Ex-LTTE key man Balraj’s brother dies

Mahaguruge Nelson Francis (38) a brother of former senior LTTE cadre, Balraj died in the Welikada prison due to a cardiac arrest on September 02

Govt. apologises for Mervyn’s indecent proposal

The government for the first time conceded that the marriage proposal made by Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanetham Pillay was indecent.

Tamils should not expect India to intervene-Swamy

Former union minister and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy today said that ‘Tamils should forget that India will ever again intervene in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka, except to raise issues of bilateral agreements and treaty obligations in a friendly way of a cohort and within the SAARC and UN framework.’

India to supply two naval warships to SL

India is planning to supply two naval warships to Sri Lanka to strengthen its capabilities to guard its maritime boundaries, the Press Trust of India reported today

Contaminated mineral water found in Pettah

Several substances deemed unsuitable for human consumption such as grease and oil were found inside mineral water bottles sold in Pettah following a raid carried out by the Consumer Affairs Authority, CAA Chairman Rumy Marzook said today

Campaign Intensifying

With the Northern Provincial Council elections drawing near and the campaign intensifying with the postal voting due to take place next week, supporters of political parties seen distributing hand bills in the Kilinochchi town. Pix by Samantha Perera

Principal arrested for sexual Bribery

Bribery officers today arrested the Principal of Kottawa Ananda College when he was allegedly soliciting a sexual bribe from a woman who wanted to admit her son to grade one next year

Video: Racist political campaign raises its head: JVP

JVP parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today the government had created an atmosphere where the Tamils had to seek the assistance of the West or India if they were to obtain something from the government

Death sentence for killing wife

A man found guilty of murdering his wife on May 21, 1992 by setting fire to the vehicle she was in, was sentenced to death by the Panadura High Court Judge Kusala Sarojani Weerawardana today

Tiles turn into fags

Customs officers today seized a haul of foreign cigarettes, believed to be worth around Rs. 9.2 million, illegally imported to the country as ceramic tiles. The container, which held the cigarettes was registered under the names of several Sri Lankan migrant workers and was opened on a suspicion by the Central Disposal Unit in Orugodawatta this morning. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Two corpses found in Wellawaya

Two unidentified female bodies were found in Kudaoya, Wellawaya today, police said. The Wellawaya police station had deployed a special police team to investigate into the incident and ascertain the cause of death

UN says it supports Pillay’s work in SL

The United Nations on Wednesday said it was ‘fully supportive of the work that UN Rights Chief Navanethem Pillay was doing while she was on the ground in Sri Lanka.’

Video: Honest ministers exposing ‘dishonest’ deals: UNP

The United National Party (UNP) today said the corruption within the government was to such an extent that some ministers who could not bear it had started leaking documents dealing with corrupt deals to the UNP so that they could bring it to the attention of the public

Cobra girl asks Court to acquit her

Lawyers appearing for ‘cobra girl’ Nirosha Wimalaratne submitted court today that their client be discharged and acquitted from the case

Water, water

People in Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Vavuniya Districts are facing difficulty in finding drinking water these days due to the drying up of wells in the area. Most people in these areas are suffering from kidney disease as well. Pix by Romesh Madushanka

Exorcist dies during ritual

A 32-year old English teacher of a government school who was also an exorcist who performed rites in a deep pit to dispel the spirits that haunted a house in Godigamuwa off Maharagama last night was found dead when the pit was opened. Pictures

Two Lankans nabbed with gold at BIA

Two Sri Lankans were arrested while attempting to smuggle gold bars to Chennai and Singapore this morning by the Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Customs Director and media spokesman Leslie Gamini said

SL court orders release as 34 fishermen plead guilty

For the first time since Sri Lanka changed the procedure to deal with arrested Indian fishermen, 34 of them have pleaded guilty in a Sri Lankan court, of transgressing into the waters of the island nation

CB spotlight was on CIFL says Govt.

The Central Bank ordered the Central Investment Finance Ltd. (CIFL) on numerous occasions to rectify its shortcomings in financial management, the government said in Parliament today

Video: Pillay keen to entangle us in an Int’l net: NFF

National Freedom Front (NFF) spokesman Mohammed Muzammil said today UNHRC Chief Navi Pillay made a visit to the country not to address issues of minorities but to entangle us in an international net ???

SL concerned over alleged chemical attack in Syria

The Sri Lankan government said today it was deeply concerned about media reports on the alleged use of chemical weapons near Damascus in Syria. It was said to have resulted in a large number of civilian casualties

Testimony of faith at Nallur

The Annual Ther (Chariot) Festival of Nallur Sri Kandaswamy Temple was celebrated today in grand style. Following the Vasantha Mandapa Poojas conducted at 5 a.m. the deities of Sri Murugan with His consorts Valli and Deivayanai were paraded. Thousands of devotees, from all over the Island, as well as from foreign countries took part in the festival this year.  Pix by S.K. Prasath

CJ 43 to boycott Bribery Commission hearings

Chief Justice 43 Shirani Bandaranayake informed the Bribery Commission today that she would not present herself before the Commission in the future, as she did not trust the integrity of the process and the Commissioners

Video: Shout against private universities

Aesthetic University Students held a demonstration today calling for abolishment of the gazette notice authorizing the setting up of private universities in the country. Pix by Nisal Baduge

UK PM to attend CHOGM

British Prime Minister David Cameron and his foreign secretary William Hague will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Sri Lanka in November, the foreign secretary said.

Video: Won’t take advantage of Pillay’s statement: UNP

The UNP today said it was disappointed and displeased over the statement made by UN Human Right High Commissioner on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, but assured it would not use the statement for political advantage ???

Vaas granted bail in threat case

Former DIG Vaas Gunawardana was granted bail today by the Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage in connection with the threatening of CID officers

Ten Lankans held for illegal fishing in Indians waters

Ten Sri Lankan fishermen, who were arrested by the Indian Coast Guard in two different incidents for allegedly entering Indians waters illegally and fishing last month, have been handed over to police.

Man banned with illegal gold

A 40-year-old Indian national who attempted to smuggle several pieces of rough gold weighing 477g worth Rs. 2.7 million to Delhi was arrested this morning by Customs officers at the BIA, Customs Director and media spokesman Leslie Gamini said

TNA manifesto calls for North-East merger

The TNA has called for the merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces in its manifesto presented yesterday for the Northern Provincial Council election