Couple gets death sentence

A husband and wife were sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court today after being convicted of trafficking 34.32 grammes of heroin in 2000

Navy denies Indian media reports

While categorically denying Indian News media reports, the Sri Lanka Navy said that 30 Indian fishermen were arrested within the framework of existing international maritime law and handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Jaffna.

UNP Leadership Council speaks

Six out of nine members of the newly-appointed Leadership Council of the UNP held a news conference at Sirikotha. The Council was headed by MP Karu Jayasuriya. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

SL navy participates in joint Indo-SL sea exercise

Sri Lanka Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel, SLNS Sagara participates in the joint maritime fleet exercise, ‘SLINEX 2013’, conducted in the seas off Goa in India from November 04th to 08th 2013

Large haul of heroin nabbed at BIA

A person carrying a foreign diplomatic passport was arrested today at the Bandaranaike International Airport with more than 30 kilogrammes of heroin, the Customs said Pictures

Video: Intermittent Road closures

Several roads in Colombo are expected to be closed for short time spans and such closures will be confined to the period during which the Commonwealth leaders travel, the Police said

Video: Finishing touches

Colombo is in full facelift mode due to the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in the city next week. A worker puts the finishing touches to a lamp post that carries a banner of the event. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: Beefy, Waugh continue the ‘Big Walk’

Picture shows former England test captain Sir Ian Botham embarking on the second leg of ‘Beefy’s Big Walk’, a charity walk from Kilinochchi to Seenigama. Botham is seen here flanked by legendary Australian test captain Steve Waugh, Minister Dallas Alahapperuma and a host of other cricketers and dignitaries at the start point of the second leg, at the Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Two army officers killed in road tragedy

A Lance Corporal and a soldier were killed and three others injured in a road accident at Kilinochchi early this morning, Police said

Another bus tragedy

Ten passengers were killed and 19 injured when an SLTB bus skidded off the road and plunged down a precipice in Poonagala at Bandarawela last night. The bus was badly damaged. Pix by R. Kogulan

New Rs.500 notes for CHOGM

New 500-rupee currency notes with the CHOGM-Sri Lanka logo would be released for circulation from November15 to mark the CHOGM, the Central Bank said

A family of five hacked to death

Three women and two men belonging to one family were hacked to death in their house at Halmillakulama in Anuradhapura last night, police said

HC seeks government's view on memorial for SL Tamils

The Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) has sought the State Government’s view on a petition filed by World Tamil Confederation leader Pazha Nedumaran seeking permission to inaugurate a memorial for the Tamils killed in Mullaivaikkal during the end stage Eelam War in Sri Lanka in May 2009

Suspect’s bail plea dismissed in SL team attack

A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Monday dismissed as withdrawn a bail petition of Malik Ishaq of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (formerly Lashkar-e-Jhangvi) facing abetment charges in the Sri Lankan cricket team attack case

No visa for SL war documentary maker-India

India has denied a visa to Callum Macrae, the director of a documentary that exposed war crimes in Sri Lanka

Govt. to seek direction on 18A from SC

The government is to seek an interpretation on the 18th Amendment to the Constitution from the Supreme Court regarding the time period during which a Presidential Election could be held during the second term of office of the incumbent.

35 schools closed for CHOGM

The government has decided to close 29 schools in the Colombo city from November 6 to 19 in view of the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to be held in Colombo, the Ministry of Education said

Sharma defends CHOGM in SL

The selection of Sri Lanka as the location for the biennial Commonwealth summit has been defended by Commonwealth secretary-general Kamalesh Sharma.

Video: Discussing a point...

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe discussing a point with General Secretary Tissa Attanayake after the conclusion of the Working Committee meeting at party headquarters Sirikotha this evening. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana ???

Video: Ranil says he has taken a historic decision

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he had made a historic decision to handover powers to the leadership council. ???

Nine dead in Bandarawela bus tragedy

At least nine people were killed and more than 20 injured following the accident which occurred in Bandarawela this evening when a bus plying on the Bandarawela- Punagala route skidded off the road and plunged into a precipice at Punagala.

Video: Sajith refuses to accept appointment

UNP MP Sajith Premadasa who was clamoring for substantial reforms refused to be in the council claiming that the leadership council did not represent wide sections of the party ???

Video: UNP WC approves 9-member leadership council

The Working Committee of the United National Party today approved the leadership council comprising nine members with Ranil Wickremesinghe being elevated to the position of ‘national leader’ of the party ???

15 injured as bus goes down precipice

At least 15 passengers were hospitalised when an SLTB bus plying on the Bandarawela- Punagala route skidded off the road and plunged into a precipice at Punagala in Bandarawela this evening, police said

Korean gambler robbed by SL escort

A Korean today alleged that a female escort who accompanied him to a five-star hotel had robbed him of Rs.510,000 which he had won at gambling in a Casino in Colombo and an additional Rs.300,00 which he had with him. He alleged that the woman was gone by the time he woke up.

CHOGM protest: 45 arrested in Tamil Nadu

As many 45 persons belonging to different pro-Tamil outfits were on Monday arrested for attempting to picket trains and bus-stand in nearby Tirupur and Udhagamandalam, demanding that India should not participate in the CHOGM scheduled in Sri Lanka this month.

Two Indian ministers don’t want Singh to travel to SL

Voices within the Cabinet grew lounder against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visiting Sri Lanka with two more ministers saying today that he should not attend Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in view of alleged atrocities against ethnic Tamils, Indian media reported.

Video: UNP goes to HRC

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake and MP Mangala Samaraweera stand outside the Human Rights Commission today after the UNP lodged a complaint at the Commission over the arrest of several of its members in connection with the clash which occurred in Matara recently. Pix and video Pradeep Dilrukshana

Matara clash: UNP goes to HRC to obtain redress

The United National Party (UNP) today filed a complaint at the Human Rights Commission over the arrest of several of its members in connection with the Matara Clash on October 5

Ministry gets new name

The Ministry of Ports and Highways had been renamed as the Ministry of Highways, Ports and Shipping, the ministry said. The ministry said that it received the Gazette notification in this regard today.