Most trusted employee planned businessman's murder: Police

The mastermind behind the abduction and murder of 29-year-old textile businessman Mohammed Sakeem Sulaiman, was long standing ‘intimate’ employee (accounts assistant) at Sakeem’s textile business, DIG Ajith Rohana said today.

Tickets issuing tomorrow for SL-Aussie 5th ODI

Two thousand tickets of Rs. 100/- would be sold tomorrow at Kandy District Cricket Association office at Asgiriya Cricket Stadium from 10 am onwards, Sri Lanka Cricket today announced.

Injury rules Mathews out of Australia tour

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews will miss the rest of his side’s tour of Australia after sustaining a calf injury, with the final one-day international of the series set to be played at Pallekele on Sunday.

JO to boycott SLFP’s 65th anniversary

The joint opposition said today it had unanimously decided to boycott the 65th anniversary celebrations of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to be held in Kurunegala on September 04.

Samaraweera named Bangladesh batting consultant

Bangladesh today named former Sri Lankan cricketer Thilan Samaraweera as their batting consultant for next month's home series against England.

Fast track the return home of displaced people: UNSG

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, today urged the Government to fast track the releasing of land while reducing the size of the military in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

MS briefs UN Chief on programmes implemented to strengthen reconciliation

President Maithripala Sirisena briefed the visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon about the steps taken by the government with regard to constitutional reforms, devolution and structural reforms when he met the UN Chief at President’s House today.

Businessman abduction: Van recovered

The van which was allegedly used to abduct 29-year-old Bambalapitya businessman Sakeem Sulaiman was recovered at Kotahena this morning, Police said.

Website hackers released on bail

The two suspects who were remanded on charges of hacking President Maithripala Sirisena’s official website were released on bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today.

Give me time: President to UN Chief

President Maithripala Sirisena said today he had informed UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon that Sri Lanka needed more time to move slowly since it had come out of a long conflict.

Lankan detained with fake Indian passport

A Sri Lankan national was detained at the Pune international airport on Thursday morning for allegedly using a fake Indian passport in his bid to fly out of the country to Germany.

South African President on transit in SL

South African President Jacob Zuma arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on transit early this morning, Airport sources said.

Accident kills four in Galewela

Three adults and a four-year-old child were killed in a head on collision between a bus and a van in Galewela this morning, Police said.

India hails SL role in ensuring security in region

India appreciates the role played by Sri Lanka in ensuring security of the Indian Ocean region, Indian State Minister of Foreign Affairs Sri M J Akbar said today.

Youth involvement crucial for SL’s social justice: UN Chief

Visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, today, emphasised the importance of the involvement of young people and women in peacebuilding approaches to ensure sustainable social justice, especially in post-conflict countries like Sri Lanka.

Man injured in hand grenade explosion

A man was injured in an explosion suspected to be of a hand grenade this evening at a sawmill in Ranala at Nawagamuwa, Police said.

Educational policies should be taken by Govt not by students: Kiriella

Decisions with regard to educational policies should be taken by the Government and not the students, Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella said today.

Explosion at Kennedy Space Center ahead of rocket launch

There has been an explosion on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US where the aerospace company SpaceX was readying an unmanned rocket for launch, BBC said today.

Young website hacker might get pardon: Minister

President Maithripala Sirisena will pardon the young website hacker, the 17 year old schoolboy who allegedly entered to the presidential website illegally and hacked it last week, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said today.

Three sentenced to death in Hambantota

Three people were sentenced to death by the Hambantota Provincial High Court on charges of having murdered a man in Ambalantota on January 23, 1993.

13 Indians test positive for zika In Singapore

Thirteen Indian nationals have tested positive for the Zika virus in Singapore, the Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed to NDTV.

Uni. students who attacked police to be arrested

Police are conducting investigations to identify the university students who are alleged to have attacked the police personnel during the protest march yesterday, police said.

Wimal’s brother arrested

Joint opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa’s brother, Sarath Weerawansa was arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) a short while ago on charges of misusing state vehicles.

Two arrested over Sulaiman killing

The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) today arrested two suspects aged 22 and 23 in connection with the abduction and killing of 29-year-old Bambalapitya businessman Sakeem Sulaiman .

Another weapon recovered from Diyawannawa

A pistol allegedly used by the suspect military officer in the recent shooting at Aturugiriya where his wife was killed was recovered last morning from the Diyawannawa Lake near the Japanese Friendship Bridge by Aturugiriya police with the help of the army and the Navy.

Three 'protest' petitions handed over to UN

The Joint Opposition, the collective of National Organizations headed by Ven. Akmeemana Dayarathna Thera and Ven. Iththe Kande Saddhatissa Thera and the Janasetha Peramuna today handed over three petitions to the United Nations (UN) office in Colombo to be handed over to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging the international community not to interfere in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka.

Arrest warrants issued again on Indika, Iresha

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris today issued arrest warrants on Indika Karunajeewa and Iresha Silva again over the two cases conducted under money laundering Charges against Namal Rajapaksa and five others over alleged purchasing of Hello Corp shares.

Gota, six others noticed to appear in Court

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Nissanka Senadipathi and six others were noticed to appear in court on September 30 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya in connection with the case filed by the Bribery Commission.

PM, MR leave for Singapore, Malaysia

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe left for Singapore and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa left for Malaysia from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) a short while ago.

China ready to pump in over US $ 5bn in FDIs: envoy

China’s top diplomat in the country yesterday said that the world’s second largest economy is prepared to commit over US $ 5 billion in foreign direct investments (FDIs) over the medium to long term for special economic zones, if the Sri Lankan government is prepared to authorize them.