Roads closed today

Prince Charles turns 65

One fourth of Lanka are diabetics

Latest statistics reveal that 25% of the population in Sri Lanka is suffering from Diabetes and the figure is estimated to be doubled by 2050, the Health Ministry said yesterday

Foreign Ministers’ forum

A forum for Foreign Ministers of Commonwealth countries was conducted today at the BMICH, parallel to the CHOGM which is set to start on Friday. Seen here are delegates arriving at the venue. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana and Pradeep Pathirana

“Ape Gama” declared open

“Ape Gama” and the Laksala showroom complex which were constructed under the Divineguma programme were declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa today at Battaramulla. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Video: Tense situation in Sirikotha

A tense situation was reported outside the UNP headquarters at Sirikotha today where a Human Rights Summit was scheduled to be held with the participation of relatives of those who have gone missing, when a group of people staged a protest outside the building. Pix by Nisal Baduge ???

Audio: Will not give up- Macrae

The Channel-4 journalists today said they would continue their endeavor on reporting on the situation in the North of Sri Lanka despite protests and preventions

Sharma should pressurise MR: UNP

The United National Party (UNP) today said the General Secretary of the Commonwealth Kamalesh Sharma should put pressure on President Mahinda Rajapaksa to implement the Commonwealth Charter once the President assumes the Chair of the Commonwealth Union

Three killed in accident

Three people were killed and two others hospitalised when a three wheeler plunged into a precipice on Badulla- Bandarawella Road in Ella today

UNP claims Ranil’s vehicle attacked

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s vehicle came under attack by a group protesting against an exhibition on Human Rights and the Implementation of LLRC recommendations being held at UNP headquarters Sirikotha today, UNP said

Packer packs punch

Australian tycoon James Packer addressed the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) sessions today at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. External Affairs Minister G.L. Pieris and Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva were also present at the event. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Video: Channel-4 journalists sent back to Colombo

Channel -4 journalists including Callum Macrae, who were heading to the North were sent back to Colombo in a special vehicle by the police saying it was being done for security reasons after their train was blocked at Anuradhapura Railway Station by a group of protesters

MR invites me for tea

Jonathan Miller is seen pointing to an article published in today’s Daily Mirror. Protesters blocked the Vavuniya-bound train at Anuradhapura Railway Station to prevent him from going to the North this morning. Pix by Athula Bandara

Protesters block train with Macrae

The Vavuniya bound train was blocked at Anuradhapura railway station by a group of protesters against Callum Macrae who is travelling in the train to the North.

Two envoys are most welcome in their official capacities -SL

While rejecting ‘misleading’ assertions regarding the alleged incident involving Ms. Leigh Rhiannon an Australian Senator and Ms. Jan Logie a MP from New Zealand

Mauritian PM to join SL C'wealth summit boycott

Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has become the third leader to announce a boycott of this week's Commonwealth summit in Colombo over Sri Lanka's human rights record

Roads closed today

Roads closed today

Police Headquarters said that number of prominent arrivals will take place tomorrow, therefore roads in Colombo would be subjected for three closures throughout the day.

67 Lt. Colonels promoted

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has approved the promotion of 67 Lieutenant Colonels to the rank of Colonel with effect from November 01 this year

Leadership Council will be given more powers: Ranil

United National Party (UNP) National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said today he would handover more powers to the newly-appointed leadership council in the future

G.L., Sharma at a media conference

External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris and Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma spoke to journalists following the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States held this afternoon. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will begin on Friday.  The meeting on Small States was a held in the run-up to the main event. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Gambling den raid: JHU questions government

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) today questioned the government as to what happened to the 45 people who were arrested for gambling during a raid at a gambling den near the Eye Hospital and under whose instructions the 23 officials of the Police Crime Division who were in the squad that organised the raid were transferred soon after the raid

Video: MR invites C4 men for a cuppa

In what appeared to be a consolidation of the charm that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is renowned for, while dismissing questions posed by Channel-4 journalist when he was about to board the car after the opening of the Commonwealth Business Forum, invited them “for a cup of tea” ???

Video: I will make more: Macrae

The visiting Channel-4 Journalist Callum Macrae, who made the controversial War crimes documentaries on Sri Lankan civil war, said today that he would make documentaries in future if there were evidence on war crimes

Motion to change Northern Governor passed

A motion calling the President to appoint a civilian as the Governor of the Northern Province had been passed in the Northern Province Council during its second sitting on Monday

300 workers arrested for protesting against CHOGM

Over 300 MDMK activists, including its General Secretary Vaiko were, arrested for blocking train traffic as the dawn-to-dusk Tamil Nadu bandh called by pro-Eelam outfits demanding that India completely boycott CHOGM meet in Colombo got underway.

Video: James packer attends Business Forum

Australian business tycoon James Packer, who is currently in the spotlight in connection with an up-market casino he intends setting up in Colombo, was among the business leaders, heads of states and other dignitaries who participated at the Commonwealth Business Forum sessions today at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Skip CHOGM, Sikh group tells UK PM

Ahead of British Prime Minister David Cameron’s India visit, the radical Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa has written to him urging him not to take part in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo, over allegations of human rights violations by the Lankan Government.

Road closures in Colombo during CHOGM

Renovation work in Colombo completed-CMC

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) said that renovation work carried out for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meting (CHOGM) had been successfully completed.