri Lanka submitted a report on the condition of ethnic Tamils to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday. Dr Singh said India will stand "solidly behind" the minority community in their pursuit for a political settlement.

Tamara rejects transfer, hits out at ministry

Sri Lanka has paid a heavy price for the lack of cohesion as it was essential to project an image of unity rather than that of discord as the country prepares for important appointments at the UN Human Rights Council, said Tamara Kunanayakam, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva.

Persuade TNA to resume talks: Govt. tells UNP

The government said today it was glad that the United National Party (UNP) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had held a joint May Day rally in Jaffna, and urged UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to persuade the TNA to resume talks with the government.

‘Cabraal missile’ has struck again- Ranil

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said today the ‘Cabraal missile’ had struck again with the increase in the prices of gas and milk powder though a parallel increase in people’s wages had not taken place.

Soldier shoots soldier & commits suicide

A soldier shot his colleague and then took his life after an argument over a personal dispute when the two soldiers were conducting duty at a security check post near the Naga Viharaya in Jaffna this monring. 

SF to be transferred to National Hospital

Colombo High Court Judge Sunil Rajapaksa a short while ago ordered the prison Authorities to transfer former army commander Sarath Fonseka to the Colombo General Hospital from the Nawaloka Hospital citing security reasons

Gas, milk powder, cement prices up

Prices of domestic LP gas as well as imported milk powder will be increased with effect from midnight today, Consumer Affairs Minister Johnston Fernando said

Accident kills one, injures 46

At least one person was killed and about 46 injured when a passenger bus collided with a lorry in Galagedara, Padukka on the High level road this morning, police said

Rs.10 & 2000 notes won’t be printed:CB

The Central Bank has decided to stop the printing of Rs.10 and Rs.2000 currency notes henceforth, officials said yesterday. However, the CB said notes already in circulation in could be used for transactions

Pakistani prisoners to be transferred home

Twenty Pakistani nationals serving life sentences in Sri Lanka due over drug related offences are likely to be transferred to Pakistan where they will spend the rest of their jail terms, the Daily Mirror learns

Milk powder taxes increased

A levy of  15 per cent or 92 rupees (whichever is higher) has been imposed on one kilogram of imported milk powder, excepting infant milk powder , the Finance Ministry said

Monday 7 declared special holiday

The Labour and Labour Relations Minister Gamini Lokuge today said the  government had decided to declare Monday (7) a public and special bank holiday on account of the Wesak festival falling on Saturday and Sunday

22 line houses destroyed in Maskeliya

At least twenty two line-houses in the Mocha Estate in the Maskeliya area were completely destroyed following a fire that broke out this morning, police said

Indian nabbed with FC

An Indian passenger en route to Singapore who attempted to smuggle more than Rs.5 million worth of foreign currency was taken into custody by the Airport customs last night

Unruly guests taken in for questioning

An Indian and a Ukrainian were taken in for questioning by the Habaraduwa police for allegedly assaulting three employees of a guest house at Unawatuna

Hakeem to mediate between TNA and Govt.

Leader of the SLMC, Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem said he would meet the TNA today and attempt to persuade them to resume talks with the government. This follows a request to him from Indian Opposition Leader Sushma Swaraj to try to persuade the TNA to talk with the government

Australia says returned Lankans are safe

Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says that those Sri Lankan asylum seekers, who have returned to Sri Lanka from Australia, are safe

Diamonds worth millions of dollars seized in CMB

Thousands of packets of diamonds, gold rings, bracelets and gold chains worth more than millions of dollars shipped to Colombo from Greece hidden inside electrical equipment by a Sri Lankan couple were seized by the Colombo Customs yesterday

No LTTE flags at UNP rally in Jaffna: Tissa

The United National Party (UNP) yesterday vehemently rejected reports that there were LTTE flags in the UNP May Day rally in Jaffna and charged that the images shown on state media were meant to deceive the viewers and sling mud at the party

UN vehicle kills one, injures two

A UN vehicle was damaged by angry residents after it killed one woman and injured two when they were crossing the road in Vandaramullei, Batticaloa this evening. The vehicle is said to have been a part of a convoy of an EU delegation which was headed towards Batticaloa from Valachchenai.

Three Chinese national deported

Three Chinese nationals including two women who were arrested on charges of staying in the country illegally without valid visas and passports were ordered to be deported by a Colombo Court today.

Pathuman further remanded

Former Trincomalee LTTE leader Sivasubramaniam Waradanadan alias Pathuman who was remanded on charges of having attacked army camps and on charges of having attempted to kill army personnel was produced before the Trincomalee Acting High Court Judge M.Ilancheliyan today.

Big conspiracy against me: Mervyn

While denying the latest allegations against him, Minister Mervyn Silva said today there was a big conspiracy against him by certain elements. Quoting the Minister, his media secretary RehanWijeyratne said the minister urged the media to act impartially and to give a balanced view on the allegations against the minister.

Vasan shoots down MK’s Eelam demand

Union Minister GK Vasan on Tuesday refused to support the demand of its ally, the DMK, for a referendum on a separate Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka and said the Congress was giving priority to rehabilitation and restoration of livelihood for the island Tamils.