Sharma welcomes SL census

Last week’s announcement by the Government of Sri Lanka that it will conduct a national census to determine the extent of the loss of life during the country’s 26-year old civil war, is a welcome step, Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma said

‘Ketayam Chinthaka’ shot dead

An underworld leader, Chinthaka Wasantha, known as Ketayam Chinthaka, who is the main suspect in the killing of a policeman and his wife in Kamburupitiya was shot dead during a confrontation with Special Task Force personnel in Nigala last night, police said.

U.N. envoy in Sri Lanka

The U.N. special envoy on human rights of internally displaced persons arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday to examine the status of people rendered homeless by the country’s three-decade civil war

I am still DG-- Hulugalle

Lakshman Hulugalle, the Director General of the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said the Centre was not abolished only ‘defined’.

MCNS scrapped

The Presidential Media Unit said a short while ago that the Defence Ministry had abolished the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) with effect from November 1. The MCNS was headed by Lakshman Hulugalle

Left in the lurch

Members of the All Ceylon Peasants’ Federation held a protest rally at Fort today. They distributed handbills accusing the Government of ignoring their plight and not fulfilling the promises it had made before the budget. The protesters are seen clad in the traditional loin cloth. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

SL must focus foreign policy on West: UNP

United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian and former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said today Sri Lanka’s foreign policy should be focused on the West instead of the African region

Report on Vaas’ iPad submitted to AG

The CID informed the Colombo Magistrate courts today that it had submitted a report on the iPad used by former DIG Vaas Gunawardena to the Attorney General.

Video: Khuram Shaikh trial re-fixed to March

The six accused in the murder of British aid worker Khuram Shaikh were granted bail by the Colombo High Court based on the bail granted by the Tangalle Magistrate’s Court earlier ???

SPC minister told to report to Borella Police

Borella Police said they would arrest Southern Provincial Council Minister Bindu Weerasinghe if he did not report to the Police station today. He is accused of assaulting popular singer Saman De Silva.

Another gold smuggler caught

A Sri Lankan was arrested this morning at the Katunayake Airport when attempting to smuggle four gold biscuits concealed in his rectum, Airport Customs spokesman Leslie Gamini said.

A ‘rogue elephant’ captured

Wildlife Officials captured a rogue elephant that had been destroying crops and terrorising the Mahakumbukkan kadawala and Pallama Divisional Secretariat areas in Chilaw. The elephant was taken to a national park nearby. Pix by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe

Special traffic plan for Alles’ funeral

One lane on the roadleading from Gateway College at Sri Jayawardenapura to the Borella General Cemetery will be closed for vehicular traffic between 4.00 p.m. to 5.00p.m

Russian motorcyclist arrested on new expressway

A Russian motorcyclist was arrested this morning while riding along the Colombo- Katunayake expressway after entering it surreptitiously. He had entered the expressway at the 18th kilometre post at the Negombo entry point and

A club bouncer hacked to death

A young man employed as a bouncer at an Aturugiriya Karaoke club was hacked to death at the club last night.

Seven red sanders seized at Madurai airport

The Customs officials at Madurai airport seized seven red sanders from three smugglers bound for Colombo on a Mihin Lanka flight at 4.20 pm on Sunday.

Deserters in disguise nabbed

Two female army deserters allegedly disguised as men and working as domestic aides in two homes in Ahangama were arrested by the Ahangama Police on Saturday morning.

Curious…

A man pushing a cart with a child in it looks on at a walk held by the Health Ministry, Sri Lanka Prisons Department and several other voluntary organisations to mark World AIDS Day, today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Embassy official drowned

A Saudi national attached to the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Colombo as an accountant died due to a heart attack this evening, while he was taking a dip in the swimming pool of an apartment complex in Bambalapitiya, Police Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said.

‘Kudu Bole’ arrested with heroin

A woman known as ‘Kudu Bole’ suspected of selling heroin was arrested by the Mt. Lavinia police during a raid in Angulana today

Rising from Ashes….

Crowds thronged to BMICH today for Sahasak Nimevum exhibition despite the fire that broke out the previous day. Minister of Technology and Research Patali Champika Ranawaka is seen here in conversation with an inventor who has come up with a unique technology of making string hoppers. Pic by Nisal Baduge

Face veil no issue

The Moratuwa University declined a request by two Muslim female undergraduates, to wear their face veils within the university premises, officials said today

Poof!

Workers are seen here picking up bits and pieces in the building that went up in flame at the BMICH yesterday, which was built to accommodate the CHOGM Media Centre. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Jaya against training of SL navy officials

Expressing dismay at India’s offer to train Sri Lankan Naval officials, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has demanded that the Prime Minister review this “insensitive policy of defence co-operation” as it was in “utter disregard” of sentiments of people of the state.

Woman nabbed with gold at BIA

A Sri Lankan woman was arrested last night at the Bandaranaike International Airport for smuggling two pieces of gold biscuits concealed in her rectum, Customs media said today

Lankan killed in accident in New York

Police say a 71-year-old Sri Lankan immigrant who worked as a New York Police Department traffic enforcement agent had been killed by a truck as it pulled away from a parking spot in midtown Manhattan

Drunken motorcyclist in Expressway

A drunken motorcyclist who had forcibly entered the Southern Expressway through the Welipenna entrance early this morning had been injured when the motorcycle collided with a van, Police said

Strong weather to continue

The Meteorological Department today said a showery weather can be expected over the country during next few days with heavy rainfalls of more than 150 mm.

Video: 'Fast and Furious' Paul Walker dies in car crash

Actor Paul Walker, a star of the "Fast & Furious" movie franchise, died Saturday in a car accident, according to his official Facebook page and verified Twitter account

Britain waiting for SL’s word on preventing sexual violence

Britain said that it is awaiting Sri Lanka’s reply on whether the latter will support the issue of preventing sexual violence in conflict.