TN passes resolution demanding India boycott CHOGM

The Tamil Nadu legislative assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution urging the Union government to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting slated to be held in Colombo in November???

Recruitment of 350 WPCs

A large number of women who turned up from all parts of the country, were interviewed yesterday at Police Field Force Headquarters in Bambalapitiya for the recruitment of 350 Woman Police Constables (WPC). Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Guiding new NPC members

An orientation programme organised by the Northern Provincial Council in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils to enlighten the newly elected members of the Council was held today in Jaffna. Pix by Prasanna Pradeep

LPBOA await Govt. nod to operate on new expressway

Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne said the government had not informed them   whether private buses would be allowed to operate on the Colombo Katunayake Expressway which is scheduled to be opened on Sunday???

Video: Poor taxed while casinos enjoy tax holidays: UNP

UNP parliamentarian R. Yogarajan said today the government had imposed a 40% tax on ordinary people while giving a tax holiday to casino operators

Court calls for report on Azath Salley

Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage today directed the Colombo Crimes Division to submit a report why legal action has not been taken against Central Provincial Councillor Azath Salley and his sister.

Video: Gamini’s 19th Death Anniversary

The 19th death anniversary of Gamini Dissanayaka, a former opposition leader and a presidential candidate, was commemorated at his statue at Nelum Pokuna Mawatha today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana ???

Vaas Snr. to be indicted in the High Court

The Attorney General today informed the Appeal Court that former DIG Vaas Gunawardene would be indicted in the High Court on charges of having abducted and assaulted Malabe student Nipuna Ramanayake

Students launch protest despite court order

Despite a restraining order issued by the Balangoda District Judge, the students of the Sabaragamuwa University today launched a protest march over the destruction of free education

Cameron defends summit move amid HR concerns

David Cameron has defended the decision to attend a high-profile international summit in Sri Lanka despite his concerns over the country's human rights record

Legendary singer Manna Dey dies at 94

Playback legend Manna Dey, who was critical for long, died on Thursday morning in Bangalore. He was 94. The legendary singer was undergoing treatment for neuro-respiratory problems

Video: CHOGM to affect commercial flights

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Sri Lanka today said it would try to minimise the disruption to the scheduled commercial flights at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) when there would be VVIP flight arrivals during the CHOGM ???

Giant LED screen on Parliamentary grounds

A giant state-of-the-art LED digital screen was unveiled today in the Parliament compound under the patronage of Parliament Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. The LED screen has been installed in the Jayanythipura visitors’ car park of the parliamentary complex which would provide an uninterrupted live coverage of the debates in the parliament. Pix by pradeep Dilrukshana

Aussie PM praises SL

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has praised Sri Lanka for the support rendered in one of the major Australian national issues of human smuggling, which has drastically reduced illegal boat arrivals from Sri Lanka

UNP continues to say ‘No’ to casinos

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) said today that it would continue to oppose the Casino Bill notwithstanding the format it would be presented in

Dharmapala Vidyalaya Principal assaulted

Four people including the Principal, Vice Principal and two other teachers of Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Kottawa were allegedly assaulted by four people who pretended to be the old boys of the school a short while ago, police said.

Video: Depo-Provera destroyed by Customs

The 30,000 vials containing Depo-Provera birth control pills seized in April were destroyed today by Customs officials. The vials were imported illegally from Pakistan under a well- known German pharmaceutical brand name and were seized on April 28 by the Customs Revenue Task Force (RTF) led by Customs Director Mali Piyasena. Pix By Kushan Pathiraja

Facebook reverses stance on violent video

Facebook has removed a video of a woman being beheaded and updated its policy on graphic violence following a public outcry against the world’s largest social media website.

Devinuwara PS Opp.leader sacked

Devinuwara Pradesiya Sabah Opposition Leader Thusahara Wijesuriya has today received a letter dismissing him from his post

SC rejects C’wealth assistance in ousted CJ case

A five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court today rejected the offer of intervention, by the Commonwealth Bar Association and the House Human Rights Committee of the Bar of England and Wales,in matters of law regarding the cases against ousted Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayaka.

Kenya denies lobbying Africa to boycott CHOGM

The Kenyan government on Tuesday denied reports that it was lobbying African countries to boycott the 23rd Commonwealth Head of State Summit to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from Nov. 15 to 17, international media said.

SL’s MERS alert on KSA-bound flights

The Sri Lankan government is warning passengers heading to Saudi Arabia to take precautions against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which has infected 119 people and caused 51 deaths in the Kingdom

Gaming resort operators unfazed by impasse

The two parties who are to construct mega gaming resorts in the heart of Colombo said yesterday that they were not disturbed by the government’s delay in passing the required laws in parliament pertaining to the setting up of such resorts

More Congress leaders oppose Manmohan’s participation in CHOGM

More Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu are opposing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka

Candidates for Police Constables

A large number of youth were interviewed today at the Police Field Force Headquarters in Bambalapitiya for 500 Police Constable (PC) posts . Youth throughout the country had applied to the post eagerly participated in the interviewing procedures for the post. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja. 

JHU to continue opposition to Casino gazette

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) General Secretary and Minister Champika Ranawaka a strong opponent of the Casino Bill at this week’s Cabinet meeting, made a fervent appeal to the authorities urging them to avoid making Sri Lanka a Casino and a Heroin Hub

Video: ‘No to Casinos’

A demonstration organised by residents of Kompaniya Veediya (Slave Island) against Australian gambling tycoon James Packer and the proposed Crown Casinos was held today in Colombo. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Army Chief meets top foreign military leaders

Army Commander Daya Ratnayake, who is currently in Washington DC met several top-ranking world-wide military leaders, including the Chief of Staff of the US Army, General Raymond T. Odierno, the army said.

Kenya lobbies C'wealth summit boycott

Kenya is quietly lobbying African countries to boycott the upcoming 23rd Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka from November 15 to November 17, 2013

Royal Park murder; Death sentence affirmed

The appeal against the conviction of death sentence on Shramantha Jayamaha who was found guilty of murdering Yvonne Johannson at Royal Park in 2005 was rejected and the decision of the Court of Appeal was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court today.