82 arrested for damaging property: Police

Eighty two persons have been arrested by the police for damaging public property while protesting against the new rule which makes the use of plastic crates compulsory in the transportation of fruits and vegetables.

Army deployed to Dambulla and Bandarawela

Military spokesman Brigadier Nihal Hapuarachchi said that 200 soldiers were deployed to Dambulla to support the police to maintain law and order in the area.

Consult stakeholders at grassroots level on plastic crates: Chamal

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa today brought to the attention of Trade Minister Johnston Fernando the need to consult stakeholders of the vegetable trade at the grassroots level on the introduction of plastic crates for the transportation of vegetables and fruits.

No change to my position: Ranil

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe asserted in Parliament today that there would be no change in his position in the appointment of new office bearers to the party. Mr. Wickremesinghe said that he is only interested in bringing about a regime change in the country

President to meet traders

A special discussion will be held today between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the traders on the issue of making plastic crate compulsory in transporting Vegetables and fruits, Minister Johnston Fernando said.

Karu gives official UNP leadership notice

Despite claims made by certain UNP MP’s that the party’s Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya did not officially notify the party leadership of his intention to contest for the leadership post, a Spokesman for Jayasuriya said yesterday that he had given formal notice in a letter last week

Politico’s man abducted in Pita Kotte

A person believed to be a coordinating secretary of a controversial Minister was abducted this evening in the Pitakotte junction by a group of men who came in a van was reportedly found a short while ago  Updated

Doctor accused of alleged sexual harassment

A female attached to an Embassy in Colombo has made a complaint with the Kollupitiya police alleging that she was sexually harassed by a doctor of a private hospital while pretending to carry out a medical examination for an ailment in her hand

Police use tear gas in Bandarawela

Police used tear gas to disperse a massive demonstration in Bandarawela which was staged in as a protest for making compulsory the use of plastic crates to transport fruits and vegetables

What happened to Prageeth Ekneligoda, Ranil asks

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today asked the government to inform Parliament as to what happened to journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.

Inquiry will be made: Chamal

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said today that he would direct the Inspector General of Police to inquire into as to why JVP dissident MP Ajith Kumara was not allowed to visit the displaced families in the Menik Farm welfare village in Vavuniya

Police use tear gas in Dambulla protest

Police used tear gas to disperse a large number of protesting traders in Dambulla. The protest was against the government regulation to make plastic crates compulsory when transporting vegetables and fruits, a reporter stated PICTURES

Embarrassed by relentless publicity given to my family: Namal

Government MP Namal Rajapaksa said in Parliament today that he is thoroughly embarrassed by the ‘relentless publicity’ given by the state run TV channels to the events attended by his family members and relatives

Private Sector pension scheme to be reintroduced

The Private Sector pension scheme is to be reintroduced as an amendment to the Employment Provident Fund bill, UNP MP Joseph Michael Perera informed Parliament

Vehicle loans for journalists

The President will amend the budget proposal to provide vehicle loans for journalists so that more media personnel will benefit from it, Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told Parliament a short while ago

Law to use plastic crates won’t change

The law to use plastic crates for transporting fruits and vegetables will not be changed but land master tractors and three wheelers will be allowed to transport these goods without plastic crates, Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade Johnston Fernando said.  VIDEO

Accident in Siyambalanduwa

A motor car ran off the road and fell into a wayside culvert in Kotagoda on the Siyambalanduwa – Akkarapattuwa Road causing the death of a woman and causing serious injuries to six others on board

Traffic jam in Pettah

It has been reported that a large number of traders at Manning Market are protesting against the law on transporting vegetables which has resulted in a traffic jam from the  Pettah area VIDEO

Milinda proposed pro-US group to counter NAM: Wikileaks

US Ambassador Ashley Wills had in 2003 claimed that Milinda Moragoda, who was a minister in the then United National Front (UNF) government – headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe had said he was interested in forming a group to counter the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) block of countries, whistle blower WikiLeaks has revealed.

Top Chinese military delegation in Lanka

A high-level Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) delegation headed by General Ma Hixiaotian the Deputy Chief of General Staff arrived in Sri Lanka to discuss professional training, exercises and further promotion of military assistance to Sri Lanka.

Karu begins leadership campaign, to meet chief prelates

The United National Party (UNP) leadership struggle has intensified with the party reformists launching a campaign to woo the support of the party’s trade union sector, the Mahanayake Theras and other religious dignitaries for a leadership change.

Hicorp case objections deferred until Jan 20

The Colombo High Court Judge today postponed the order on the preliminary objections taken by the defence in the Hicorp case against former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka for January 20, claiming that the material in the indictment in the High Court was similar to that in the second Court Martial trial in which Sarath Fonseka was sentenced and thus no action could be instituted twice against an accused on the same charges.

Negotiations to resolve fishermen issue on Jan. 13 and 14

In order to resolve the issue of Indian and Sri Lanka fishermen governmental level negotiations between the two countries will take place on January 13 and 14, 2012, Fisheries Minister Susantha Punchinilame told Parliament.  The Defence Authority and the External Affairs Ministry will participate in the negotiations.

Karu should inform UNP leader first: Jayalath

United National Party (UNP) Deputy Secretary Jayalath Jayewardene said today that the party’s Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya should at the next working committee meeting on Sunday, officially notify party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe of Mr. Jayasuriya’s intention to contest for the post of leader.

Heavy showers in most parts of the island

The Meteorological Department says heavy showers are now being experienced in most parts of the country.

Major job fraudster arrested in Kandy

The Kandy police special crime unit arrested a major job fraudster who cheated nearly 20 youth in Kandy of at least Rs.1.8 million.

Vegetable trade crippled: JVP

The JVP charged today that the vegetable trade had been crippled due to punitive action taken by the Trade Ministry against persons  not transporting vegetables in plastic crates.

Five given the death sentence

Five in the same family, a mother, three sons and a daughter-in-law were given the death sentence by the Tangalle High Court over a murder in 1996 in Beliatta.

Tax removed for consumer items during festive season

The tax on potatoes has been deducted by Rs.15 per kilogram with immediate effect by the Finance and Planning Ministry in an attempt to bring down the prices of consumer items during the festive season, the Finance and Planning Ministry announced a short while ago. 

Large scale sand mining racket busted

The elite Special Task Force (STF) busted a large scale sand mining racket which had been operating for years without a license in the Ma-oya area in Kurunegala.