Oral test for GCE O/L English exam

The Education Ministry has decided to introduce an oral test for the English language at the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination from next year, Minister Bandula Gunawardane said today

47 involved in prisons riot identified

The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate Court today that they had identified 47 suspects involved in causing damage to the Magazine Prison and its property during riots that took place in the prison on January 27

SL Embassy in Iraq to be opened immediately

The President has instructed the External Affairs Ministry to re-open the Sri Lankan Embassy in Iraq with immediate affect, Presidential Spokesman Bandula Jayasekara said

New luxury buses from China

New luxury buses imported from China will be introduced to six routes in the Colombo city this month (February) as part of a pilot project to promote public transportation to passengers who use private vehicles, the Transport Ministry said today

U.S. punishing small nations: MR

As the combined United States and European Union sanctions against Iran take effect, small nations like Sri Lanka are extremely worried. Sri Lanka depends almost entirely on Iran for its crude oil supplies and the only refinery in the country, Sapugaskanda, can only process Iranian crude

Dengue review to be held today

The first review assembly of the dengue action committee appointed by President Rajapaksa is to be held today at the Presidential Secretariat. The Committee headed by the Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena together with ministers in charge of twelve ministries

GMOA strike for telephone allowance

Government doctors in all provincial hospitals in the Colombo District are on a token strike today owing to the failure of the government to provide a telephone allowances to the doctors

CID fabricating evidence, Bhartha’s counsel says

The Counsel for Baratha Lakshma Premachandra, Upali Kumarapperuma told court today that the CID is "fabricating evidence" when the case was taken up today

J’pura students to hold protest at noon today

The students of the Sri Jayawardenapura University will hold a protest at noon today in front of the university. The Students Union says that the protest will be held against the dictatorial behaviour of the Vice Chancellor

Suicide jacket found in Kataragama

An old suicide jacket weighing more than three kilos was found hidden inside a room of a rest house in Kataragama this morning, the police said. UPDATE and PICTURES

MPs currently on visit to Israel

A Sri Lankan parliamentary delegation is currently visiting Israel on an invitation extended by the Israeli parliament – ‘The Knesset’. The Sri Lankan delegation comprises of Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena; Deputy Minister Neomal Perera; UNP MPs John Amaratunga and Buddhika Pathirana; and Secretary-General of Parliament Dhammika Kithulgoda

One arrested for selling leopard meat

A Sri Lankan man was caught red handed by police trying to sell the meat and skin of a leopard, an animal listed in the country’s endangered species list.

High ranking US envoys to visit SL

Two high-ranking US envoys will visit Sri Lanka early next month to assess the impact of US sanctions on Iran, and to also raise sensitive human rights issues ahead of the crucial United Nations Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva, late February.

I only discussed 13 plus with India: President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday he had only discussed the 13th Amendment plus with Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna. The President said it was not up to him but the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee to determine the solution best suited for Sri Lanka

SL's largest ocean research vessel in construction

Sri Lanka had begun constructing one of the country’s largest ocean research vessels at an estimated value of Rs.25 million, the Fisheries Ministry said yesterday.

A/L crisis goes to Supreme Court

Sixteen GCE Advanced Level Students and the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) yesterday filed fundamental rights violation petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the formula applied on the 2011 GCE Advanced Level Examination to calculate the Z-score

Karu denies rumours of forming political party

Former Deputy Leader of UNP Karu Jayasuriya yesterday scoffed rumours that he is going to form a political party.

Fishermen Attack: D. Raja Welcomes Jaya Govt's Stand

Welcoming the Tamil Nadu Government's stand on the issue of recurring attacks on Indian fishermen allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy and Katchatheevu, CPI leader D. Raja today said, "prolonged indifferent" attitude by the Centre would have "serious impact on the country's federal structure."

Trishaw driver sentenced to death for trafficking heroin

Colombo High Court today sentenced a trishaw driver to death for trafficking and retaining heroin.

Attack on Viluthu head office condemned

A group of well-known civil society activists have strongly condemned the recent attack on the Colombo head office of Viluthu, a non-governmental organisation working to promote social justice and women’s rights

FUTA vows to take action

The Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) today vowed to do everything possible to prevent the private universities bill from proceeding if it is presented to Parliament without consulting all stakeholders in the higher education sector.

Teacher trainees guilty of ragging to be expelled

The Education Ministry has decided to expel teacher trainees, who are found guilty of subjecting new comers to ragging at the National Colleges of Education, Minister Bandula Gunawardane said today.

Police to amend existing seat belt law

The Police Department is to amend the existing seat belt law to charge spot fines on drivers who fail to wear it instead of sending them to courts.

Court stops release of fertiliser

The Colombo Commercial High Court today ordered the Director General of Customs and the Registrar of Pesticides to stop the release of fertiliser allegedly contaminated by arsenic and mercury until further notice.

Derailment in Badulla

The “Podimenike”  express train from Colombo derailed at the Badulla railway station this evening when it was moving to the yard after de-training passengers. The train ground to a halt obstructing the level crossing on the Badulla–Mudunpita road.

Admin and financial irregularities hamper Eastern Uni activities

Administrative irregularities and financial misappropriations have hampered the activities of the Eastern University for years, officials said today.

Determined to regain Katchatheevu

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah today reiterated the state government's resolve to regain Katchatheevu, an island ceded to Sri Lanka through an accord, to restore the lost rights of the fisheremen.

Police to assist tourists

The Police Department has taken steps to increase the number of Tourist Police units in the country to assist and help tourists as the number of tourists visiting the island had increased in the recent past.

SL won't draw balance of $2.6bil IMF loan

Sri Lanka, which is locked in a row with the International Monetary Fund over its exchange rate policy, will not draw the remaining $800 million of a $2.6 billion loan from the global lender due to the high interest rate, the governor of the central bank said on Monday.

Gillian Anderson case suspect released on bail

The  Army Captain who was in remand custody on charges of having misappropriated Rs.17.8 million from the Sri Lankan properties owned by popular X-files actress Gillian Anderson was released on strict bail by a Colombo Court today.