Expressway collects Rs.1 mn within 12 hours

The revenue collected from the users of the Southern Expressway for 12 hours from 6pm on Sunday (27), to 6am today (28) stands at Rs.1 million. Operations Manager B.D.K. Bandara said statistically 4,500 vehicles had entered the Expressway from the eight entry points.

Why delay in oil refinery project, Dayasiri asks

The financial assistance for the improvement of oil refinery facilities from Iran now hangs in the balance due to political turmoil in the Middle East, Parliament was informed today.

Failure in delivering funds

The District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries in certain provinces have failed to delivered funds for the reconstruction of houses damaged in the two bouts of floods that hit the country early this year though the government has made necessary allocations, it was revealed in Parliament today.

Jeena Madam’s women acquitted

The eight women, who had been arrested on October 24, 2007 along with Rosemary Felicia Perera alias Jeena Madam on charges of having helped operate a brothel under the guise of a night club at the Kollupitiya Liberty Plaza building complex, were acquitted today by a Colombo Court.

JVP not allowed to visit A’pura prisoners: Udul

The attempts by JVP dissidents to visit LTTE inmates in the Anuradhapura prison were thwarted by the prison authorities yesterday, a dissident member said today.

22 dead, 19 missing due to bad weather

Death toll due to bad weather has risen to 22 while several missing persons returned bringing down number of missing persons to 19-the Disaster Management Centre said

Legal action to be taken against LG members

The Elections Commissioner is to initiate legal action against Local Government members who failed to declare Assets and Liabilities for which the last date was November 25.

Minister in un-parliamentary tirade

In what appeared to be another instance of the use of un-parliamentary words, Productivity Promotion Minister Lakshman Seneviratne today slandered UNP MP Harin Fernando with abusive references to his father and lineage.

Sri Lanka woos Chinese tourists

Sri Lanka has opened a page on Chinese social networking site - www.renren.com - to attract more Chinese tourists to the country, an official said Monday.

Police Service short of around 10,000 cadres

The Police Service runs short of around 10,000 cadres required to maintain law and order in the country, Parliament was informed today.

Saddened due to devaluing of rupee

Senior Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana tells parliament today that he is saddened by the government's decision to devalue the rupee by three per cent

Action against Met. officials who failed to issue warnings

Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera vowed in Parliament today to take action with the officials concerned at the Meteorological Department if they were found guilty of failing to issue warnings to people on the gusty winds and rough seas that wreaked havoc in the south

Vijayakant, Vaiko condemn Coast Guard's stand

Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam leader Vijayakant and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko on Sunday condemned the Coast Guard's suggestion that the area up to five nautical miles from the Indo-Sri Lankan International Maritime Boundary

Nigerian couple arrested for smuggling Rs.8mn

A Nigerian couple was arrested for illegally smuggling US$70,000 (nearly Rs.8 million) at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by the airport narcotics bureau yesterday

First accident on expressway

An accident occurred on the Southern Expressway at 7.10 this morning, at the 8th mile post in Kahatuduwa Picture Updates

Maid found with nails in her body

A Sri Lankan housemaid who was found with seven nails in her body following surgery at Dammam Central Hospital refused on Saturday to name who was responsible for inserting them

Lankans convicted for hiding nationality

A city court has sentenced to nine years imprisonment a temporary lecturer of the Madurai Kamaraj University College and his parents for hiding the fact that they were Sri Lankan citizens, purchasing properties in India and claiming to be Indians

UL seeks commercial borrowing to stay afloat

The cash strapped SriLankan Airlines is to go in for a commercial borrowing of US$175 million from external sources to meet its funding requirements, officials said yesterday

Houses of Chinese workers damaged

The gale force in the Matara District also damaged houses giving shelter to Chinese workers who worked in the Southern Expressway project.

Sexual harassment in public transport

A survey conducted by the Legal Aid Commission (LAC) has revealed that 70% of women aged between 15 to 45 have been sexually harassed in public transport, the Legal Aid Commission chairman said

Chandimal, Hafeez fined for showing dissent

The International Cricket Council has fined Dinesh Chandimal of Sri Lanka 10 per cent of his match fee and reprimanded Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez for showing dissent at an umpire`s decision during their teams' Twenty20 International.

Death toll rises to 19

The death toll from the turbulent weather conditions rose to 19 this afternoon with 43 people still reported missing and 53,773 people from 13,337 families being affected, the Disaster Management Centre  (DMC) said today

Murder suspects nabbed after 17 years

Three people, who had allegedly been involved in the killing of a 72-year-old woman in Adippila in Arachchikattuwa about 17 years ago, were arrested by the police today

Economy in jeopardy, says Karu

UNP Co-Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya today said the crisis in the Colombo Stock Market was a clear case of all types of investors, local and foreign, increasingly being disappointed over the conduct and policies of the Rajapaksa and Brothers Company

Rise in gold chain robberies: Police

The number of gold chain robberies has risen in urban areas especially in Kurunegala, Negombo, Tangalle, Gampaha and Anuradhpaura, the police said.

Better road connectivity to link all people: MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today unveiled the island's first expressway, linking Colombo and the southern city of Galle, asserting that better road connectivity would remedy old separatist tendencies

SL tax to decrease Kinnow export

The Kinnow export to Sri Lanka will be reduced by 60 per cent because of the new tax levied on import of agriculture products. Chief Executive Officer of Harvest Trading Ahmad Jawad told APP that with the imposition of new tax by Sri Lanka, the duties on many export items from Pakistan have been doubled.

Former Lanka cricket chief wants his position back

Former Sri Lanka Cricket head Tilanga Sumathipala on Sunday said he was keen to contest the re-elections for the top post to be held on January 3.

Abortion centre raided

An illegal abortion centre was raided in Negombo and three persons running the centre were arrested, the police said

Southern Expressway opens

Sri Lanka's first ever highway (the Southern Expressway) was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa a short while ago