Soma Edirisinghe passes away

Chairperson of the EAP Group of companies and prominent entrepreneur Soma Edirisinghe (76) passed away at a private hospital this morning.

A/L student files rights petition against police

The schoolboy who was arrested on suspicion with the Seya Sadewmi’s murder in Kotadeniyawa, yesterday filed a fundamental rights petition in Supreme Court demanding a compensation of Rs.10 million and exemplary/punitive costs.

Avant-Garde raid similar to millennium city affair: Marapana

Law and Order Minister Tilak Marapana today told Parliament that the Police had raided the Avant-Garde floating armoury ship at the Galle Harbour soon after the election to 'score point'. While dismissing allegations over the whole matter, the Minister stated that it was similar to the millennium city affair in 2002. “The reality was that,” he said.

Video: Student protest influenced Kumar's arrest: FSP

Front line Socialist Party (FSP) Politburo member Duminda Nagamuwa said today FSP Central Committee member Kumar Gunaratnam, who was engaged in active politics for the last couple of months was arrested due to the influence on the Government after the recent attack at the protest launched by the HNDA students.

Video: Distraught mother arrested in Kandy

The Kandy Police today took into custody a mother for allegedly attempting to push her own six-year-old child in front of a moving train.

Gunaratnam remanded till Nov. 18

Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Central Committee member Kumar Gunaratnam, who was arrested this afternoon, was remanded till November 18 by Kegalle Magistrate Prasanna Alwis.

Motorcyclist shot dead in Seeduwa

A man riding a motorcycle was shot dead by unidentified men arrived on another motorcycle near the Muthuwadiya Bridge in Seeduwa a short while ago, Police said.

Subsidy for Indian fishermen to end bottom trawling in SL

Indian Ministry of Agriculture has moved a Rs. 380 crore proposal to provide subsidy for replacing old trawlers of Tamil Nadu fishermen with modern tuna longliners to end bottom trawling fishing in Lankan waters, Business Standard reported.

SL's anti-corruption efforts not rhetorical: Harsha

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Harsha de Silva said the Sri Lankan Government under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had taken several measures to prevent corruption, to seek out stolen assets and to build the capacity for curbing corruption and bribery in an effective, comprehensive and result-oriented manner.

Is Govt. using Sunny Leone to promote casinos?: Wimal

The good-governance proponents, who condemned casinos in the country, should confirm whether they are planning to promote the casino industry by bringing the well-known erotic actress Sunny Leone to the country, National Freedom Front Leader and Opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa said today.

Cargo plane crashes killing 40 in S. Sudan

A cargo plane has crashed on take-off near the international airport in South Sudan's capital Juba, with many casualties being reported. About 40 bodies were counted at the wreck site by a BBC reporter.

Maldives declares state of emergency

Maldives has declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, as the island nation's political upheaval intensified following a suspected assassination attempt on the president, Reuters reported.

Kumar Gunaratnam arrested

Controversial Frontline Socialist Party Central Committee member Kumar Gunaratnam, who was evading authorities for over nine months, was nabbed by the Police in the Anguruwella area in Kegalle this afternoon.

Video: Iron rods removed from ex-military official

Two iron rods that pierced through the face and the left arm of a 72-year-old retired military official were removed by a panel of surgeons at the Peradeniya Hospital in a surgery that lasted three hours today.  

Video: Court allows CID to detain Pillayan till Dec 10

Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan was further detained with the CID till December 10 for questioning over the killing of Batticaloa District Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham in 2005.

South African arrested in Tangalle

A 37-year old South African national has been arrested in Tangalle on charges of staying in Sri Lanka without a visa or passport.

Ex-Navy Chief at Presidential Commission

Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) currently recording a statement from navy commander Somathilake Dissanayake on the controversy with regard to the floating armoury belonging to Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd.

Sobitha Thera rushed to a Singapore hospital

The chief incumbent of Kotte Nagavihara and the leader of People's Movement for a Just society Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera was rushed to a Singapore hospital last night due to a sudden illness, sources said.

Sign of an outside force influencing HNDA students

There is evidence to suggest that an outside force had influenced the students of the Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (HNDA) during the protest on October 29, Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament yesterday.

Ex-navy commander to report to PRECIFAC today

Former navy commander Somathilake Dissanayake has been asked to report to PRECIFAC today to record a statement on the controversy with regard to the floating armoury belonging to Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd.

Video: Sajin’s passport surrendered to courts

Former UPFA MP, Sajin De Vass Gunawardana, who has a case for allegedly failing to reveal his assets, surrendered his passport today to Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court after his return from abroad.

SL ranked 61st in World Prosperity Index

Sri Lanka has ranked 61st globally in the 2015 Prosperity Index released by London-based the Legatum Institute on Monday.

Video: Raviraj killing: AG to indict several suspects

The CID today informed Colombo Additional Magistrate Nirosha Fernando that within the next few weeks the Attorney General would indict several suspects in the High Court on charges of killing former Jaffna District Parliamentarian Nadarajah Raviraj.

Video: Actor Lal Weerasinghe reports to PRECIFAC

Veteran actor Lal Weerasinghe today reported to PRECIFAC to record a statement on a matter connected to SriLankan airlines.

Video: SF Lokka remanded till Nov.9

Eron Ranasinghe alias SF Lokka, who was arrested over the killing of Anuradhapura nightclub owner Wasantha Soyza was remanded today by the Anuradhapura Magistrate.

Tense situation in parliament

A tense situation prevailed in Parliament as a group of opposition MPs protested against last Thursday’s police attack on HNDA students outside the UGC in Col 7. 

Video: IUSF on protest march against privatizing free education

A massive protest march organised by the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) and HNDA students against the privatization of free education began from the Sri Jayewardenepura University in Nugegoda and ended outside the University Grants Commission (UGC) this evening.

Video: Three people electrocuted

Three army soldiers were electrocuted when a high tension electric wire fell on a van in Ginthota along the Galle road this morning..

Janaka Bandara to be produced in Court on Nov.11

Matale Magistrate Sampath Gamage today directed prison officials to produce UPFA MP Janaka Bandara Tennakoon in court on November 11. He was remanded in connection with a killing that had taken place in 1999.

Police obtains two enjoining orders for IUSF protest

Two enjoining orders have been obtained by the police today, restricting the protest organized by Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF).