Release of Sigiriya girl delayed

The release of the girl, who was sentenced to two years imprisonment over allegedly damaging the Sigiriya Mirror Wall, would be delayed till Court cases of two appeals are cleared, Deputy Minister of Justice Sujeewa Senasinghe said today.

​A six year-old elephant calf donated to New Zealand

A female elephant calf named Anjalee – a resident of the Pinnawala elephant orphanage has been given to new Zealand’s Auckland zoo in honor of an exchange agreement made between the two countries.

Details of SL refugees sought from Australia

The Puducherry government has written a letter to the Australian authorities seeking details of investigation of illegal trafficking of Sri Lankan refugees from Puducherry to Australia, said Inspector General of Police Praveer Ranjan.

Man beaten to death at Union Place

A 30-year-old man was found severely beaten at the Union Place bus halt in Slave Island last night, the Police said.

Three Indians arrested for visa violation in Kandy

Three Indian nationals had been arrested by the Kandy Police last night on charges of overstaying their visa and engaging in illegal trade in Kattukale, the Police said.

​Red box security if SL cricket team visits Pakistan

Pakistan said that if the Sri Lankan cricket team tours Pakistan, they would be accorded memorable welcome and would be given red box security.

Five MPs removed from SLFP CC

Five SLFP Parliamentarians had been removed from the Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party with immediate effect, party sources said.

​Ekanayake also removed from SLFP CC

Former Minister and Kurunegala district Parliamentarian T.B.Ekanayake has also been removed from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s Central Committee. 

No barrier for MR to contest election from UPFA-MS

President Maithripala Sirisena said there were no barriers for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to contest at the forthcoming election from the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

Salinda and Chandrasena also removed from SLFP CC

Former Ministers SM Chandrasena (Anuradhapura district MP) and Salinda Dissanayake (Kurunegala district MP) have been removed from the SLFP Central Committee. 

​Bandula removed from SLFP’s Central Committee

Former Minister and Parliamentarian Bandula Gunawardana has been removed from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s Central Committee.

Confused Sirisena yielding ground to resurgent MR-Indian media

The fledgling Maithripala Sirisena-Ranil Wickremesinghe government appears to be yielding ground to a resurgent former President Mahinda Rajapaksa because of internal disunity, contradictory policies and indecisive political leadership, The New Indian Express reported. 

Final batch of Sri Lankans arrive from Yemen

The final batch of Sri Lankans who were evacuated from Yemen arrived in Sri Lanka last night to which included a group of 15 individuals and a one-and-a-half year old. 

TN Fishermen protest continuing arrests by Lankan Navy

The fishermen of Rameswaram, in Tamil Nadu staged a demonstration on Friday, protesting against the arrest of fishermen and confiscation of their boats by Sri Lankan navy and urging the authorities to secure their traditional fishing rights in the Palk Bay.

SLFP links electoral reforms to 19A

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), which decided to support the 19th Amendment sans the clauses that need approval at a referendum, has appointed a committee to explore how best to introduce electoral reforms through a 20th Amendment to be enacted simultaneously, party sources said today.

China, Sri Lanka Hold Military Drill

China and Sri Lanka have held a joint drill at a comprehensive military training base in southern China to enhance their capabilities, specially in combating terror.

Three-day booze ban from April 12-14

All liquor shops, bars, taverns and places selling alcohol will be shut from April 12 to 14 on the orders of the Excise Commissioner General.

SLFP argument no longer valid: DM

The argument by the SLFP and a few other parties which opposed the 19th Amendment if not introduced simultaneously with electoral reforms is no longer valid, because the arbitrary powers of the executive presidency has not been curbed to the extent originally planned, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ajith P. Perera said today.

Pack your bags and leave: BBS tells President

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) said today President Maithripala Sirisena should pack his bags and leave so as to allow a leader with a backbone to administer the country which was fast heading towards anarchy.

​TNA stakes claim for opp. leader’s post

In the wake of Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa requesting the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) to nominate an MP for the post of opposition leader, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) with 14 seats in Parliament has written to the Speaker staking its claim for the post.

SL ranked 88 in Social Progress Index

Sri Lanka was ranked 88 out of 133 countries in the Social Progress Index conducted by the US-based Social Progress Imperative Organisation, ahead of the neighbouring countries including India and Pakistan.

Video: JHU assures support for 19A

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) today praised the Supreme Court determination and assured it would support the 19th Amendment to the Constitution after the necessary changes have been incorporated into it.

Video: FCID records statement from Shasheendra

A statement is being recorded by the police Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) from Shasheendra Rajapaksa, the former Chief Minister of the Uva Province over allegedly misusing two luxury buses bought during the CHOGM, the police said.

Train derails in upcountry line

A train carrying fuel from Navalapitiya to Kotagala had derailed between the railway stations of Galabada and Watawala this morning obstructing the upcountry railway line.

Child hacked to death in Vavuniya

The body of a 10-year-old school boy, who had been hacked to death, had been recovered from a home garden in Vavuniya yesterday, the Police said. They said, the investigations were carried out after a message received to the Vavuniya Police.

Confusion over on arrival Visa to India from April 14

Despite Indian Premier Narendra Modi’s pledge to grant on arrival Indian Visas to Sri Lankan tourists from April 14, confusion reigns over the matter with doubts if it would be implemented from that date.

We do not know how ad got there-Lakpahana

Following an advert featuring a semi nude man which created a furor on Facebook causing the advert to be removed shortly after it was uploaded, officials of the Lakpahana office said yesterday that they were unaware of how the advert got there.

Audio: Tiran Alles accuses the minister

MP Tiran Alles, who was grilled by the Police Special Investigation Unit for about two hours, told media that Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka was behind all this carefully planned mudslinging effort in order to tarnish his political image.

STF member accidentally shoots himself

A Special Task Force (STF) member died after his weapon went off accidently while he was engaged in official duties in the Ridee-Ella area in Dambulla, Police said.

Man shot at in Tissa and H’tota

A man who was shot at by an unidentified person in Tissamaharama town today, was later shot again  at the Hambantota Hospital while undergoing treatment, police said.