ISIS threatens to kidnap Iraq’s beauty Queen Shayma Qasim

A supporter of the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) threatened to kidnap Miss Iraq, the first to be crowned since 1972, if she did not join the group’s ranks, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Kusal’s B Sample positive, may face 4-year ban

The B Sample of cricketer Kusal Janith Perera had also tested positive for banned substances and therefore, he might face a 4-year suspension from cricket, Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said today.

SL invites Saudi Arabia to set up oil refinery in H’tota

Sri Lanka has invited Saudi Arabia to set up a petroleum refinery in Hambantota, Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran has told the media in Riyadh.In addition to meeting the needs of Sri Lanka, he said such a refinery could tap markets in neighboring countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

E01 earns Rs.16mn in 24 hrs

The Southern Expressway earned a record breaking income of Rs.16 million during the last 24 hours, Highways and Higher Education Ministry said. It said the usual income of the E01 within 24 hours was only Rs.11 million.

570 prisoners released for Christmas

Five hundred and seventy inmates in prisons across the country were released today on a presidential pardon as a part of Christmas celebrations, the Prisons Department said.

Christmas teaches us lessons of kindness, charity: President

President Maithripala Sirisena in his Christmas message said Christmas symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ who assumed a powerful voice, teaching us lessons of kindness and charity that have lasted for more than 2000 years.

Birth of Jesus marked with love to all mankind: PM

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ whose life was marked by love, forgiveness and mercy to all mankind, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in his Christmas message.

Is Hirunika following her father's footsteps?"

Nava Sama Samaja Party Leader Vickramabahu Karunaratne yesterday raised doubts whether MP Hirunika Premachandra followed the footsteps of her father who he identified as a hoodlum in Kolonnawa, as she attempted to resolve disputes among mobs.

Importers welcome tax reversion on electric cars

The Vehicle Importers Association of Lanka (VIAL) today welcomed President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to withdraw the 2016-budget proposal to increase the import tax on electric vehicles by 50 percent.

We could have saved Rizana: Ranjan

Rizana Nafeek, the young housemaid who was executed in Saudi Arabia could have been saved if the current government was in power in 2013, Deputy Social Empowerment and Welfare Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said today.

HIV positive cases on the rise

The National STD/HIV Control Programme today said the number of HIV positive cases were on the rise with 2,241 HIV such patients and 21 AIDS related deaths reported in the country as at October this year.

Body of child washed ashore

The body of a three-year-old boy was washed ashore at the Dehiwela beach this evening, Police said. They said the mother of the boy had lodged a complaint with the Wellawatte Police this afternoon that the boy had gone missing from their house in Wellawatte.

Water board workers threaten TU action

The Water Supply Joint Trade Union Alliance today threatened to launch a trade union action from December 26 to 28 for not paying their annual bonus payment.

Saudi fire: No Lankan casualties

The Sri Lankan Mission in Saudi Arabia has not informed the Foreign Ministry about any Sri Lankans being injured in the fire which erupted at a hospital in Southern Saudi Arabia in the early hours of today, Ministry Spokesperson Mahishini Collonne said.

25 killed, over 100 injured in Saudi hospital fire

An overnight fire at a hospital in southern Saudi Arabia had killed at least 25 people and injured more than 100 others, the BBC reported a short while ago.

PCB finally rules out Indo-Pak series in SL

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan has told the media in Lahore today that he had finally given up hope of organising the bilateral series against India in either UAE or Sri Lanka in December-January.

Polythene use banned from Jan. 1

The law on use of plastics and polythene bags less than 20 microns of gauge would be strictly implemented from January 1, on a Presidential directive, Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry Director Anura Jayathilaka.

Mother and son jump into Nilwala River

A 35-year-old woman and her 10-year-old son are believed to have jumped into the Nilwala River from the Mahanama Bridge in Matara last night. Police and navy divers are searching for them.

2km long queue at Godagama exit on E01

A two kilometer long traffic line has blocked the Godagama exit of the Southern Expressway, the Southern Expressway officials said.

Rs.30mn fraud in Enrique concert

The Treasury Department of the Colombo Municipal Council has filed a case yesterday against the organiser of the live concert by Latin music idol Enrique Iglesias held last Sunday at the CR&FC Grounds -- for failing to pay nearly Rs. 30 million in taxes.

Hirunika questioned by CCD

MP Hirunika Premachandra was questioned by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) on Tuesday following a complaint by a 34-year-old man that he had been abducted by the MP's personal staff, Police spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

'Mahinda Gang' caused budget defeat-Nishantha

Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya’s kneeling before some provincial councillors belonging to the ‘Mahinda Gang’ led to the defeat of the health budget of Western Province presented by the Jathika Hela Urumaya, said the Western Provincial Council's Minister of Health, Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe (of the JHU), yesterday.

Abducted man tells his story

Amila Priyanga Amarasinghe, the 34-year-old man who was allegedly abducted by several supporters of UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra, said today that he did not know why he was abducted.

Dilan lashes out at Kabir Hashim

UPFA Minister Dilan Perera today lashed out at UNP General Secretary and Minister Kabir Hashim for allegedly making statements belittling previous UPFA governments.

Opposition calls for fresh budget proposals

The joint opposition today requested the government to table fresh budget proposals in Parliament in January, to enact new amendments proposed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, so as to cover the budget expenditure and lessen its deficit.

Take action against Hirunika: Gammanpila

UPFA MP Udaya Gammanpila said today that action should be taken against the “young female Parliamentarian’ in connection with the abduction of a man in Dematagoda on Monday afternoon.

Saudi Govt. commutes SL maid’s sentence

The Government of Saudi Arabia had decided not to carry out the death sentence on the Sri Lankan housemaid who was to be stoned to death for adultery, and to imprison her instead, said Acting Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva at a media briefing at the Foreign Affairs Ministry today.

Detached compartments stall Batticaloa-Colombo train

A train travelling from Batticaloa to Colombo had suddenly stalled near the railway traffic lights at the Hunupitiya Railway Station after some of compartments had got detached, the Railway Department said.

SriLankan sends plane to bring passengers stranded in Bangkok

SriLankan airlines has dispatched a plane to Bangkok to bring bank the remaining passengers because of the cancellation of a SriLankan flight from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, the airlines said.     

A commission should look into Wilpattu: Bathiudeen

A commission should be appointed to look into the Wilpattu deforestation controversy, Minister of Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said today.