Only President can remove Mervyn-Basil

Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa said that Minister Mervyn Silva could be removed from the post of Kelaniya electoral organizer only by the leader of the party President Mahinda Rajapaksa and not by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party or the Central Committee.

SL to take part in joint sea exercise

The Sri Lanka Coast Guard will take part in a sea exercise jointly conducted by Indian, Sri Lankan and Maldivian Coast Guards that is to be held in the seas off Male from today upto April 27, the Navy Headquarters said

SL Tamil leaders not for Eelam: Indian MP

Tamil leaders in Sri Lanka wanted a political solution to the ethnic problem within the framework of united Sri Lanka and no one raised the issue of a separate Tamil Eelam, said CPI(M) MP T.K. Rangarajan, who was part of the Indian Parliamentary delegation that toured Sri Lanka last week.

Singer Satish Perera passes away

A popular singer Satish Perera has passed away this morning at a private hospital, family sources said. The son of late musician Shelton Perera was 43, at the time of his death.

Major operation in east

A major search operation is underway in the eastern region in search of ex-LTTE cadres, who had not gone through government rehabilitation programs as well as cadres, who had returned from overseas, informed police sources said.

Police question Angela

Actress Angela Seneviratne has been questioned by Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) officials for over four hours in connection with the parcel containing hashish which was addressed to her.

Two drown in Kiran

Two persons were drowned this evening in the Kiran-Thuriyadi River area when they lost balance while standing on a log, this happened while they were trying to take some photographs of the River.

May Day squabble in the UNP-Mervyn

Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva today said that despite a large number of problems in the country, the main opposition UNP leaders squabbling with each other over the venue to hold the party’s May Day rally.

Video:Jehan Mubarak arrested

Former national cricketer Jehan Mubarak has been taken into custody following a fatal accident that killed one person at Maikkulam in Chilaw on the Chilaw-Colombo main road today, police said. PHOTOS

NGO vehicle attacked

A vehicle belonging to a local officer of the Switzerland demining NGO in Vavuniya was extensively damaged following a petrol bomb attack last night, police said.

Lankans hunger strike enters 6th day

More than ten inmates of the Sri Lankan refugee camp at Chengalpattu in Kancheepuram district in Tamil Nadu are on an indefinite hunger strike seeking a transfer to ‘open camps’.

Talks with Rajapaksa 'fruitful': Congress MP

Terming as 'fruitful' talks with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on issues including devolution of powers to Tamil-speaking areas, a Congress MP, who was part of the parliamentary team that visited the island republic, yesterday said a report would be submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Tense situ in Dematagoda

Kumar encourages Ex-Tigers to join leftist politics

Frontline Socialist Party leader Kumar Gunaratnam said his party was encouraging former LTTE members to embrace leftist politics instead of racism.

Sanath, M’hettigama want ministerial posts

Swaraj rebukes Jayalalitha

The opposition leader of India Sushma Swaraj rebuked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha Jeyaram over the latter’s remarks about the visit by the Indian parliamentary delegation to Sri Lanka 

India very serious about political solution; Swaraj

The Indian parliamentary  delegation, upon conclusion of its visit to Sri Lanka , said that India is ‘very  serious’ about a political solution to the Tamil national question , and urged the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil National Alliance to resume political dialogue  as early as possible. VIDEO

Angela denies allegations

Actress Angela Seneviratne yesterday denied the allegations saying that even she was unaware of such a thing, and therefore, disappointed about adverse media publicity given without verifying details. She said that she only knew it through some journalists.

Fire suspends Op.of Kelanithissa power station

Operation of the Kelanithissa power station was temporarily suspended after a fire broke out in a power circuit. However, the Ministry said that the temporary suspension would have no impact on the power supply.

SL holds first ever bi-lateral talks with Israel

The first ever bilateral consultations between the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel were held at the Ministry of External Affairs yesterday, the external affairs ministry said.

Ranatunga's take on IPL his own- Mahela

Delhi Daredevils vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene Friday brushed off former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga's take on the Indian Premier League (IPL) as being his own opinion.

Bus owners seek another fare hike

Private bus owners yesterday said they might request for an increase in bus fares later this year as the cost of repairs had doubled due to the escalating prices of items.

Govt. to get Russian, Chinese flights to Mattala

Sri Lankan aviation authorities will meet Chinese and Russian aviation officials to negotiate for an increase in flights to Sri Lanka and to request that these flights land at the Hambantota Mattala Airport to be opened in November.

Actress Angela to be questioned

Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) officials said a statement from actress Angela Senerviratne would be recorded after verifying details regarding the arrest of a Britisher who came to the Central Mail Exchange with a letter said to be from her to collect a parcel allegedly containing Hashish.

Rescued fishermen heading home

The six Sri Lankan Fishermen who were rescued on Wednesday by a Spanish Naval Ship, from the detention of Somali pirates were handed over to the European Union Mission in Darussalam, Tunisia yesterday and will travel to Sri Lanka shortly, the Department of Fisheries said.

UK MP questions about Maj.Gen Silva

Opposition British Parliamentarian (Labour) Siobhain McDonagh on Thursday had questioned the British government at the House of Commons about the war crimes allegations leveled against the defence attaché at Sri Lanka’s high commission in London

127 feared dead in Pakistan plane crash

A Pakistani airplane carrying 127 people has crashed near Islamabad's international airport, Fox News confirms.

Douglas to India by sea with fishermen

Minister Douglas Devananda said that he was planning to go to India by boats with some 5,000 fishermen in 1000 boats to talk to the Indian fishermen, who were regularly intruding into the territorial waters of Sri Lanka.

Tense situation in Dambulla

Tension prevailed in Dambulla town today when Buddhist monks and residents staged a protest demanding that the Dambulla Sacred Area Development Project be implemented without further delay.

Customs seizes Rs.30mn goods

Customs seized two containers of textiles, tiles and shoes worth around Rs.30 million imported under the pretext of importing PVC doors from China today, officials said PICTURES, VIDEO