Force Sri Lanka to end HR abuses: AI

Diplomats from Commonwealth countries meeting in London Thursday must push Sri Lanka to end its crackdown on human rights defenders, Amnesty International said

Seeking Blessings on Vap Poya Day

Devotees at the Warana Raja Maha Viharaya in Gampaha are seen taking part in religious observances on Vap Full Moon Poya day which marks the despatch of the first sixty disciples by the Buddha on missionary work. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Ratmalana Airport to be used to park planes during CHOGM

The Ratmalana Airport would be kept ready to accommodate international flights during the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) Summit if and when it is needed, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka said yesterday

Packer confident in SL's future

Australian tycoon James Packer on Friday said he plans to pump Aus$400 million (US$384 million) into a five-star gambling resort in Sri Lanka, cashing in on the country's tourism potential

Sigh of relief for Lanka as US raise debt ceiling

The deal between US President and the Senate to increase the country’s debt ceiling has come as a sigh of relief for Sri Lanka which has invested an amount of its foreign reserves in US treasury bonds, a minister said yesterday

Video: BBS wants Defence Ministry to take over Archaeological Department

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) on Thursday accused the Archaeological Department of destroying artefacts and urged that they be placed under the purview of the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development.

DP to boycott CHOGM

The Democratic Party (DP) Leader Sarath Fonseka said today that his party would boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November stating the intention of holding the summit was not to benefit the people but to grab commissions from taxes paid by the public

No seniors charged for Noori terror

No Senior Police officers in charge of the Deraniyagala area had been charge sheeted yet for the alleged atrocities committed during 2005 and 2013, Police said today

Twins drown

Eight year old twins from Alpitiya drowned in Menik Ganga near the Sella Kataragama this evening, Kataragama Hospital sources said

Religious leaders protest

Religious leaders today warned that they would be compelled to take to the streets on the day when Parliament takes up the debate on new regulations under Strategic Development Act under which tax holidays were to be given to casino projects. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Get ready for big rains

Showers with thunder and lightning with strong winds is expected in the country due an atmospheric disturbance, the Meteorological Department said today.

Flash flood in Balapitya

A flash flood had been reported in the Balapitiya town and suburbs due to the heavy rain since last morning. The Galle-Colombo main road was inundated and the all the by-roads were blocked. Pix by Yasas Mendis

For a greener Western Province

A discussion on the traditional agricultural industries was held today at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo under the guidance of Western Province Agricultural Affairs Ministers Udaya Gammanpila. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

LTTE cadre pleads guilty in US for arms procuring

Seven years after he was arrested by the RCMP in Toronto, a Canadian man has pleaded guilty in New York to conspiring to buy anti-aircraft missiles for Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers

Video: Wigneswaran gets all

Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran took oaths before President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his ministry portfolios a short while ago, Media Spokesman to the President Mohan Samaranayake said PICTURES

Obama signs bill to raise debt limit, reopen government

After shutting down the U.S. government for 16 days and driving the nation toward the brink of default, a chastened Congress voted late Wednesday to reopen federal agencies, call hundreds of thousands of civil servants back to work and raise the $16.7 trillion debt limit

UK policy on Sri Lanka timid and inconsistent, say MPs

A UK parliamentary committee has accused the government of timid and inconsistent policy towards Sri Lanka, where it says there are "continuing human rights abuses"

Protests may force PM to skip Commonwealth meet

With voices of protest against India's participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo next month growing louder, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to skip the summit.

Highland milk powder price up

The price of a 400 gram packet of Highland milk powder has been increased by Rs. 15, the Milco Company said. Accordingly the new price of a 400 gram packet will be Rs. 325.

Ven. Theripehe Siridhamma Thera sacked

The patron of the “Siyane Jalaya Surakeeme Jana Neguma,” Ven. Theripehe Siridhamma Thera, had been asked to resign that position, Convener of the organization Pramitha Hettiarachchi said on Wednesday at a media conference held at the “Sanasa” Hall in Gampaha.

US Senate reaches deal to end shutdown

Senate leaders announced on Wednesday that they have reached a deal to end the government shutdown and avoid a possible U.S. default, NBC reported.

Meeting of Indian and SL fishermen reps soon: Narayanasamy

In the backdrop of repeated attacks on Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities and the heat it generated in Tamil Nadu, the Centre plans to organize a meeting of fishermen representatives of both the countries to find an amicable solution over fishing in Palk Strait, minsiter of state in PMO V. Narayanasamy said today

Getting fit

Presidential guard unit of the Sri Lanka army are seen doing their exercises at Galle Face Green today after a 16-kilometre jog.  Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

MSD vehicle mishap injures Three PCs, woman

Three Ministerial Security Division Police Constables providing security to Minister Segu Dawood and a woman were injured when a back up vehicle in the minister’s security detail ran off the road last night and crashed into the fence of a livestock farm at Gallella in Polonnaruwa on the Colombo – Batticaloa road

Police want Ranil’s secretary

The Police Department was searching for UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Secretary Sudath Chandrasekera and a former opposition leader of the Western Provincial Council, Kithsiri Kahatapitiya to arrest over the attack on the Matara protest on October 5, Police spokesman said today.

Britain demands 'concrete progress' on SL rights

Britain's top envoy to Sri Lanka Wednesday announced the British government will use next month's Commonwealth summit to pressure host Colombo to make "concrete progress" on human rights and probe alleged war crimes.

Decorations for CHOGM

Roundabouts in the Colombo City are being decorated for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Muslims urged to avoid animal sacrifices on Poya day

Sri Lankan Muslim clerics are encouraging worshippers to refrain from offering animal sacrifices a day after Eid Al Adha celebrations which coincides with the Buddhists religious Poya day

Four SSPs, five SPs transfered

Four SSPs and five SPs have been transferred on the orders of the Secretary to the Ministry of Law & Order based on exigencies of service, police said

Four detained under NSA for duping 15 SL Tamils

Four men, including three Sri Lankan Tamils, arrested last month by the ‘Q’ branch personnel in Coimbatore for duping 15 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees from various camps, have been detained under the National Security Act (NSA)