Youth dies in freak accident

A 21-year-old youth was killed today when he fell from a three-storey building and landed on the iron rods projecting out of the parapet wall in Kirulapone, police said.

Hirunika posts a ‘shot in the head’ photo

A photo of the late Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, which shows a gunshot wound in the head, was posted on Facebook by his daughter UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra yesterday.

More SL women go for beer: President

President Maithripala Sirisena today lamented the fact that an increasing number of Sri Lankan women were taking to drinking beer even though it was heartening to see a decline in the smoking habit.

Lab burner explodes injuring nurse in Badulla

A staff nurse had been injured at the lab of the Badulla General Hospital following a spirit burner explosion, hospital sources said.

Jayampathy new Air Force Commander

President Maithripala Sirisena today appointed Air Vice Marshal Kapila Jayampathy as Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Assault on envoy: Lax security, corruption blamed for poor Malaysian response

An appalling lack of security at the Kuala Lumpur Airport (KLIA) and a corrupt Malaysian administration are blamed for the brutal assault on the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Malaysia, Ibrahim Sahib Ansar, by a group of local Indian Tamil radicals at airport on September 4.

MR shouldn’t seek office, but support SLFP: Duminda

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Minister Duminda Dissanayake said the SLFP, expects former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, will cooperate with the party rather than seeking office at future elections.

Parliament to undergo refurbishment

Parliament will be closed for sessions in the third week of October due to refurbishment of the buildings, informed sources said yesterday.  

Paranagama Com. recommends Int’l technical assistance and observers

The Maxwell Paranagama Presidential Commission on Missing Persons has strongly recommended in its final report that in the event of Sri Lanka were to set up a purely domestic tribunal without the participation of any foreign judges, there must be an international technical assistance and observers to ensure the acceptance of the mechanism, the Daily Mirror learns.

New legislation to restructure State Ventures: PM

The government will introduce legislation to deal with the process of converting loss making state ventures into viable entities under a new formula, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Parliament last week.  

President to address UN General Assembly

President Maithripala Sirisena is scheduled to visit New York, US to attend the 71st General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). He will address the UN General Assembly on September 21.

Disappearance of youth in custody: H'tota OIC transferred

Four police officers including the OIC of Hambantota police had been transferred pending an inquiry into the disappearance of a youth who was in police custody over a theft he allegedly involved in.

Police probe into double murder in Eravur

The police have launched an investigation into the murder of a 55-year -old woman and her 32-year-old daughter in Eravur, Batticaloa last evening, Police said.

Medical student's body found

The body of a 27-year-old medical student of Colombo University 's Medical Faculty was found in a hostel at Norris Canal Road in Colombo-10, Police said today.

16-year-old drowns in suspicious manner

A sixteen-year-old boy had allegedly drowned in Kande Ela falls in Nuwara Eliya yesterday, while he was on a picnic with his friends, the Police said.

UPFA member arrested over assault

Former UPFA member of the Kolonna Pradeshiya Sabha and two others were arrested today on charges of allegedly assaulting to a youth.

Drought affects 15,790

More than 15,790 individuals (4781 families) are facing a severe shortage of drinking water due to drought conditions in Polonnaruwa district.

Fire destroys 300 acres in Knuckles

Around 300 acres in the Knuckles mountain range was destroyed by a fire which broke out on Friday.

Bangladesh factory fire: 23 killed in Tongi

At least 23 people have been killed in a huge fire that broke out at a packaging factory in Bangladesh.

334 killings so far this year

A total of 334 killings were carried out in Sri Lanka from January to August this year, Parliament was informed yesterday. This was compared to 443 killings in 2015.

We should rise up for unity: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said today all Sri Lankans should rise up for unity just as late Anagarika Dharamapala said Sinhalese should rise to save their nation from the colonial powers.

Ranil vows to rescue country from debt trap

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today the government would rescue the country from the debt trap without leaving the challenge of resolving it to the future generations.

Severe weather advisory on strong winds

The Meteorology Department said today strong winds exceeding 60 kmph was expected in the Southern sea areas while fairly strong winds up to 50-60kmph could be expected over the island.

Northern expressway to be extended to Trinco: Kiriella

The Government has decided to extend the northern expressway up to Trincomalee via Dambulla and Habarana, Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday.

Sri Lanka national with LTTE links deported from India

The Indian police yesterday deported Sudhan Subbiah (37), a Sri Lankan national having LTTE links.

President at UNP convention today

President Maithripala Sirisena will attend the 70th UNP convention which will begin at 9.30 am today (10) at Campbell Park Colombo, under the leadership of party leader Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe .

Probe on EX-IGP Balasuriya

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) has begun an investigation against former IGP Mahinda Balasuriya for abuse of power in providing police security to eight members of People’s Freedom Front (PFF).

Australia beat Sri Lanka, sweep series

Australia overcame a late challenge by hosts Sri Lanka to win the second T20 by four wickets, at the R. Premadasa Stadium, and win the two-match series.

Finance ministry officials blocking 90% tax on Tobacco, Cigerettes

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said today certain officials in the Finance Ministry were sabotaging the government’s effort to control the use of tobacco and cigarettes by scuttling the cabinet proposal to increase tobacco tax to 90%.

AG indicts Tissa Attanayake

The Attorney General today indicted former United National Party (UNP) general secretary Tissa Attanayake in the Colombo High Court on charges of publishing a letter with forged signatures of the then common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena and the then opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe during the 2015 presidential election campaign.