Another diplomatic row between the US and SL

In what appeared to be another diplomatic row between the United States and Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka’s permanent mission in Geneva has written  to member states against the US propaganda that Sri Lanka had closely worked with the US in drafting the resolution against the country at the 19th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)

UNP to join PSC if LLRC report discussed: Ranil

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday that his party was willing to participate in the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee aimed at finding a political solution to the national question, if the LLRC report was discussed at the select committee

Non-academics strike cripples universities

Activities in all universities were crippled today as non-academic staff members launched a countrywide strike demanding higher wages and other perks, threatening to continue their strike from February 29 onwards if the government fails to meet their demands

Willing to participate in PCS, Ranil says

Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament today that his party  is willing to participate in the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to fund a political solution to the national issue if the LLRC report is discussed in the said select committee

India exports 500,000 tonnes of sugar so far this year

India has exported about 500,000 tonnes of sugar so far in the current marketing year, which started from October 2011, mainly to Africa, Sri Lanka and Australia, a top industry official said today

Trishaw driver sentenced for procuring duplicate license

The Colombo Traffic Court today fined and jailed a trishaw driver who was guilty of obtaining a new driving license from the Department of Motor Traffic after his driving license was impounded by Court. On November 24, 2011

Lankan domestic worker kills employer

A Sri Lankan housemaid stabbed to death her employer at the latter's house near Beirut airport on Thursday, security sources said

Govt. to bring thousands to Colombo on Monday

The constituent parties of the government today said it would bring hundreds of thousands of people to Colombo on Monday in support of the government to thwart the US, UK and Canada led attempt to pass a resolution against Sri Lanka at the annual UNHRC sessions in Geneva

Sugar companies to resume operations

The state owned sugar companies at Sevenagala and Pelwatte will resume operations on March 5 after the take-over from private ownership, Productivity Promotion Minister Lakshman Seneviratne said today

Man who married 5 women in 8 months nabbed

A 28-year-old man who had allegedly married five young women during a period of eight months and lived with them was arrested today by the Chilaw police

IGP takes steps to minimise difficulties faced by public

Inspector General of Police (IGP) N.K. Illangakone has taken steps to minimise the difficulties faced by the public especially at police stations when they seek to take copies of certain documents filed by the police

22 DIG's appointed

The Police Headquarters stated today that 22 Senior Superintendents of Police (SSP’s) had been promoted as Deputy Inspector General’s (DIG’s) of police with immediate effect

Banned crystal seized in Abu Dhabi on route to SL

Abu Dhabi airport customs authorities seized 7.4 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine with two passengers who tried to smuggle the drugs

Lanka team will talk to pirates to secure fishermen’s release

A Sri Lankan delegation will travel to Somalia next week to negotiate the release of six Sri Lankan fishermen abducted by Somali pirates. The Somali pirates, who have demanded the meeting with the Sri Lankans

UN committee bars Lankan general linked to atrocities

A top UN peacekeeping committee on Wednesday barred a Sri Lankan general accused of carrying out a military onslaught against civilians.

Ensure you are counted

The Census and Statistics Department yesterday asked the people to ensure that they get counted at the countrywide population census between February 27 to March 21

Uni non-academic staff to go on strike

Non-academic university staff will go on a 48 hour countrywide strike starting today (Thursday) in protest against the government’s failure to provide higher wages and benefits to them, unions said

SL scotches rumours of collaboration with US

Sri Lanka yesterday scotched speculation in diplomatic circles here in Geneva that the country had agreed with the United Stated to draft the proposed resolution to be presented at the upcoming sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) with regard to the country’s human rights situation

Hitch-hiking dengue mosquitoes

Dengue mosquitoes have spread to other parts of the country from Colombo by the mosquitoes hitching rides on vehicles that come to Colombo city and are left parked for some time, a health ministry study has revealed

Govt. hasn't stopped buying fuel from Iran: Minister

In response to our story on Wednesday February 22 under the headline ‘Arabian Light fuel to replace Iranian Oil' Minister of Petroleum Industries Susil Premajayantha yesterday said the government had not stopped buying fuel from Iran

Big time robbers in police custody

Two men allegedly in toe with major robber gangs were arrested today, police said. They said the gangs were wanted in connection with some 22 robberies in Colombo and the suburbs where shops, showrooms and supermarkets had been robbed of goods worth about Rs.5 million

Breakdown in electricity

A breakdown in the electricity supply has been reported in some areas in the country including Kandy and Puttalam due to a technical defect, the Ceylon Electricity Board said

Penal Code is being used fraudulently: JVP

The Penal Code has been fraudulently used to arrest those who criticise the government though there are no such provisions for it, the JVP charged in Parliament today

100 RPGs found

A cache of nearly 100 Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) including live ones were found in Puttalam today and two persons have been arrested PICTURES

Marie Colvin killed in Syria

Veteran war correspondent Marie Colvin of the Sunday Times was killed in Syria on Wednesday along with French photojournalist Remi Ochlik, the French government said

Presenting national action plan to UNHRC bypassing Parliament, breach of constitution: Ranil

Presenting the government’s national action plan on the protection and promotion of human rights to the United Nations Human Rights Council bypassing Parliament is a breach of Constitution, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesighe charged today

Examinations and Student Registrations of Open Uni postponed

All Examinations and Student Registrations of The Open University of Sri Lanka, scheduled for February 23 and 24, 2012 have been postponed until further notice

Fire in Ambuluwawa Forest Reserve

A fire erupted in the Ambuluwawa Forest Reserve destroying an area of  200 acres. The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) deployed two Bell 212 helicopters to douse the fire while the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Gampola Police are working together to douse the fire.

Harsha accepts Siyambalapitiya for public debate

UNP National List MP Dr. Harsha De Silva today accepted the government’s offer to send Deputy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya for a public debate on the IMF stand by agreement.

Debate on Human Rights in SL at UK House of Commons today

The British charity Freedom from Torture has said that today’s (February 22) scheduled debate on ‘Human Rights in Sri Lanka’ at the UK House of Commons is “perfect timing” for UK parliamentarians to send a clear signal to the Sri Lankan government ahead of the 19th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) which commences in Geneva next week.