Farbrace to be Sri Lanka coach

Former Sri Lanka team Assistant coach Paul Farbrace will take over as the next Sri Lanka coach from Graham Ford, after the series against Pakistan in December-January

Bad weather due to tropical cyclone in Bay of Bengal

The Meteorology Department issuing an advisory valid for next 24 hours said intermittent showers or thundershowers exceeding 150 mm would be experienced at some places in Northern, Eastern, and North central provinces

Video: Pettah shops ablaze

Fire fighters are trying to douse a fire that broke out a short while ago near the Bodhiraja Temple in Pettah affecting several shops. Pictures

Inspection tour

Chief Justice Mohan Peiris engaged in an inspection tour of the Mount Lavinia Courts today to identify any shortcomings in the buildings within the court complex. Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

BoI won’t register any more private schools

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene today told Parliament that the Board of Investment (BoI) had stopped the registration of any private schools hereafter.

Yashushi Akashi due here

The Government said today Japanese Peace envoy Yashushi Akashi will arrive in Sri Lanka on Sunday.

37 injured in head-on collision

Thirty seven passengers were injured this afternoon in a head-on collision between a SLTB bus and a private bus on the Nittambuwa-Katunayake road near 1st mile post, police said.

UK to discuss on SL with other countries

Britain said that it would continue to discuss on the situation in Sri Lanka, including human rights issues with a range of other EU, Commonwealth and international partners over the coming months.

Mandela, an iconic figure -MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa described late Nelson Mandela as an iconic figure who has left an indelible mark globally. In a condolence message, President Rajapaksa as Chair in Office of the Commonwealth

Negligence or carelessness may land you in court

Police said today the law would be strictly enforced if a person’s death was caused by another’s negligence or carelessness. Senior DIG Gamini Navaratne has instructed every police station

23 SL health officers to treat Haiyan victims

Twenty three Sri Lankan health officers will leave for Philippines today to treat victims of the Haiyan cyclone, the Health Ministry said today. They met President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday. The health officers were deployed on a request made by the President

Jaguar F-type here

The Jaguar F-type was launched in Sri Lanka yesterday at the Museum Gallery Cafe. The F-type is considered a true Jaguar sports car, powerful, agile and distinctive.  Pix by Samantha Perera

Video: 52% of the budget allocated for three ministers - UNP

UNP Badulla District Parliamentarian Harin Fernando said today 52% of the budget was allocated to three Ministers of the same family while the balance 48% was allocated to the rest

Cuddling a baby

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa was seen cuddling a baby at the Battaramulla ‘Good Market’ which celebrated its first birthday yesterday. A fashion show was held to celebrate the event. Pix by Samantha Perera

82 SL fishermen arrested by India in last 10 days

Twenty-six Sri Lankan fishermen were arrested over the past two days for allegedly illegally fishing in Indian waters, taking the total of Lankan Nationals arrested in the last ten days to 82

Nelson Mandela no more

DMK for probe into war crimes in SL

The DMK has issued a notice seeking a discussion, under Rule 193 in the Lok Sabha, against the human rights violations and war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan defence forces against Tamils during the civil war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

Nelson Mandela dies at 95

South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela has died, South Africa's president says. Mr Mandela, 95, led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison

SL women shun ‘women only’ buses, trains: Minister

Women in Sri Lanka do not like to travel in ‘women only’ buses and therefore moves to introduce such buses for their convenience had been shelved, Transport Minister Kumara Welgama told Parliament today

SL to launch Satellite in UNESCAP project

Sri Lanka will become a member of the elite ‘Satellite Club of Nations’ when it launches its first satellite in two years under its ambitious ‘Small Satellite  Mission’ programme, Technology and Research Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said

Lankan Journalists detained at Mumbai airport

Two Sri Lankan journalists who were on an assignment to India had to undergo harassment by an Indian Immigration officer at the Mumbai International Airport when they were detained and questioned despite possessing a valid visa and other documents

Video: Talking on casinos

The Joint Organisations Against Casinos held a panel discussion today at the National Library with the participation of members of major political parties including UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Democratic Party leader Sarath Fonseka and other religious leaders. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Arrested while altering dates of medicines

Two suspects were arrested by Police Walana Crime Division while pasting new labels on expired pharmaceutical drugs packets at Narahenpita today, Police said

CAA seizes milk powder worth Rs.80mn

The Flying Squad of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) seized 257,658 milk powder packets worth Rs.80 million, each weighing 400 grammes stored illegally at a private warehouse in Seeduwa short while ago.

CAA rejects gas price increase request

A request by private gas companies to increase domestic (LPG) gas prices have been turned down by the Consumer Affairs Authority

The Ghost train

A train engine, which was at the Demtagoda Railway Yard had automatically started at around 1.45 am today and preceded without a driver before it was stopped between Ratmalana and Mt. Lavinia. Pix by Rekha Tharangani

Ghost train reaches Ratmalana

A train engine, which was at the Demtagoda Railway Yard had automatically started at around 1.45 am today and preceded without a driver before it was stopped between Ratmalana and Mt. Lavinia, railway authorities said. UPDATE

SL regrets Singh cancellation

Sri Lanka has described as “unfortunate” Manmohan Singh’s absence from last month’s Commonwealth meeting in Colombo and denied information about a visit by the Prime Minister announced by finance minister P. Chidambaram last week.

SL couple desperate to save newborn

A Dubai-based Sri Lankan couple is seeking help to pay the mounting hospital bills of their newborn son undergoing treatment for a respiratory problem

Mahela recognized for his spirit

Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has been nominated for the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award for this year for walking before being given out while he was on 91 in a Test match against New Zealand