11 injured in Chlorine tank blast

A gas pipeline connected to a chlorine tank exploded at the Kalutara Industrial Zone factory this morning leaving 11 people including three employees injured, the police said

MR meets Swaraj

The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, spoke with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a breakfast meeting on Friday morning

Six Lankans rescued from pirates

Six Sri Lankan fishermen and their vessel captured by Somali pirates six months ago have been rescued by a Spanish Naval ship, the Spanish Defence Ministry said

Karunanidhi can have Eelam in India: Gota

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said if DMK Leader and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s unfulfilled dream was a Tamil Eelam, he should work for it in India because the largest population of Tamils live in the Tamil Nadu state of India and not in Sri Lanka

US apologises over leaked photos

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta apologised for photographs revealed showing US soldiers posing with the bloodied remains of dead insurgents in Afghanistan.

Eight OIC’s transferred

Police Headquarters said today that eight OIC’s have been transferred with immediate effect. Police said that the transfers were routine transfers and they were not taken on disciplinary grounds.

Sri Lankan woman held for witchcraft

A Sri Lankan woman has been arrested on suspicion of casting a spell on a 13-year-old girl during a Saudi family’s shopping trip, a police spokesman said yesterday, and may face death in a country where convicted sorcerers are beheaded.

Remand of TN Fishermen in Jaffna extended

The Jaffna High Court on today (Thursday) extended the remand of five Tamil fishermen who crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line to fish in Sri Lankan waters. The Fishermen, with support from the Indian Consulate in Jaffna and the Tamil Nadu Government have moved a bail petition.

People in 18 houses evacuated

At least 18 families removed from Viharahena area in Deniyaya due to a landslide threat. They have been provided shelter in safer locations. A hill is posing a landslide threat due to the torrential rains experienced in the area at present.

Hold referendum for Dravidastan and Kashmir

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka says DMK leader M. Karunanidhi who personally fought for a separate country for Tamil speaking people in India should first hold a referendum in Tamil Nadu for that demand.

Man hacked to death in Trinco

The body of a young man who had been hacked to death was recovered from a home garden at Aiyanagar in Trincomalee last night. Police said the victim Eswaradasan Kedeeswaran (28) of Palautthu in Trincomalee had been living in England returned to the country last year.

Indian missile that could hit Beijing tested

A successful test flight of the missile will also strengthen India's nuclear deterrence once it comes into service by 2014-15. With a range of 5,000km (3,100 miles), the Agni-V is capable of delivering a single 1.5-ton warhead deep inside nuclear rival China's territory.

Accident kills SLBC director Hassan

A Director and announcer of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) Nurania Hassan was killed this morning while five others were injured when the vehicle they were travelling in collided with a lorry at Rambewa, according to the Police.

Judge Warawewa says request for extension refused

High Court Judge W.T.M.P.B. Warawewa has revealed that a request made by the Attorney-General’s Department to further extend his term of office by a year to enable him to hear several pending cases has been refused by the Chief Justice.

The visit provided a good platform-Indian MP

Indian Congress party MP Sudarshana Natchchiappan speaking at the Settikulam IDPs camp on Wednesday said that the visit of the Indian delegation helped to understand all different stands on the Political parties in Sri Lanka.

Lightning kills three

Two women who were plucking leaves in Pitabeddara and a farmer who was in a paddy field in Pahala Athuruliya, Akuressa in Matara were killed when lightning struck them this evening, police said

Chinese woman fined Rs.10 for loitering

A Chinese woman who pleaded guilty to loitering on a street in Kollupitiya at night without giving a reasonable answer to police was ordered to pay a fine of Rs.10 by a Colombo Court today

Uni student snatches gold chain

A female second year university student, who was trying to flee after snatching a woman’s gold chain was caught by a group of three-wheeler drivers in Gampola and handed over to the police

Fire destroys ten houses

At least ten line-houses in the Waltrim estate in the Lindula area, Thalawakale were completely destroyed following a fire that broke out this morning, police said. Police believed that that the fire had broken out due to an electric shortage.

Four arrested with LTTE video

A group of four men who were showing and viewing a video film containing scenes of the past LTTE victories in the warfront, and its training programmes in an attempt to promote the LTTE organisation was taken into custody by  the Serunuwara police last evening (17).

India should support referendum for Eelam: Karunanidhi

DMK president and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M.Karunanidhi Tuesday said India should take up efforts in the United Nations for holding a referendum in Sri Lanka for creation of a separate Tamil Eelam.

Sushma stresses on 13A.

India’s opposition leader Ms. Sushma Swaraj who is currently leading a parliamentary delegation on a visit to Sri Lanka stressed yesterday that the government should evolve a political solution to the national question based on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, informed sources said yesterday

Expressway earns 437, 500 from towing vehicles

Police have taken steps to charge for towing vehicles that breakdown on the southern expressway. Director Operations and Maintenance T.K.Ranathunga said they charge Rs.2500 to tow vehicles that developed a technical defect to the nearest exit point.

Bus set on fire in Mathurata

A bus estimated at Rs.4 million belonging to the brother-in-law of Private Bus Industries Minister C.B. Ratnayake was set on fire in Mathurata, Kandy by a group of men, police said.

SLC congratulates Sangakkara

Sri Lanka Cricket on Tuesday congratulated senior player Kumar Sangakkara on being named the International Cricketer of the Year 2012 by the Wisden Almanack.

Indian MPs hold talks on political solution

The visiting Indian parliamentary delegation led by opposition Leader Sushma Swaraj held discussions with the Sri Lankan government on the Parliamentary Select Committee and a political solution to the national question.

Gunaratnam ready to return-FSP

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) today said its strongman Kumar Gunaratnam is ready to come back to Sri Lanka to participate in any effective investigation carried out on his abduction.

If justice is not delivered people will rise-Hirunika

Hirunika Premachandra, the daughter of the slain Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra said that the whole country is watching the proceedings of the case and if justice is not delivered the countrymen would rise up against it. VIDEO

Wadduwa OIC transferred

The OIC of the Wadduwa Police has been transferred with immediate effect to the Mount Lavinia Police Staion, Police Spokesman Ajith Rohana said. This was after a person who filed an FR petition against the OIC was found dead while in custody of the Wadduwa police on Sunday.

Duminda to undergo another surgery

Duminda Silva who is a suspect in the murder of former MP Baratha Lakshman Premachandra is to undergo another operation at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, the CID said. VIDEO