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.

Archaeological evidence to prove ‘Tamil Buddhists’

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said in Parliament today that there is archaeological evidence to prove that ‘Tamil Buddhists’ lived in certain areas of the northern province

29 injured in Ratnapura accident

29 passengers were injured by a private bus this morning in Ratnapura. The bus was travelling from Monaragala to Colombo and it tipped over damaging a gem centre in Ratnapura this morning, police said

Govt. should protect historical sites

Historical sites, particularly those in the eastern province, are continuously vandalised, therefore, the government should intervene to protect them for the future generations, ruling party MP Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera said in Parliament today

Picket campaign to begin

Farmers and vegetable and fruit transports will begin a picket campaign today at the Dambulla Economic Centre, against the legalisation of using plastic containers to transports fruits and vegetables

3 Lankans sentenced for illegally importing alcohol

Three Sri Lankan nationals involved in the case concerning the discovery of hundreds of bottles of cheap alcohol in a car belonging to Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Parliamentary Group leader ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik, have been sentenced to one year in jail

40 Lorries into CAA custody

At least 40 lorries were taken into custody by Consumer Affairs Authority officers this morning at Hanwella and Peliyagoda for transporting vegetable and fruits without using plastic containers, an official said

Coroners want arrears, increments, duty free vehicles

The Coroners’ Association of Sri Lanka yesterday charged that their allowances had not been paid since January this year while some had not received it since August last year

CBK’s pro-French stance

Former US Ambassador in Colombo Ashley Wills in 2003 had informed the State Department that President Chandrika Kumaratunga was ‘quite pro-French’, a latest WikiLeaks cable revealed

AG highlights need to curb loss of state revenue

A firm mechanism should be put in place to curb the loss of revenue to the state due to the continuous use of various tactics by some importers who commit ‘large scale tax frauds’ by presenting under-valued invoices when importing goods, the Auditor General said in his report

‘Chinese influence not a threat’

Visiting Sri Lankan Army Chief Lt .Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya today said though China's influence in the Indian Ocean is growing, it is not posing any threat to the Indian sub-continent

Sanath’s team wins Speaker’s Cup

The MPs cricket team led by Sanath Jayasuriya won the Speaker's Cup scoring 176/9 defeating the  team led by Minister Susil Premajayantha whose team scored 105/7 

There is a serious erosion of basic rights: JVP

Somawansa Amarasinghe the Leader of the JVP speaking to Daily Mirror on line stated that the citizens of the country are faced with a massive erosion of their basic human rights. Speaking in lieu of the International Human rights day the Leader of the JVP stated that the erosion and violation of these rights stems from the capitalist system of governance of many countries

Independence Ave. closed for Speaker’s Cup

The Police said that due to a cricket match between Parliamentarians at the Sports Ministry Grounds, Independence Avenue will be closed from 2pm until the match is over

Investigate abduction of colleagues in North: Dissidents

Stating that they are receiving phone calls saying its organiser in Jaffna, Lalith Kumara Weeraraj who was abducted along with another member on Saturday had been killed, the Movement for People’s Struggle an organisation formed by the JVP dissidents called for a proper investigation to determine what had become of the victims

Russian regions say vote protests largely peaceful

Authorised and unauthorised protests in dozens of Russian cities, in which at least 60,000 people across the country are estimated to take part, were largely peaceful

Advice to Adam’s Peak pilgrims from the Police

The police have advised people on pilgrimage to Adam’s Peak to refrain from taking alcohol, polythene, plastics and drugs

Rare lunar eclipse visible

A rare lunar eclipse giving a reddish tint to the moon is currently visible in the country in areas with clear skies IMAGES

Moscow set for massive protests

Moscow is braced for what the opposition claims will be the biggest demonstration in Russia for 20 years.Tens of thousands are gathering in a square south of the Kremlin, in the latest show of anger over disputed parliamentary polls

Police probe 3 mysterious deaths

The Police are probing an incident, where two teenage girls and a twenty seven year old man were found hanging from a tree in Eppawala today.

UNP John’s comments on Karu

UNP Gampaha District local government representatives today expressed their disappointment and said they were disheartened over UNP MP John Amaratunge’s recent comments on Karu Jayasuriya lacking eligibility to contest as Opposition leader and said that such statements were made to prevent a new leadership from emerging in the party.

Ex-Tigers see verbal war in parliament

Some 100 rehabilitated former LTTE combatants saw a different battle in parliament today with government and opposition parliamentarians trying to outsmart each other with their oratory skills during the committee stage of the budget debate.

Rauff ready to convey pardon plea

Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem said today he would consider appealing to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to pardon former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka if such a request was made by Mr. Fonseka’s family members.

Separate court to hear Bhikkhu's cases: DM

A separate court will be established to hear the legal cases of Bhikkhus very soon, Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne said in Parliament today. The Prime Minister said that the bill drafted in this regard had been referred to the Cabinet at the moment.