Rs.61.5 million spent on Deyata Kirula exhibition centre

A sum of Rs.61.5 million had been spent for the exhibition centre of the ‘Deyata Kirula’ Exhibition 2012 in Anurdhapura while several millions had been spent for the water supply facilities, Parliament was informed yesterday.

Stone-throwing suspects remanded

Four youth who attempted to obstruct the Southern Expressway by hurling stones were remanded till February 21, by the Elpitiya Magistrate Sekara Samaradiwakara.

Little response for online petition against SL

An online petition, created in August 2011, calling on the British Government to support an independent investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka has only attracted 3,430 signatures to date.

Delay in determining cause of kidney disease in SL

There had been a delay in determining the exact cause of the kidney disease which is rampant in several areas in the country including the North Central province, the Acting Minister of Healthcare Lalith Dissanayake told Parliament yesterday.

Samurdhi will be paid in March says Govt.

The government admitted yesterday that Samurdhi recipients had not been paid their allowance this year and gave an assurance that they would pay the Samurdhi allowance for the first quarter of the year in March.

PAC wants VAT scam suspects charge-sheeted

The parliament Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed the Inland Revenue Department officials to charge sheet those involved in the multi-billon VAT scam reported earlier, informed sources said yesterday.

SL must help toward peaceful settlement in the Maldives: Ranil

Sri Lanka must do its best for the Maldives to ensure a peaceful settlement to its crisis, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday.

School boxing training gone wrong

An 18-year old school boy had been admitted to the hospital for injuries he received during a boxing training session with a soldier without proper safety precautions, the Homagama police said.

President calls for expanding Pak-Sri Lanka bilateral trade

President Asif Ali Zardari Friday called for stepping up efforts to fully realize the potential of Free Trade Agreement with Sri Lanka and building a mutually beneficial economic and trade partnership to jack up the bilateral trade from current $375 million to $2 billion target in the next three years.

President Asif Ali Zardari honours MR

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari Friday hosted a reception in honour of President Mahinda Rajapaksa here at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

National Green Reporting System to be established

In a bid to strengthen the steps taken to protect the environment, the government has decided to establish a National Green Reporting System (NGRS) in Sri Lanka with the main focus on minimising the carbon emission.

Govt. won't stop Mahapola schol., Johnston says

The Government will never stop the Mahapola scholarships, Minister of Trade Johnston Fernando said dismissing claims by United National Party MP Sajith Premadasa.

Bail granted but conditions violated

The counsel for the depositors of the Golden Key Credit Card Company complained to the Colombo High Court that the respondents had violated the bail conditions by failing to pay the Rs.40 million to the depositors as agreed by them before the Supreme Court as a condition of bail.

American national assaulted

A private bus driver who had allegedly assaulted an American national and his driver was remanded till February 24 by the Dambulla Magistrate Sanath Morawaka today.

Rajapaksa in Pakistan

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Pakistan today on a three-day state visit.

Racket facilitating illegal immigrants uncovered

Judicial authorities and police officials from Finland, France and Belgium conducted a joint operation against a Sri Lankan criminal network on February 6, Europol and Eurojust said in a joint statement Friday. UPDATED

SL gets over 85, 000 tourists in January

The number of tourists visited Sri Lanka during the month of January 2012 rose 15.7 percent to 85, 874

Sri Lanka lose by five runs

Australia survived a frenetic Sri Lankan fight-back to post a thrilling five-run one-day victory at the WACA today.

GL in Jordan

External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris met the Jordanian Prime Minister Dr. Awn Khasawneh and the Minister of Defence in Amman.

Sri Lankan found dead in Saudi Prison

A Sri Lankan detainee at the Malas Ladies’ Prison committed suicide, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh said.

Protest in support of Nasheed

A protest in support of former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed is being held in front of the Maldivian Embassy down Melbourne Avenue in Bambalapitiya at the moment. The protest is being conducted by both Maldivians and Sri Lankans in support of the former president (VIDEO)

Illicit cigarettes worth Rs.2.6mn seized

Illegally imported cigarettes worth around Rs.2.6 million branded as Gold Leaf were seized by the Fort Police when they were hidden inside a house in Maligawatta

Aussie’s bowled out for 231

A sharp fielding performance from Sri Lanka gave them the upper hand at the WACA, in the third One Day International Tri Series match in Perch, against Australia

SL will offer support to the Maldives: Neomal

Acting Minster of External Affairs Neomal Perera said today that if the Maldives requested assistance from Sri Lanka, the government would offer any support necessary

Deyata Kirula draws crowd of 2.8 million

The Deyata Kirula Exhibition currently underway in Anuradhapura has draw over 2.8 million visitors during the past five days despite heavy rain. The exhibition was extended by two days and is scheduled to be held until February 12

Lanka win toss, elect to field

Sri Lanka have won the toss and put Australia in to bat in the third match of the Commonwealth Bank series in Perth

Anti-terror measures top SAARC meet agenda

In the backdrop of a coup in Maldives, a high level meeting of sleuths from five South Asian nations, including India, Maldives and Sri Lanka, was held on Thursday here to discuss ways of consolidating anti-terror mechanism in the region

US case against Shavendra dismissed

The case filed in a US court against Sri Lanka’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Major General Shavendra Silva, by former LTTE Eastern Leader Ramesh’s widow Vathsala Devi, was dismissed on Wednesday as Major General Silva enjoyed diplomatic immunity

Parliamentary consultative committee meetings not conducted for years

The parliamentary consultative committee meetings had not been conducted by the Ministries to discuss  issues confronting the country for years though  the Standing Orders stipulates the conducting of such meetings at least once a month, Parliament was informed yesterday

PBOA requests for diesel subsidies

Private Bus owners have requested the Finance Ministry for diesel subsidies of Rs.76 per litre to keep up with the imminent rise in the price of diesel