Will strengthen national economy: President

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said that he would commit himself to strengthen the national economy and to eliminate poverty in the country with the dawn of the New Year.

Fire engulfs Dubai's high-rise Address hotel

Firefighters battled a blaze that engulfed a luxury hotel in Dubai Thursday night while a spectacular New Year's fireworks display lit up the night sky nearby.

SL Economic Forum on Jan.7

The Sri Lanka Economic Forum in which the government’s agenda for economic prosperity 2023 is to be discussed, will get off the ground on January 7 in Colombo with the participation of George Soros and Prof Joseph Stiglitz , the organizing committee said yesterday.

Two factories on fire on New Year’s Eve

Two factories in Ja Ela and Kiribathgoda were gutted by fires last night that caused extensive damage to their property. A fire broke out at the Nagindas Garment Factory in Ekala, Ja Ela at around 7.30pm yesterday.

Wimal will end up in a garbage dump: Dayasiri

Rejecting the ‘hopper revolution’ remark made by MP Wimal Weerawansa on Wednesday, Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said today that the former would end up in a garbage dump for bringing up rotten issues.

One killed, three injured in car-train collision

A woman was killed and another three injured when the car they were travelling collided with a train plying from Katunayake to Kolonnawa at the Railway crossing at Halpe in Kandana this afternoon, Police said.

Three including 2 cops shot at in Kelaniya

Two policemen and a car driver who were shot at by a man at Bulugaha Junction in Kelaniya were admitted to the National Hospital this afternoon, Police said.They said a car and a lorry had collided at the junction before the police officers arrived at the scene.

Johnston allowed to go to Singapore for wife's treatment

Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today permitted Former Cabinet Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade Johnston Fernando to go to Singapore with his wife from January 4 to 7 to take treatment to his wife.

Jaffna peninsula under threat from rising sea levels: Minister

Scientists had warned that the Jaffna Peninsula might be obliterated from the Sri Lankan map due to rising sea level and the polluted underground water, a Provincial Council Minister told the Daily Mirror today.

AG seeks visuals of Hirunika’s news briefing

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today ordered the television stations which covered UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra’s news briefing -- on the abduction of a man at Dematagoda -- to hand over their video footage to the Police.

High speed internet won’t be affected: Harin

High speed internet access in Sri Lanka would not be affected and instead, the Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Ministry was taking measures to increase the internet speed through FBH (Fiber to Home), Minister Harin Fernando said yesterday.

1,000 bikers killed in 2015

A total of 1,000 motorbike riders and passengers had been killed in fatal accidents this year, the Police said today.They said a majority of deaths had been reported in accidents which had occurred when motorbikes had collided with other vehicles.

WPC budgets passed unanimously

Budget allocation for the ministries under the purview of the Western Provincial Council Including its Health Ministry was passed unanimously today.

Pakistan to sell JF-17 aircraft to SL

Pakistan is expected to secure an agreement for the sale of the JF-17 Thunder Aircraft during Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit in Sri Lanka in the first week of January 2016, IHS Jane's Defence Weekly reported on Tuesday.

29 Indian fishermen arrested by SL Navy

Sri Lanka Navy has assisted the Sri Lanka Coast Guard to arrest 29 Indian fishermen along with three fishing trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan waters in the Northeast of Kokilai on Wednesday.

12 police transfers with immediate effect

Twelve police officers including three Chief Inspectors and nine Police Inspectors were transferred with immediate effect due to requirement of the service, the police media division said today.

Port City final decision on Jan.6

Sri Lanka and China are set to take a final decision on the proposed Colombo Port City as well as several other development projects at a top-level meeting to be held on January 6 between a high powered Chinese delegation and the Sri Lankan government.

No troubled water over bridge

The plan to construct a bridge connecting Sri Lanka and India will suffer the same fate as the Sethu Samurdram project due to environmental issues, a minister said yesterday.

Govt. wasting money on "hopper revolution"- Wimal

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa said today that the government was making arrangements to waste people’s money on celebrations to mark the ‘hopper revolution’ in January.

I was removed for voicing against corruption: Nishantha

JHU Spokesman and former Western Province Health Minister Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said today he was removed from his ministerial portfolios in an act of political revenge because he had lodged complaints with the Bribery Commission and other law enforcements agencies against corrupt politicians in the previous government.

End of the road for high speed internet in SL?

In a bizarre turn of events, the newly appointed Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC), Sunil S. Sirisena has decided to discontinue the National Broadband Initiative (NBI), which ensured high speed broadband internet access to citizens at affordable prices, Mirror Business learns.

Entire House to be a Select Committee

Parliament will be converted to a Select Committee which will be responsible for drafting the new constitution, Constitutional Committee Adviser and MP Jayampathy Wickramaratne said today.

Joint opp. warns of Constitutional coup

The Joint Opposition today charged that there was a ‘Constitutional Coup’ backed by the western countries and that’s what had made the government to introduce a new Constitution.

Action against Hirunika if guilty: Minister

Disciplinary action will be taken against UNP parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra if she is found guilty of being involved in the recent abduction drama, a senior minister said today.

CMC blacklists Enrique’s concert organisers

The Colombo Municipality today blacklisted the Company, Live Events which organised the Enrique Iglesias concert at the CR&FC Grounds. The main stakeholders of the company are former cricketing stars Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardane.

Fmr IGP Indra de Silva passes away

Former IGP Indra de Silva had passed away today at the age of 71 while undergoing treatment at the Police Hospital.He had been receiving treatment at the hospital for an illness and had died on admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

GCE A/L results release postponed

Releasing of results of the GCE A/L Examinations held in August has been postponed till January 3, 2016, the Examinations Department announced.

Heavy traffic near WTC

Heavy traffic was reported near the World Trade Centre in Fort as a result of a protest by Joint Union of Port Transport workers against the increase of the vehicle entrance fee to the Colombo Harbour, Police said.

Kolonnawa UC Chairman remanded over assault charges

Colombo Additional Magistrate Augusta Atapattu today criticised the Wellampitiya Police and remanded the Kolonnawa UC Chairman till January 4 on charges of assaulting the participants of a peaceful picket against the garbage dumping in Kolonnawa by the Colombo Municipality.

Namal asked to report to CCD today

UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa has been asked to report to the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) today to give a statement, the details are still unknown, sources said.