Video: OMG! I’m scared

The scholarship exam for Grade five students commenced this morning at 2,836 examination centres.  Picture shows students were waiting to enter an examination centre. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: I have not come here to criticize-Pillay

The visiting United Nations Human Rights Chief Navaneetham Pillay told the media today that she came to Sri Lanka not to criticise but to assess the human rights situation in the country.

Army refutes allegations, denounces heist

While deploring the fact that some parties were trying to implicate the Army in the alleged robbery that took place at the Bambalapitiya residence of a senior journalist

Saudi Lawyer to represent murdered SL woman

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh has hired a Saudi lawyer to plead the case for a Sri Lankan woman who was allegedly killed by her American husband in the Kingdom

Video: MR inspects Colombo-Katunayake Highway

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on his way to Belarus this morning inspected the Colombo-Katunayake Highway, the President’s office said. The President held talks with officers involved with the road construction as well.

Pillay in Colombo

United Nations Human Rights Chief Navaneethan Pillay who arrived in the country this morning, is seen here on her arrival at the Cinnamon Lakeside hotel, Colombo, where she will be staying. (Pix by Kushan Pathiraja)

Pillay arrives

United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Navaneethan Pillay arrived in the country a short while ago on a week-long official tour

Tense situation in Matugama

A tense situation prevailed near Sri Kaali Amman Kovil in St. George estate, Yatadola at Matugama a short  while ago when a organisation called ‘Matugama Bodu Bala Defending Organisation’ entered the area in protest of an animal sacrifice ritual organized by the Kovil

Video: MR leaves for Belarus

President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning left the country on a three-day official visit to Republic of Belarus, Government Information Department said

SL keen to expand economic relations with Pakistan

External Affair Prof GL Peiris Minister called on Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday in Islamabad and discussed areas of economic cooperation and explored ways to enhance bilateral trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar said that the present volume of trade between the two countries does not reflect the depth and close relations between the two countries.

SL welcomes Madras Café

'Madras Café, a movie set in the backdrop of the Lankan insurgency of the 1990s has found place at a movie hall in Colombo, while in Tamil Nadu, no theatre is willing to screen the same – not even after the reported assurance from the Police Commissioner of Chennai.

Gang storms journalist's house

A member of a robber gang, who attempted to rob the house of journalist Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema in Bambalapitiya, was killed when police opened fire at the gang in the early hours today, police said.

Indian Court restrains govt from deporting Lankan

Madras High Court today restrained authorities from deporting a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee to the island nation.

Defence advisors meet Army Chief

Several foreign military officers Friday (23) morning paid courtesy calls on the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake at the Army Headquarters.

New STF personnel

Nearly 403 personnel including 24 women constables recruited to the Special Task Force (STF) today passed out after a course of comprehensive training in Katukurunda. Pic by Pradeep Dilruckshana

Three injured in expressway accident

Three people including a 19-month-old infant its mother and sister were injured when the jeep they were travelling in toppled near the Dodangoda exit on the Southern Expressway.

Enjoining order against Fonterra vacated

Representatives of Fonterra Brands Lanka (Pvt) Limited were seen at the Gampaha District Court today where the enjoining order issued against Fonterra Brands Lanka (Pvt) Limited preventing the company from releasing, distributing or advertising its products was vacated. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Order against Fonterra lifted

The Gampaha District Court today vacated the enjoining order issued against Fonterra Brands Lanka (Pvt) Limited which prevented the company from releasing, distributing or advertising its products.

UN rights chief stays open-minded ahead of Sri Lanka trip

The United Nations human rights chief said on Friday she has an “open mind” and will not be “pre-judging anything” ahead of her first trip to Sri Lanka, which is under growing pressure from the international community to address alleged war crimes.

Video: Increase salaries of workers: UNP

The United National Party (UNP) today said the government should increase salaries of employees in both the government and private sectors because of the rapidly increasing cost of living.

Pakistan to further broaden ties with Sri Lanka: PM

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Friday said that Pakistan values its relations with Sri Lanka which were characterized by cordiality and friendship and desired to further deepen and broaden these ties through regular contacts and exchange of visits

Vaas threatening detectives: CID

Ex-DIG Vaas Gunawardhana was today ordered to be produced in court on August 26 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate for allegedly threatening investigating officers inquiring into the killing of Mohamed Shiyam

President Rajapaksa to visit Belarus

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will leave for Belarus on Sunday for a three-day official visit.

New Ministry set up under MR

A new ministry to be known as the Ministry of Law and Order had been set up under President Mahinda Rajapaksa in keeping with the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), informed sources said

Video: Fire at CEB warehouse

A fire has been reported from the warehouse of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), in Kolonnawa a short while ago. Pictures

Pay more for potatoes and big onions

The Ministry of Finance and Planning today announced that import duty on potatoes and big onions had been increased by five rupees

Bharti Airtel in talks to sell its Lankan operations to Etisalat

Bharti Airtel, the world's fourth largest telecom operator by subscribers, is in advanced discussions to sell off its Sri Lankan operations to Abu Dhabi's Etisalat, said two persons aware of the development

Fonterra suspends operations in SL

Fonterra has temporarily suspended its consumer operations in Sri Lanka blaming the current ''unstable situation'' for the company

‘Madras Café’ banned in Tamil Nadu today

John Abraham starrer and Soojit Sarkar’s directed ‘Madras Cafeé’ faces the heat of the Tamil Nadu students, activists and political parties. The film will see the light of the day today in every part of India except Tamil Nadu.

Man nabbed while renewing passport

A man was detained by the state Immigration Department for attempting to renew his international passport by using the photograph of a Sri Lankan national who resembled him