Lightning kills two farmers

Two farmers were killed and two others injured when a bolt of lightning struck Koongaspitiya in Siyambalanduwa last evening.

Vehicle permits restored for exec. grade state employees

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament today that public servants would be given a permit to import a vehicle once in ten years.

Cabinet approves Right to Information Bill-PM

The Cabinet has approved the Right to Information Bill yesterday, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe informed Parliament this morning.

Sajin’s request to go abroad rejected

Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today rejected the application filed by the former UPFA MP Sajin Vass Gunawardane requesting permission to go overseas.

Gota, two Ex- navy commanders report to PRECIFAC

Former defense secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and two former navy commanders arrived at the PRECIFAC a short while ago to give a statement over the Rakna Arakshaka Lanka controversy.

Veteran actor Sunil Hettiarachchi no more

A well-known comedian and character actor Sunil Hettiarachchi passed away this morning at the age of 78. He was born in 1937

Gunmen kill 14 inside San Bernardino, California

Police said there was an "active shooter" incident in the city of San Bernardino and confirmed there were between one and three possible suspects who were 'heavily armed' and believed to be wearing body armour.

Lankans arrested over kidnap case in Japan

Police arrested three Sri Lankan and four Japanese men Wednesday on suspicion of kidnapping a Sri Lankan man living in Kanagawa Prefecture to force his brother to pay the victim’s debt.

Old woman kept locked in toilet

A feeble 71 year-old woman -- the mother of two daughters -- was taken into custody by the Meetiyagoda Police yesterday after it was discovered that she was kept locked up in a toilet in her eldest daughter’s home in Diddeliya, Meetiyagoda.

Yasara gets engaged to Fazil

Former Head of Channel at the Carlton Sports Network, Yasara Abeynayake, daughter of veteran film director Ananda Abeynayake, got engaged to former Sri Lanka Rugby 7s captain and Kandy Sports Club skipper Fazil Marija in a simple ceremony.

No elephant births in captivity reported for 6 yrs-Wild Life

Not a single elephant birth has been reported and no elephant registration had taken place from 2009 to 2013, Wild Life Conservation Department said today. Consequently, Wild Life Department officials are not aware of the number of calves that were born during the past six years.

Govt. aiming for 9 % growth by 2030

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today the government was aiming to achieve a 9% growth by 2030 and though the task could be termed difficult it was not an impossible task.

Phone going off inside Court is not contempt of court: HCLA

Commenting on a case filed against former solicitor general and President Counsel Rienzie Arsakularatne, whose mobile phone had reportedly rung inside the Galle High Court, the Hultsdorp High Court Lawyers’ Association (HCLA) today affirmed that when a phone rings inside a Court room it could not be considered a Contempt of Court as the occurrence was an involuntary act.

Chennai airport closed until noon on Sunday

With no end to rains in Chennai and water logging on the runway, the Airports Authority of India has suspended operations in the city's airport until noon on Sunday.

Two traffic cops assaulted

Two Traffic Policemen attached to the Athurugiriya Police were hospitalised after being assaulted this evening by four men in a trishaw when they ordered the trishaw to stop.

Chennai floods: no report of Sri Lankan affected so far

The Foreign Affairs Ministry said today that they had not received any intimation of any Sri Lankan stranded in Chennai due to the floods so far, and that if there were any persons stranded there they would be taken care of.

President thanks all who voted for budget

President Maithripala Sirisena today thanked all the government and opposition members who contributed to pass the 2016 Budget in parliament.

More expressways to ease congestion: Sudarshini

Several expressways had been proposed to be built in the Western Province to bypass the Colombo city to ease the day-to-day traffic congestions, the City Planning and Water Supply State Minister Sudarshini Fernandopulle said today.

Second reading of budget passed

Second reading of the budget 2016 passed in Parliament with a majority of 107 votes when the vote was taken a short while ago.

SF challenges Wijeyadasa over Avant Garde

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka today challenged Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to reveal if he had any sort of connection with Avant Garde owner within the next 48 hours.

School vacation from Friday: Next term on Jan 4

The third term vacation for all the government and private schools would commence on December 4, the Education Ministry announced today.The first term of the 2016 would begin on January 4.  

Strict control over use of police uniform

A recent advertisement featuring a Policeman has made the Police Department to strictly enforce the existing laws, which require the entertainment industry to request permission for the use of the Police Uniform.

GL warns on national security

Former External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris today warned that terrorism would raise its head again if the government continued with its actions which were harmful to the national security.

Indian SC blocks release of Gandhi’s killers

The Indian Supreme Court has blocked the release of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s killers on Wednesday, saying the Tamil Nadu government had no power to remit their sentences without the Centre’s consent, Hindustan Times reported.

Pillayan remanded

Former Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, who was detained over the murder of former MP Joseph Pararajasingham, was remanded until December 16 by the Batticaloa Magistrate Court today.

Doctors to strike tomorrow

All government doctors have decided to launch an island wide strike starting at 8 am tomorrow demanding the authorities to restore the duty-free vehicle permit concession, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) announced.

Chennai airport flooded, SriLankan cancels flights

Heavy rains lashed the southern Indian city of Chennai on Monday and Tuesday, closing the Chennai International Air Port.

Narahenpita OIC transferred

Six Officers-In-Charge of the Police (OIC) including the OIC of the Narahenpita Police have been transferred with immediate effect, the Police said today.

Duty-free vehicle permits: UNP MPs prefer cash grant

Most of the United National Party (UNP) MPs have objected to the withdrawal of the duty- free vehicle permits which had been earlier issued to MPs and professionals and instead sought a cash grant for all categories, it is learnt.

Chulananda Perera is new Customs DG

Former Immigration and Emigration Controller Chulananda Perera has been appointed as the New Director General of Customs, Customs Spokesman Leslie Gamini said.