Video: Gen. Jayasuriya assumes duties as CDS

General Jagath Jayasuriya assumed duties as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) today. The former Army Commander succeeded Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonethileke. Senior members of the military were present at the event which was held at the CDS office in BMICH. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: JVP condemns attack on unarmed villagers

JVP Propaganda Secretary and parliamentarian Vijitha Herath today condemned the attack on the people who were protesting in Weliweriya and said the government had failed to resolve this issue before valuable lives were lost

Three killed in collision

Three people were killed and two injured in a head-on collision between a car and a private bus last morning at Dalada Gama on the Padeniya-Anuradhapura Road

US concerned about Weliveriya incident

The United States said that it was ‘concerned’ about the violence in yesterdays protest and urged for restraint from all sides.

MR invites Pope

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has invited HIS holiness Pope Francis to visit Sri Lanka, presidential spokesman Mohan Samaranayake said. A few days ago Pope Francis intimated his intention of coming to Sri Lanka during a visit to some Asian countries

Video: Ranil in Weliweriya

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe visited Weliweriya and the surrounding areas where the army is alleged to have assaulted unarmed villagers while they were demonstrating against the contamination of ground water

39 illegal asylum seekers netted in Matara

A group of 39 people were taken into custody from a house in the Kanattagoda police area in Matara while they were getting ready to flee to Australia illegally as asylum seekers last night, police said.

Newly appointed Deraniyagala OIC transferred

Prabath Deshabandu, the newly appointed OIC of Deraniyagala has received sudden transfer orders instructing him to vacate his post with immediate effect. Accordingly he has been transferred to the Padiyathalawa Police Station in the Ampara district

K’gamar’s son petitions court over acquisition of land

Former Foreign Affairs Minister the late Lakshman Kadirgamar’s son in a Writ Application before the Court of Appeal bemoans there are moves afoot to acquire his ancestral property in the Jaffna district by the State

Video: Army breaks up protest

Army officers are pictured here, assault rifles in hand, attempting to chase away protesting villagers who demanded for pure drinking water. One person was killed with gunshot injuries and fifteen others are currently receiving treatment in hospital

Video: One dead, 15 injured in clash

One person, who was injured due to gunshot injuries during the clash between the army, police and protestors, succumbed to his injuries this evening at the Gampaha Hospital, sources said

Police tear gas water protestors

Police used tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse some thousands of protestors in the Belummahara junction on the Kandy road, a short while ago

Video: Vaas in Court today

Former DIG Vaas Gunawardena who is a suspect in the killing of millionaire businessman Mohamed Shyam was being brought to the Colombo Chief Magistrates Court today for the Magisterial inquiry before Additional Magistrate A.M.Shahabdeen. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

65-year-old estate worker dies in wasp attack

A 65-year-old estate worker was killed and four others hospitalised following a wasp attack at Norwood in Hatton, police said

Pilgrims Progress

Pilgrims from Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Mullaithivu, and Trincomalee set off this morning from Ukandai on their journey on foot through the jungle to Katahragama to attend the Esala festival on August 07, 2013. Pix by U.Wijesinghe and Saman Ratnayaka

Tense situation in Balummahara

A tense situation has arisen in the Balummahara junction, with protesting villagers turning violent, our reporter said. Reports said that the Colombo- Kandy road has been completely closed

Sarath Kumara indicted for criminal intimidation

The Attorney General has filed a direct indictment on former North Western Provincial Council member, Ananda Sarath Kumara who allegedly asked a school teacher at Navagaththegama Maha Vidyalaya to kneel down in the presence of the pupils in the school and staff in the school premises

Video: Vaas further remanded

Suspended DIG Vaas Gunawardana and six other suspects were further remanded till August 14 by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today.

Protesting against water pollution

More than 1000 people took to the streets obstructing the new Kandy Road at Weliweriya junction accusing the authorities of failing to resolve the ground water pollution that created a shortage of drinking water in several areas in the Gampaha District

Video: New Commander assumes duties

Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake assumed duties as the 20th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army today. With a 33 year service with the Army and known as a battle hardened officer, he was commissioned as an officer attached to the Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) Regiment. He was given a guard of honour today at a military parade held at the CH&FC grounds. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Three bookies held in Goa

Three bookies were arrested from Miramar beach in Goa for accepting bets on the one-day cricket match between Sri Lanka and South Africa, police said on Thursday.

Polls on September 21

Elections for the Northern, Central and North-Western provincial councils will be held on September 21, Election commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said.

Vel Festival

The annual Vel (Chariot) festival of the Arulmigu Sri Sivasubramaniya Swamy Kovil in Slave Island, Colombo started on July 23. The festival will go on till August 4. The chariot carrying Lord Murugan parades the streets of Colombo. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Rukantha-Chandralekha: PSD men sent to prison

Ten former Presidential Security Division officers were sentenced to four-and-half year imprisonment and were ordered to pay Rs. 2 m compensation in the Rukantha-Chandralekha harassment case by the Panadura High Court today  PICTURES

Southern PC Minister arrested

The Co -operative Minister of the southern Provincial council D.V. Upul has been arrested in Tangalle for allegedly assaulting a CTB driver last evening, police said

Video: Daya Rathnayake assumes duty

Lieutenant General Daya Rathnayake assumed duties as the 20th army commander of the Sri Lanka army a short while ago

Porn in bus; driver, conductor arrested

The Aralaganwila police yesterday arrested the driver and conductor of a bus plying from Kaduruwela to Arunapura for on charges of telecasting a pornographic film on a TV installed inside the bus

Deraniyagala terror probe on police top brass

The Police Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has launched an investigation into the activities of the senior police officers, who were in charge of the Deraniyagala Police Division during the period gangsters led by former Deraniyagala PS Chairman Anil Champika Wijesinghe alias Athakota were alleged to have committed their atrocities

SL beat South Africa by 128 runs in fifth ODI

Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 128 runs in the fifth and final one-day international on Wednesday. Scores: Sri Lanka 307-4 in 50 overs (T Dilshan 99, L Thirimanne 68, K Sangakkara 75 not out)

US concerned over Deraniyagala atrocities

The United States has said it was concerned about the allegationsof  horrendous atrocities including killings and rapes in the vicinity of a Deraniyagala Tea Estate managed by a US company and urged that a thorough investigation be carried out and the miscreants prosecuted