Six sentenced to death

Six persons, who were found guilty of murdering a person in Beruwala, were sentenced to death by the Kalutara High Court Judge Amal Thilakaratne today

Vessel with 115 asylum seekers detected

A vessel with a group of 115 suspected asylum seekers was detected by the Sri Lanka Navy east of Batticaloa last night, the Navy said

Video: Handing over duties…

Outgoing army chief Jagath Jayasuriya handing over the ceremonial Sword to his successor, Major General Daya Ratnayake today at a ceremony in Colombo. Pix by Pradeep K. Pathirana

Pay more for liquor

Excise duty on liquor has been increased from today, Finance Ministry said. Accordingly the price of a litre of arrack will be increased by Rs.25 to 30 while a litre of beer will be increased by Rs. 10.

CPC accepts 25,000 metric tonnes of petrol

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has decided to unload the 25,000 metric tonnes of 90 octane petrol, which when tested for the second time was found compatible with Sri Lanka’s quality standards, Petroleum Minister Anura Priyadharsana Yapa said

CPC Chairman quits today

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman Thilak Kollure’s tenure ends today, CPC sources said. Mr. Kollure tendered his letter of resignation to Minister Anura Priyadharsana Yapa early this month

SL arrests 65 Indian fishermen

Sixty-five Indian fishermen in nine trawlers have been detained by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly violating the international maritime border. Naval spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said

Cigarette prices up

Prices of cigarettes have been increased by Rs.2 and Rs.3 with effect from today, Ministry of Finance said. Accordingly, the price of low-end brands has been increased by Rs. 2, and high-end brands by Rs.3

Canadian FM denies Sri Lanka’s claim

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird denied reports Tuesday that he has confirmed plans to attend the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka.

Audio: It was an attempt to assassinate me-Malaka


While claiming that he is not a ‘Super Hero’, Minister Mervyn Silva’s son Malaka said on Tuesday that the recent attack on him was a planned attempt to assassinate him ???

Major fire at ‘Sathosa building’

A major fire broke out at the Sathosa Building at the Vauxaul Street, Slave Island, in the early hours today causing heavy damages to the seventh floor of the building and destroying several offices of the Ministry of Cooperative and Trade

Navy personnel killed in road accident

Two navy officials were killed following an accident with a container vehicle in Karuwalagaswewa area in Puttalam this morning, police said PICTURES

Mirror shines at awards

Daily Mirror Sports Editor Channaka de Silva set a record by bagging sports journalist of the year for the fifth time at the Journalism Awards for Excellence 2012 held at the Mount Lavinia hotel this evening

Sajith, Karu in special election committee

Although Hambantota District MP Sajith Premadasa and Gampaha District MP Karu Jayasuriya were omitted from the nomination board, the United National Party (UNP) had appointed them to a special committee set up to handle the party’s campaign for the provincial council elections

'Mirror shines'

Daily Mirror was among the winners at the Journalism Awards for Excellence 2012 held at the Mount Lavinia hotel this evening. Among the winners were Channaka de Silva, who won the Sports Journalist of the Year award and the Scoop of the Year award; Awantha Artigala, winner of the Best Cartoonist award; and Lakna Paranamanna, the Denzil Peiris Young Reporter of the Year. Sister paper, the Sunday Times won the Best Designed Newspaper. Pix by Waru

Army Commander bids farewell

The final parade inspected by the outgoing Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya was held at the CH & FC grounds today. Soldiers representing all divisions and brigades of the Sri Lanka Army participated. Pix by Samantha Perera

Video: Factory closed

The factory which was at the centre of a controversy over the pollution of ground water in several areas in the Gampaha district was closed yesterday after Minister of Public Relations Mervin Silva forcefully entered the premises together with a group of his supporters and ordered it to be closed. Pix by Deepa Adikari ???

Police investigating assault on Malaka

Police Headquarters noted that there is an ongoing investigation on the assault on Malaka Silva- son of Minister Mervyn Silva by twelve men even there is no complaint lodged by their party

Second highway adds novel safety features

The 25.8-kilometre Katunayake Expressway which links Colombo with the Bandaranaike International Airport is scheduled to be opened in September. The picture shows a new addition to Sri Lanka’s second highway. Emergency phone booths have been installed on the expressway so that road users could contact the control room in case of any emergency. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Ravindu banned from leaving SL

The Colombo Additional Magistrate today directed the Controller of the Immigration and Emigration to prevent former DIG Vaas Gunawardena’s son Ravindu from leaving the country

Lankan war crime suspects in UK-report

The UK Home Office last year identified nearly 100 suspected war criminals including Sri Lankans who had made UK immigration applications, figures released to the BBC suggest.

No problems if TNA wins: MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said today there would be no issues even if the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) won the Northern Provincial Council elections and retired Supreme Court Judge C.V. Vigneswaran was appointed Chief Minister.

MR meets media heads

President Mahinda Rajapaksa met media heads at Temple Trees this morning. Some ministers were also present. Pix by Presidential media

Royal birth: Significant for the wider C’wealth-MR

Congratulating the Royal Family on the birth of the Prince of Cambridge, the third heir to the throne, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the birth of the Prince of Cambridge is undoubtedly significant for the wider Commonwealth

SL hopes Canadian PM will attend CHOGM

Claiming that Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird has confirmed his participation in the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo, Sri Lanka today expressed hope that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper would also confirm his participation at the CHOGM.

Lankans face return to Colombo or transfer to PNG

A group of 68 Sri Lankans who recently arrived at Cocos (Keeling) Islands is now on Christmas Island about to begin enhanced screening processes and those who are screened out will be returned to Colombo as soon as possible, the Australian government said

Tests being carried out on imported petrol

Preliminary tests carried out on 30,000 metric tonnes of imported octane petrol - 90 and 95 show the petrol is not up to Sri Lanka’s quality requirements, but further tests are to be carried out, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Managing Director L E Susantha Silva said

Car ablaze on expressway

A hybrid car heading to Kottawa caught fire at the 54.2 milepost on the Southern Expressway this morning, police said

Audio: Tsunami warning rehearsals today

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) spokesman Pradeep Kodippili said a tsunami rehearsal, covering 14 coastal districts in selected villages in Sri Lanka, would be held at 3.00pm this afternoon

Royal college teacher protests on roof

A female teacher from Royal College Colombo 7 has climbed on to the roof of a school building  and is presently engaged in a protest against a transfer order she received, which she believes is an act of vengeance against her Pictures