Video: Maruti to SL: Ease 60% mandatory export rule

Country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki has asked the government of Sri Lanka to relax the mandatory export clause for manufacturing, reports CNBC-TV18???

UNP: Range, Ashok reappointed

The United National Party Leadership Council today decided to stop the ongoing disciplinary inquiries against UNP MPs Palitha Range Bandara and Ashok Abeysinghe, party spokesman Gayantha Karunathilake said.

Rs.43mn worth illicit cigarettes seized

Illicit cigarettes valued at Rs. 43 million were seized by the Customs Revenue Task Force (RTF) at the Orugodawatte warehouse today. This is the largest stock of illicit fags to be detected in the country. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

SL must punish HR violators-India

Joining international demands for a proper inquiry into the alleged human rights violations during the war against the LTTE, Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday. said Sri Lankan government must investigate and punish those responsible for them.

Gota meets Pope

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday met Pope Francis in Vatican and invited the Pope to visit Sri Lanka, official said. 

President all set for Budget 2014

An upbeat President Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen making his way to the parliament chamber to present the 2014 Budget. Pix by pradeep Pathirana

Snake in Ranil’s office

A viper was found inside the parliament office of UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe a short while ago, Parliament sources said. The snake was later removed from the premises.

Budget 2014: SL aims for over 7.5% growth in next 3 yrs

Sri Lanka will aim for more than 7.5 percent annual economic growth in the next three years, President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the parliament on Thursday while presenting the 2014 budget.

Budget 2014

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today presented the 2014 Budget in Parliament with an increased focus on boosting infrastructure through development projects, particularly aimed at improving local agriculture, animal husbandry, road connectivity and higher education FULL BUDGET SPEECH

Sadaham Sewana senior citizens workshop

The Rajagiriya Sadaham Sewana International Buddhist Centre and the Human Rights Foundation today organised its annual senior citizens’ workshop, which includes several aesthetic activities. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

UNP, JVP to boycott budget speech

The United National Party (UNP) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) have decided to boycott today’s budget speech, sources said

Cancer kills 13-year-old jaguar

National Zoological Gardens Director Anurudda Silva said today a 13-year-old Jaguar had died at the Dehiwala Zoo yesterday. The postmortem report revealed that the animal had died of cancer

Cameron has won Tamils’ hearts: Karunanidhi

DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday said Tamils across the world expected India to demand a fair inquiry into the human rights violations and war crimes in Sri Lanka, as demanded by the U.K. Prime Minister, David Cameron, but it had failed to show any concern for the Tamils

A woman stabbed to death, another injured

A-60-year-old woman was killed while a 55-year-old woman was severely injured when some unidentified man had stabbed them

Funeral held for Thavisha

The funeral of a Sri Lankan student who was killed in Sheffield as he worked his final shift has taken place in Nawala on Wednesday.

MR congratulates new Maldivian President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has congratulated the new Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Video: Budget demands

Members of the Trade Union Coordinating Centre (TUCC) today staged a protest in front of the Fort Railway Station in Colombo highlighting twenty one demands put forward by them in relation to the budget to be presented tomorrow. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana ???

Govt. paved the way for Int’l HR probe: UNP

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) said today the manner in which the Government acted and reacted to the international community before and during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) had pushed the country closer to a division

Thalangama OIC, three others arrested

Thalangama Police OIC together with the Crime OIC, a sergeant and a police constable were arrested by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) over allegations that they had obtained a bribe of Rs.2 million to obliterate the evidence on the killing of a former police inspector two months ago

Against privatisation of universities

The Inter University Student Federation (IUSF) held a protest outside the Fort Railway Station today over the privatisation of universities and the violation of students’ rights. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: Undergrads demand rights

The Colombo University Students’ Union staged a protest today near the University over several issues, including hostel facilities. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja ???

Legal action against walkers on rail tracks

Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) Operations Superintendent L.A.M. Ratnayake said the law would be strictly implemented on those walk along the railtracks.

ICRC country head meets Army Chief

Head of Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Sri Lanka Ms Cherine Pollini held talks with Army Commander Daya Ratnayake at the Army Headquarters on Tuesday evening.

PIL seeks declaration of Kariyawasam as persona non grata

A public interest litigation has been filed in the Madras High Court bench in Madurai, Tamil Nadu to declare the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Prasad Kariyawasam as a persona non grata (an unwelcome person) as per Article 9 of the Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations, 1961, for allegedly transgressing his limits as a foreign diplomat and issuing ‘provocative’ statements.

Six new DIGs

The Ministry of Defence and Urban Development said six Senior Superintendents of Police (SSP) were today promoted to the post of Deputy Inspector General (DIG)

Traffic near varsity

Heavy traffic is reported near Thunmulla junction and roads near the Colombo University due to a protest organised by the Colombo University Student’s Union over an issue of hostel facilities.

Bail refused for triple-murderer

Colombo High Court today refused bail to Maduranga Silva, who appeared in Court on charges of having strangled his wife and two sons and then burnt their bodies.

Covered helmet law suspended

The implementation of regulations, prohibiting the use of motorcycle helmets, which cover the whole face and with tinted visors has been suspended, police said today.

SL student killed in UK: funeral today

The funeral of Thavisha Peiris, the 25-year-old student who was killed in the United Kingdom while out working in South Yorkshire on October 27th Sunday, would take place tomorrow evening at his residence at No.102/1, Koswatta road, Nawala, family sources said

TUCC protest at Borella

The Trade Union Coordinating Center (TUCC) staged a poster protest at the Borella Junction today urging action to 21 demands from the budget for the next year. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja