SL-Aussie ODI, T20 tickets sold out

All tickets for Sunday’s 3rd ODI in Dambulla and 2nd T20 in Colombo between Sri Lanka and Australia sold out there will be no tickets at the gates, Sri Lanka Cricket said.

Bank loans at concessionary rates for ex-LTTErs

The Government has decided to grant bank loans at concessionary rates to ex-LTTE combatants for self-employment purposes, officials said today.

Drowned victims in UK named

Five best friends including two brothers drowned off Camber Sands in East Sussex, UK after being dragged away by a vicious rip tide on the hottest day of the year, Daily Mail said.

HelloCorp inquiry: Sujani Bogollagama released on strict bail conditions

Sujani Bogollagama, who was arrested by the FCID into the two cases conducted under the Money Laundering Act, was released on bail by the Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris yesterday.

Diesel production tax increased

The Government has increased the production tax on diesel by Rs. 10 per liter with effect from August 20, the Finance Ministry announced today.

Tittawella appointed SCRM Secretary

Mano Tittawella has been appointed as the Secretary General of the Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms (SCRM) with effect from March 29 this year, a statement issued by the SCRM said today.

Chemical factory catches fire in Peliyagoda

A major fire has reportedly broken out in a chemical factory at Naranminiya in Peliyagoda a short while ago, Police said.

Cache of weapons unearthed in Omanthai

A cache of weapons said to belong to the LTTE was unearthed at Palamottei in Omanthai, Police said.

Tennakoon identifies suspect who assaulted him

The suspect, who assaulted former newspaper editor Upali Tennakoon in 2009, was identified by Mr. Tennakoon and his wife today at an identification parade held at the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court.

FCID a threat to public servants: JO

The Financial Crimes Investigations Unit (FCID) has become a threat to the private sector and to public servants, the joint opposition said today.

Gammanpila case: Extracts sent to AG

The FCID today told Court that extracts of its investigations into allegations that Udaya Gammanpila and the second suspect Sidney Jayasinghe had defrauded Australian citizen Brain Shaddik of Rs.110 million using a fraudulent Power of Attorney in 1995.

Daisy Forest released on personal bond

Yoshitha Rajapaksa’s grand aunt Daisy Forest was today released by Colombo Additional Magistrate Augusta Atapattu on a personal bond in connection with the inquiry into the purchasing of a property in Mount Lavinia.

Bathiudeen questioned by PRECIFAC

Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen today arrived at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC).

Envoy rejects rumours over Lankan school closure

Sri Lankan Ambassador to Qatar, Prof (Dr) W M Karunadasa, yesterday clarified that the Stafford Sri Lankan School Doha will not be closed, as suspicion has been created in the community following a letter issued by the embassy on conducting board meetings of the school.

SL seeks Indian partner for completing Colombo port

Sri Lanka is seeking a partner from the Indian subcontinent to develop a port designed to be its deepest and accommodate the world’s largest container vessels, Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said on Thursday.

UN chief to travel SL next week

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to visit Sri Lanka from August 31st to September 2, his office announced.

PM agrees to JVP's OMP amendment

Prime Minster Ranil Wickremesinghe, yesterday, in Parliament, agreed to allow the Janatha Vimukthi Peramun (JVP) to move an amendment to the Office of Missing Persons Act later.

Suleiman's killing: PM wants report on police probe

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has requested Law Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake to submit a report to him on the way the police conducted the investigation of the abduction and killing of millionaire Mohamed Suleiman, sources said yesterday.

Brawl with Malaka: Magistrate includes Scot as suspect

Based on the concept that the law should be equal to everyone, Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris yesterday using the legal powers vested on a Magistrate, included the Scottish Engineer, who was allegedly involved in a brawl with Malaka Silva at a night club, as a suspect to the incident.

Origin of drowned men not confirmed: SL mission in UK

The five men who drowned off Camber Sands in East Sussex, England have not yet been identified as Sri Lankans, the Sri Lankan High Commission in the UK said this afternoon.

President rejects alleged corruption reported in Aussie media

President Maithripala Sirisena today rejected the news report that appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald website that he and his adviser allegedly demanded a political "donation" to be paid by the iconic Snowy Mountains Engineering Company (SMEC) when he was the Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian services in 2009.

JO urges local inquiry into Aussie reports

The joint opposition today requested President Maithripala Sirisena to call for a local investigation regarding the news reports in the Australian media involving the name of President Sirisena over a bribery investigation conducted on a company there.

Army leaves Kudiyiruppu Camp

The Army has evacuated the Kudiyiruppu Camp which was in the hands of the army for the past 26 years.

President's office will issue statement on Aussie media reports: Lakshman Yapa

The Presidential Secretariat will issue a full statement in the days to come on the news reports published in Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation among the Australian media on an alleged attempt to obtain a financial donation from an Australian company for political work by a coordinating secretary of President Maithripala Sirisena when he served as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Irrigation in 2009

Travel ban on five individuals over businessman’s killing

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris today issued a travel ban order on five individuals, who are alleged to have been involved in the abduction of the Bambalapitiya businessman whose body was found in Mawanella last night.

Five Lankans drowned in London

Five men who drowned off Camber Sands in East Sussex, England were a group of Sri Lankan friends visiting from London - but beachgoers today urged police to reveal more about their mysterious deaths.

Dilshan will retire from ODIs

TM Dilshan will retire from one day international (ODI) cricket after the third ODI between Sri Lanka and Australia on August 28 in Dambulla.

No decision to remove army camps in North: Army Commander

While denying the statement made by a parliamentarian, Army Commander Lieutenant General Crishantha de Silva said that there was no decision to remove any Army camp in the North.

Body of elderly man found in lodge at Kotahena

The body of an elderly man was found in a lodge at Kotahena last night, Police said.

Helicopter with two ministers makes emergency landing in N’ Eliya

A helicopter carrying Ministers Sajith Premadasa and Naveen Dissanayake and Deputy Minister Indika Bandaranyaka is reported to have landed in a vegetable farm at Katumana in Nuwara Eliya due to thick mist this morning.