​President to leave for France

President Maithripala Sirisena who participated in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Malta, will leave for France today to attend the United Nations Conferenceon Climate Change – 2015.

Dutch tower collapses

A 150 foot tower built by the Dutch, located at Kandawala along the Baseline Road in Katana has collapsed yesterday morning.

Eight Indian fishermen arrested in SL waters

Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Coast Guard on routine patrol arrested eight Indian fishermen and two Indian trawlers engaged in illegal fishing in the seas near Delft Island early this morning, the Navy said.

Sentenced maid Saudi: SL hires lawyers to file appeal

The Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau has hired lawyers to file an appeal on behalf of the Sri Lankan maid, who has been sentenced to death by stoning in Saudi Arabia.

BCCI unlikely to get govt nod to play in SL

The Board of Control for Cricket in India  (BCCI) is unlikely to get a formal clearance from the Union government to play Pakistan in a limited-overs series in Sri Lanka next month, NDTV Sports reported.

Indian army chief to visit SL to discuss defense ties

Army chief General Dalbir Singh kicks off on Sunday a five-day visit to Sri Lanka where he could discuss upgrading the island nation’s ageing warplanes, tanks and air defence guns as part of New Delhi’s efforts to curb China’s growing influence over Sri Lanka.

Narahenpita Crime OIC remanded

Officer in Charge of the Crime Branch of the Narahenpita Police who was nabbed by the Bribery Commission sleuths yesterday was remanded till November 30.

Shiyam’s father withdraws his statement

Mohammed Shiyam’s father today withdrew his statement which he made outside the court yesterday that former DIG Vass Gunawardena had no connection with his son’s murder.

Re-think on certain tax proposals

In the wake of widespread protests over some of the budgetary proposals such as the increase in the fees for vehicle emission tests, the government is contemplating amending the charges during the Budget debate, Daily Mirror learns.

SLAS wants vehicle permits restored

Perturbed over the withdrawl of concessionary vehicle permits, senior public servants have written to President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe urging that the circular prohibiting such vehicle permits be withdrawn and the status quo restored.

Commonwealth elects first woman Secretary General

Baroness Patricia Scotland from the UK was elected secretary general of the Commonwealth at the Commonwealth summit in Malta by leaders of the 53-nation bloc.

Student’s alleged suicide: Northern schools closed as preventive measure

All Tamil Medium Schools in the North were closed yesterday on a directive by the Provincial Ministry of Education. The Sinhala Medium Schools functioned as usual because as they had received the directive much later.

Shangri-La Hambantota Resort opens in June

Shangri-La's Hambantota Resort and Spa, the first of the two Shangri-La hotels being constructed in Sri Lanka will be declared open by early June next year, Shangri-La Hotel and Resorts Sri Lanka General Manager Mehdi Serrour said today.

Damitha Saluwadana passes away

Veteran character actress Damitha Saluwadana who had served as an actress for more than 45 years, passed away this evening.

MS to be nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

President Maithripala Sirisena is to be nominated for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize, a government minister informed Parliament.

Shiyam’s father says Vass is innocent

Mohamed Deen – who identified himself as the father of slain businessman Mohamed Shiyam, today claimed that former DIG Vass Gunawardena had no connection with his son’s murder.

Important decisions on Grade-5, GCE O/L soon: Akila

Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today the education ministry would soon take some important decisions on the Grade-five scholarship examination and the GCE O/L examination and that a new Education Act would be introduced in January.

Tri-forces ready to support police: Military Spokesman

Military Spokesman Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera today said that the three armed forces were ready to assist the police to ensure that law and order is maintained, and peace will prevail, if there are any threats to national security.

CHOGM: President emphasizes need to ensure people’s dignity

President Maithripala Sirisena said he was fully satisfied with the accomplishment of goals set at the last CHOGM in Colombo during the period of last two years when Sri Lanka was the Chair in Office of the Commonwealth.

No-confidence motion against Ravi handed over

A no-confidence motion signed by 44 Opposition MPs against Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake was handed over to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today.

Crime OIC arrested for soliciting Rs. 2.5mn bribe

Officer in Charge of the Crime Branch of the Narahenpita Police was nabbed by the Bribery Commission sleuths for soliciting a bribe of Rs. 2.5 million from a businessman a short while ago, in Kohuwala.

BC files five cases against Johnston

Five cases were filed by the Bribery Commission against former minister Johnston Fernando at the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court for failing to reveal his assets and liabilities from 2010 to 2014.

Vass, his son sentenced to death

Former DIG Vass Gunawardane, his son and four others were sentenced to death by the High Court Trial-at-Bar on charges of abducting and murdering of businessman Mohommed Shyam.

Shyam murder: Vass, his son found guilty

The High Court Trial-at-Bar has found former DIG Vass Gunawardane, his son and four others guilty of the charges of abduction and murder of businessman Mohommed Shyam.

Protest causes traffic congestion at Borella

Traffic congestion was reported in Borella because of a protest march by the Inter University Bikkhu Federation (IUBF) and Inter University Students Federation (IUSF).

Gamini Wijesinghe is new AG

Gamini Wijesinghe was today appointed as Auditor General (AG), Presidential Media Unit said.

India buys time to respond to Sethusamudram case

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Thursday has warned the NDA government against reviving the UPA's Rs 25,000 crore Sethusamudram channel project, which was meant to make Palk Strait navigable for bigger ships to save them from circling Sri Lanka while travelling from India's one coast to the other, the Economic Times said.

Kumar Gunaratnam further remanded

Frontline Socialist Party's polit-bureau member Kumar Gunaratnam was further remanded till December 11 by the Kegalle Magistrate’s Court today.

Restraining order on IUBF and IUSF protest

Kaduwela Magistrate today issued a restraining order on the Inter University Bikkhu Federation (IUBF) and Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) preventing the entry of a protest march by them into the parliament road from Polduwa Junction, police said.

Bird hits Srilankan flight, grounded for hours in Tiruchi

A Sri Lankan Airlines flight (UL131) from Colombo to Tiruchi had suffered a bird hit while landing at the Tiruchi Airport this morning.